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Clark
noted in his journal that "the
bends & high lands have Clifts of ruged rock to the
river" which remains a striking feature of this
landscape. Another observation unchanged in two centuries
is that. "The
Country on either Side is an open plain leavel &
fertile...not a tree of any kind to be Seen." |
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That
evening they "encamped
at 2 Indian Lodges of a great place of fishing"
that today is directly below Lower Granite Dam.
This area was home to the Almotipu band of Nez Perce, from which
Almota Creek gets its name. |
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The
explorers had their share of excitement on what they called
Lewis' River (now the Snake). They encountered several
rapids that "the Indians had told
us was verry bad-we found long and dangerous about 2 miles in
lenth, and maney turns necessary to Stear Clare of the rocks,
which appeared to be in every direction. |
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The
Corps of Discovery was advised by the Indians to Bypass the
rugged Snake River and follow the historic trail up the
valleys. On May 3rd, 1806, they again entered Garfield
County. There they "halted
& dined at this creek; after which we again proceeded
through the high plain." They observed
what pioneers would discover six decades later: "lands of a
good quality, a dark rich loam." |
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At
a point east of Pataha, the stalwart explorers camped "in
a small grove of cottonwood tree which in some measure broke the
violence of the wind" Here, they met
We-ark-koomt, a Nez Perce chief. "We
made but a scant supper & had not anything for tomorrow;
however We-ark-koomt consoled us with the information that there
was an indian lodge on the river at no great distance where we
might supply ourselves with provision tomorrow." |
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They
set out early the next day and followed the old Indian trail up
over Alpowa Summit. The explorers progressed down Alpowa
Creek, "the hills of the creek
which we decended this morning are high in most parts rocky
& abrupt. One of the pack horses sliped...and fell
into the creek with its load consisting principally of ammunition
but fortunately neither the horse nor load suffered any
material injury." |
Indicates Return Trip
Indicates Westward Route