Lewis & Clark
Expedition Trail
Idaho, Montana, Washington
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Feature Article By
Cheeta Brown
 On
the morning of August 12, 1805, Captain Meriwether Lewis wrote, “We
proceeded on to the top of the dividing ridge from which I discovered immense
ranges of high mountains still to the west of us with their tops
partially covered with snow.”
He was at Lemhi Pass and here members of the Corp
of Discovery first glimpsed what is now Idaho and the Bitterroot and
Beaverhead Mountains at the Continental Divide. From this vantage point
Lewis and Clark and modern visitors have an unhampered view of the
beautiful wilderness country of the Upper Columbia watershed, where
snow-topped ranges of the Bitterroots succeed each other until lost in
the western haze. Walking down the western slope to a “handsome bold
creek of cold Clear water”, a tributary of the Lemhi River, Lewis
wrote, “I first tasted the water of the great Columbia river”. The
area around Lemhi pass, along with the Lolo Trail is the closest to
being pristine as Captain Lewis saw it in 1805.
On August 13, Lewis and three of his men were met
by Chief Cameahwait of the Shoshones and sixty warriors, who escorted
the explorers to the Shoshone camp north of today's’ Tendoy, Idaho,
for a bit of feasting on roots, smoked salmon and conversation.
After a few days, on August 17, Lewis accompanied
by Cameahwait traveled back over the Continental Divide to the
Beaverhead River where they joined Clark and the rest of the Corp of
Discovery at a spot Lewis named Camp Fortunate. This site today is under
Clark Canyon Reservoir about 20 miles south of Dillon, Montana. It was
here that Sacajawea recognized her brother, Cameahwait, and a girlhood
friend, Jumping fish.
While Captain Lewis, camped on the Lemhi River
with the Shoshone, discussing a western route to the Pacific and trading
for horses, Clark explored for a water route. After traveling 40 miles
down the Lewis’ River (Salmon) Clark determined that traveling west by
either water or horseback along the river was impossible. Returning up
the Salmon to the Lemhi, the Captains took the earlier advice of
Cameahwait and set out northward on September 1, 1805 with Old Toby as
guide and 29 horses and a mule purchased from the Shoshone.
For the fan of the Lewis and Clark Corp of
Discovery, the area around Salmon, Idaho, is an important segment of the
expedition and of the early fur trading industry. It is situated on
Highway 93 at the western foot of the Beaverhead Mountains and the
Continental Divide. It lies at the forks of the Salmon and Lemhi Rivers
and in 1832 it was camp for the Hudson’s Bay Company, Rocky Mountain
Fur Company and the American Fur Company.
Traveling U.S. Highway 93 north from Salmon along
the North Fork of the Salmon River, you will follow the route of Lewis
and Clark to North Fork, Gibbonsville, and Lost Trail Pass to Montana.
Tourist accommodations offer restaurants, bed
& breakfasts, motels and guest ranches, outfitters and guides, white
water adventures, horseback riding, shops, a museum, art gallery, tour
bus and golf.
For further information contact
http://www.salmonidaho.com
Our featured site this month
is:
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Interested in exciting whitewater rafting or a gentle scenic
one day float trip down the
Salmon
River in Idaho? At Idaho Adventures you can enjoy a
wilderness vacation with whitewater rafting, steelhead fishing
and fun for the entire family.
Bring the children and learn about
Lewis
and Clark's historic expedition down the Salmon, the River
of No Return. Ride in a wooden scow, which is a replica of the
first boats used on the Salmon River during the late 1800s and
early 1900s. Fish for steelhead trout in the late fall and early
spring. Tour a gold mine and explore the rugged beauty of Idaho
wilderness.
Email
Idaho Adventures |
Be sure to
visit the sites below while planning your next
trip Along the Trail
Businesses and Information sites currently linked
to the Lewis
Clark NW web sites.
(Click
here for information on linking your business).
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Wolf Creek, MT
Ingersoll
Ranch
Lolo, MT
Bear
Den Cabin
Traveler's
Rest
U.S. Highway 12
Nez
Perce National Historical Trail
Kooskia, ID
Harpster
Riverside RV
Kooskia Chamber of
Commerce
Lewis
Clark Road Tours
Kamiah, ID
Flying B Ranch
Kamiah Chamber of
Commerce
Lewis
& Clark Resort
Orofino, ID
Clearwater
Realty
Clearwater
Web Solutions
Empire
Realty Services
Helgeson
Hotel
Orofino Chamber of
Commerce
The Guide Shop
The Real
Estaters
Lenore, ID
Clearwater
River Trips
Lewiston, ID
Adventures
Afloat
River
Quest Excursions
Snake
River Adventures
Grangeville, ID
Grangeville
Chamber of Commerce
Wolfinger
Land & Auction
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Riggins, ID
Brundage Mountain
Adventures
Riggins Motel
River
Adventures Ltd.
Salmon River
Chamber of Commerce
Salmon
River Experience
Salmon River
Realty
Wapiti River
Guides
Carmen, ID
Bighorn
Outfitters
Salmon, ID
Idaho
River Adventures
Rawhide
Outfitters
Salmon
Chamber of Commerce
Twin
Peaks Ranch
Pollock,
ID
Red
Woods Outfitter
Cascade, ID
Whitewater
Expeditions
Maple Falls, WA
Mount
Baker Lodging
Off the Beaten Path
Moscow, ID
American
Dream Realty
Salmon
River Experience
Elk City
Red
River Hot Springs
Elk River
Idaho
Clear Water
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HISTORICAL
SITES ALONG THE TRAIL
To view our Message Archive please
click here
Lewis Clark NW
Come share the adventure of the Lewis and Clark
Bicentennial
If you are
planning a trip during the Lewis and Clark
Bicentennial, be sure to check out our convenient map at
http://www.lewisclarknw.com/MSIEPage.htm
to find additional
places of interest as
well as accommodations as you plan
your route.
LewisClarkNW.org
LewisClarkNW.com
MountainMemories
mailto:info@lewisandclarkidaho.com
Along the Lewis & Clark Trail
is brought to you each month by the staff at
Clearwater
Web Solutions with the assistance of Cheeta Brown, who each month provides us with an interesting feature article.
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