Crossing the Bitterroot Mountains

    The Corps of Discovery set out on September 1, 1805 across the Bitterroot Mountains and did not reach the plains (where the Nez Perce were located) until October 6, 1805!  They traveled up steep cliffs, experienced snowy, freezing weather, and were always scarce on food.
 

• September 9th (Travelers Rest)- It had taked the expedition 53 days to travel from the Gates of the Rocky Mountains to here!!
• September 14th (Colt Killed Creek)- The men were so tired from their unsuccessful hunt for food, that they had to kill a colt to eat, so they called the river, Killed Colt.
• September 21st (Hungry Creek)- Lewis met up with Clark at his campsite, which he called Hungry Creek, because they had nothing to eat there.
• September 22nd (Nez Perce Villages)- The main troops met the Nez Perce for the first time, and their chief, Twisted Hair.  The chief guides the men to his river camp, where the men try to get better from their illness from the journey.

• October 6th (Leave for the Pacific)- The Nez Perce helped Lewis and Clark make one small canoe and four large canoes for their journey to the Pacific Ocean.