Lewis & Clark Trip Day 26: Back to Idaho (6/2/2021)

Wednesday, June 2, 2021

*From 9/11-22/1805, the Corps of Discovery on horseback crossed a pass on a Nez Perce trail, battling rain, sleet and snow, the dangerous mountain terrain, and hunger.*

~On 5/28/1999, Ada and Bert S traversed the Lolo Pass.~

Lolo Pass Visitor Center (2003)

Lolo Pass Visitor Center sign at the summit

1999: More snow when Ada & Bert reached the summit

We found some snow!

Tamiko with the snow (KSS)

Bert & Ada with snow

Urocitellus columbianus/Columbian Ground Squirrel (KSS)

Urocitellus columbianus/Columbian Ground Squirrel (KSS)

Other wildlife seen today: Odocoileus virginianus/White-tailed Deer, Odocoileus hemionus/Mule Deer,

Buteo jamaicensis/Red-tailed Hawk, and Corvus brachyrhynchos/American Crow. Almost everyday we see a Cathartes aura/Turkey Vulture.

Trillium ovatum/Western Trillium

Epiphytes on the pine trees

*On 9/13/1805, the Corps of Discovery camped on a large meadow.*

Packer Meadows: Lewis & Clark Historical Marker (KSS)

Packer Meadows

Euphorbia corollata/Flowering Splurge (KSS)

Another dirt road to Packer Meadows;
this one was full of potholes

*On 9/14/1805, the Corps of Discovery camped by a small river they named Colt Killed Creek, as they were compelled to kill a colt for the men to eat, since they had no meat.*

~On 5/28/1999, Ada & Bert S stopped at the Powell Ranger Station that was the area Visitor Center.~

The Powell Ranger Station is on the site of the campsite
on Colt Killed Creek, now Lochsa River

*On 6/27/1806, on the return trip, the guides for the Corps of Discovery requested a few minutes to smoke a pipe on a small eminence topped by a cairn of stones holding a 15-foot pole.*

We had to give up on the 28-mile round trip to reach
"The Smoking Place" high up on a ridge

Yes, indeed, it was another potholey dirt/gravel road

Back on the two-lane highway following the Lochsa River

1999: Following the Lochsa River

Near Kamiah, ID: Nez Perce National Historical Park
Historical Marker

According to the Nez Perce Nation, this mound is the
Heart of the Monster, a monster who had swallowed
all living creatures except a "wily" coyote; the coyote
allowed himself to be swallowed, but he was carrying
a flint and pitch to start a fire that caused the monster pain,
and knives to cut up the heart of the monster, who died
and all the creatures were freed; the body of the monster
was cut up and distributed around the country in regions
the coyote named for the future First Nations

*From 5/14 to 6/10/1806, on the return trip, the Corps of Discovery was prevented from crossing the Bitterroot Mountains by heavy snow. They spent four weeks hunting and fishing, and amusing themselves by showing the Nez Perce "the power of magnetism, the spyglass, compass, watch, and other articles that were novel and incomprehensible to them."*

This is all we could see of the Long Camp campsite!

Typical of such valleys: a road, a river, and a railroad track

The Weippe Library and Discovery Center has
murals (2004, by Roger Cooke) including a map
of the Corps of Discovery travels through Idaho

Meriwether Lewis was dismayed to see only more
mountains after crossing the Lemhi Pass

Lewis did not heed the Shoshone when they suggested the
Corps of Discovery winter with them, but chose to go on;
crossing the Bitterroot Mountains was the worst part of the
expedition, partly due to steep wooded mountainsides

Continuous snow compounded the difficulty
of the trail and everyone was wet and cold,
and provisions began to run out

Part of the trail was narrow and rocky, and one horse
fell down 100 feet, yet was not injured because
"there was no bottom below" (it fell into the creek)

*On 9/20/1805, an advance party led by William Clark arrived at a prairie and encountered three Nez Perce boys who eventually led them to their village. It was obvious to the Nez Perce that these strangers were in poor condition, and they were fed the local diet of dried salmon, camas roots, and berries. On 9/22/1805, the rest of the Corps of Discovery arrived at the Nez Perce village. The change in diet resulted in severe stomach cramps.*

Weippe Prairie: Lewis & Clark Historical Marker

Weippe Prairie

The purple flowers are of Camassia quamash/
Common Camas, a staple in the Nez Perce diet

*On 9/26/1805, the Corps of Discovery set up camp at the confluence of the two branches of the Clearwater River. The Nez Perce helped them construct five dugout canoes for their journey down to the Pacific Ocean.*

Canoe Camp: Lewis & Clark Historical Marker

The campsite had Pinus ponderosa/Ponderosa Pines
for making the dugout canoes

Ponderosa Pine needles and pine cone

An example of a dugout canoe

~On 5/28/1999, Ada & Bert S visited the Nez Perce National Historical Park in Idaho.~

Nez Perce National Historical Park Visitor Center
(1979-1983) in Lapwai, ID

1999: Ada admiring flowers at the Nez Perce
National Historical Park Visitor Center

Moccasins (c 1836) of a pattern similar to what the
Corps of Discovery made for themselves;
these are decorated with porcupine quills (KSS)

Warrior's shirt (c 1880-1885) decorated
with multiple ermine pelts

A pit house, built half underground, is one of the Nez Perce
dwellings, although this one is a sweat lodge

Blanket (c 1875-1900) with beaded strip
is an iconic design for the Nez Perce who
became famous for their beadwork

Beaded Cradleboard (c 1846)

Painted Woman's Saddle (c 1830-1845,
with high pommels) (KSS)

Basket Hat (c 1820-1845) made with
Xerophyllum tenax/Beargrass

Sculptures (2003, by J Shirly Bothum) of
Lewis and Clark, and Sakagawea

Next: Lewis & Clark Trip Day 27.