-
Preparation
William Clark and his group of about 50 joined with Meriwether Lewis before the started their journey. They had a 55 foot long keelboat and 2 pirogues for their journey. -
Departure
Lewis and Clark, along with their group of adventurers, started heading up the Missouri River from their camp in the St. Louis area. -
First Encounter
The expedition's first encounter with the natives was with the Oto and Missouri tribes. These two tribes sent a greeting party to the expeditions camp and swapped gifts with eachother. -
Period: to
Indian Confrontation
The expedition group finally reached the Tenton Sioux tribe and tried their best to be friendly. When the indians demanded a boat from the expedition group in order to pass, they were prepared to use froce instead to get passed. After both sides drew their weapons, they both stood down and the expedition party continued up river -
Period: to
Long Witner With the Mandan's
The expedition wanted to get as far as possible before the Missouri river froze, so when they reached a Mandan tribe village, they decided to stop for the winter and build a fort for protection against the elements and the Sioux. -
Grizzlies of the West
The indians had told Lewis about the ferocity of the grizzly bears but he didn't worry about them much because he felt a man with a rifle would easily stop one of these beasts. He almost learned his lesson the hard way when Lewis was chased almost 80 yards before him and another managed to reload and kill the bear. -
Period: to
The Rocky Mountains
Lewis and Clark were growing anxious while traveling west because they were anticipating seeing the Rockies. After finally seeing the mountains, they realized how tough of a challenge it would be. -
The Splitting River
The expedition team was torn between the two paths presented to them. The leaders of the journey believed that the southern river was the Missouri because the indians at Fort Mandan told them the southern branch would lead them to the Great Falls. The rest of the crew believed the northern route was the right way to go but they finally decided to go the southern way. -
The Five Great Falls
Although Lewis was amazed by the falls that stretched on for 12 miles, getting around the falls would take very long and slow down their approach to the Rockies that were past the falls. -
Period: to
Meeting the Shoshone Tribe.
When Lewis saw an indian on horseback, it was the frist time they saw another indian since they left Fort Mandan, That indian led their expedition to the Shoshone cheif who happened to be Sacagawea's brother. The expedition then started trading with the Shoshone for their horses which were necessary in order to cross the Rockies. While they were there they also got information on how to get across the Rockies using a trail which went across the continental divide.
