Dates May 31, 1806 - June 22, 1806: Journals of Lewis and Clark ***

Lewis and Clark Journal Summary 17: Dates May 31, 1806 - June 22, 1806
The following is a summary of the journal entries made by Lewis and Clark. Dates: May 31, 1806 - June 22, 1806

An Unsuccessful Attempt to Cross the Bitterroot Mountains

May 31, 1806
Lewis and Clark sent men to trade for food in order to prepare for their journey across the Bitterroots. Although some of their hunters had returned with salmon, they had been purchased some 70 miles away and weren’t all fit to be eaten by the time they’d got back. The salmon hadn’t traveled far enough up the rivers for them to be caught any nearer. They decided they would move to the Quamash Flats where the hunting for meat should be better. On 3rd June some Indians told them that the mountains should be passable in a further 12 to 14 days.

June 6, 1806
It was noted that the Corps of Discovery had gained enough bread and roots to see them over the Bitterroots.

June 8, 1806
The expedition had running races with the Indians. They also played ‘Prison Base’, a game where each side tries to make prisoners of the members of the opposing side who run out of their base area. Lewis noted that the river levels had dropped by around 6 feet which implied that the melting snow had almost cleared from the mountains.