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The Journey Begins
Lewis and Clark's journey had been named "Corps of Discovery" and had began on May 20. They made their way up the Missouri River in a keelboat, which had been fifty-five feet long. They spent their time charting up maps, studyingrock formations, soil, animals and plants along their expedition. -
Heading Into Danger?
It had been the last week of August when Lewis and Clark had come to the eastern edge of the Great Plains, where elk, buffalo, deer, and beavers had lived. Their journey had been apporaching the heart of Sioux's territory, as well as trouble. -
Standoff With the Teton Sioux
The Indians had become a threat, and the journey was becoming force to force. Then Clark hhad drawn his sword and Lewis had a gun pointing at Sioux. Suddenly, both men had stood back, and it had been put to an ended. The expedition had failed in delivering Jefferson's hope of a neutral reltionship with this tribe. They headed up the river, where the winter had trailed behind them, as well as potential enemies. -
Racing Against Winter's Approach
Lewis and Clark had covered as much distance as they possibly could, before Missouri froze over completely. They had planned on spending their winter in the Mandans tribe's village, where they would builed a fort for the time being. As the temperature dropped, so did the men's food supply and were faced with finding meat for their men. -
Into Grizzly Country
They had finally reached grizzly country, where they had been wared by the Indians of the grizzlies. Unimpressed, Lewis had believed that they didn't pose as a real threat to a man with a rifle. Then, himself and a few other men had came accross a pair of grizzlies. One of them had chased Lewis for 80 yards, until one of the other men were able to kill the bear. -
Rockies in Sight
Lewis and Clarkhad become quite anxious to catch sight of the Rockies, which led them to needing to cross the moutain barrier. During the last week of May, they had finally came to see the mountains. They were filled with joy and had also been in distress after realizing the challenge that layed ahead for them. -
A Fork in the River
They had come upon the fork in the river, where they had been left with the decision of which way to go. The men had believed going Norht was the right choice, where as Lewis and Clark believed going South had been their best bet. Lewis decided to take a risk and take a few men up the Southern branch, where they would find out if they made it up the Missouri. -
Around the Great Falls
It had been on June 13, when Lewis had seen the Great Falls of Missouri, and had been quite shcoked to see five seperate falls. He had then realzied the obstacle he may have going around the falls. Then, on the 16th of June he had rejoined Clark and began one of the hardest task they may have faced. It would take them more than a month to pass the falls, and reach the Rocky Mountains. -
Toward the Continental Divide
As they came closer to the mountains, the peaks had become more covered with snow.However, the path they were taking required the use of horses. So, they needed the Shosone tribe to purchase horses for their journey. Hidatsa had said to Lewis that he would meet him witht he horse-rich Shosone, nevertheless, the concern had been meeting with the tribe. -
Among the Shoshone
Lewis had came accross an Indian who had been riding hroseback, it had been the first Indian they had come accross since Fort Mandan. Shosone had led their expedition to a leader, who turned out ot be Sacajawea's brother, which had bettered them. They had been suplied with horses, and a greater chance of reaching the Pacific. -
Deadly Crossing: The Bitterroots
As they began their expedition, snow had started to fall. It had been scarce in the Rockies, so food supplies ran low. Nevertheless, the journey had finally crossed over to the Bitterroot Valley. This had been the point where they had met a group of Flathead Indians, as well as where they had bought more horses. After 11 days in the Bitterroots, the horses had become malnurished, and left the men to eating a few of the colts. -
Winter on the Pacific
They had settled on making camp south of Columbia, and were along the banks of a small river as well as having a clear view of trees and bush. They had spent their time making moccasins and buckskin clothing, as well as storing food and writing journals. The Indians had kept quiet to Lewis and Clark about the ship that had came to trade with them, even though they had known about it. -
Readying for the Return
It had finally been time for the men to journey back home, and were able to start heading back when the show had melted off the mountains. Nevertheless, if they waited to long, the river may be frozen leaving them stranded there. Their thrid week in, they had began loading the dugouts, and had bought a fourth from the Indians. Their journey was about to finally begin accross the continent. -
Abandoning the Boats
The Chinookan Indianshad been quite irritating, as they had kept tyring to steal Lewis and Clark's supplies as well as provoking arguments. Getting around the falls successfully had been quite a challenge for the men, and had left their canoes at Fort Clatsop, and made their way to the moutains with horses. -
Among the Nez Perce
When they arrived back at the Nez Perce territory, they had little to no food and had been faced with consuming dried fish and roots. With the occasional concumption of meat, such as deer, elk, dog, or horse. In the mean time, they had studied and awaited for the warmer weather, when they would be freshly supplied and ready to continue their adventure! -
Crossing the Bitterroots, Again.
After their travel began, they had started making their way up into the mountains. They began traveling in ten feet of snow, which had been completely packed, and had been able to support the weight of the horses.They hadn't been able to make their way in the deep snow, so they were forced to return to the Nez Perce for help. -
Parting Ways, Skirmishing With Blackfeet
Lewis had broken up with the group to explore the Marias River, when they had then realized it had been Blackfeet Indian Territory, danger! His men had been on guard; however, the Indians had managed to grab rifles from them, which led to two Indians dead. In less than 24 hours, him and his men were of, giving the Balckfeet no time to chase after them. -
Riding the Missouri
Clark's group of men had been hunting one day, when they had believed to have shot an elk. However, it turned out to be Lewis that they had shot. The bullet had gone through his left thigh, but wasn't threatening to his life, just painful. Both groups were united and would journey up the Missouri River back home. -
Returning to the Mandans, Running a Sioux Gauntlet
Lewis and Clark, as well as their men had made their way back to Mandan village, where they had said their farewells to Sacajawea. Lewis's wound had healed, and they were ready to continue their journey, where they would run into the Teton Sioux. A hundred Sioux warriors had linded the Missouri and had been quite threatening to Lewis and Clark. -
Given Up for Dead, Hailed as Heroes
On their journey back, they had traveled 80 miles a day and started to come accross traders. September 23, they had entered the Mississippi River, and later approached St. Louis. Their journey had been two years, four months, and ten days long; where they had finally came home to be greeted by a thousand people who welcomed them back home.