The Corps of Discovery has reached Lolo Hot Springs on its passage across the Bitterroots. The party is not yet out of the woods (sorry), but the worst is over. In a few days, the Corps will reach what Lewis and Clark called Traveler's Rest (near present-day Missoula, Montana) and divide into two parties. Meriwether Lewis and a small party will go northeast to explore the Marias River. William Clark and a large party will go southeast to explore the Yellowstone River. Here are the journal entries of this date. Note that Lewis lasted 19 minutes in the hot spring. Can't you just see him with his chronometer in hand, sweating profusely, and don't you just know he tried to last 20 minutes but couldn't? Lewis was as anal-retentive as his mentor, Thomas Jefferson.
Two Hundred Years Ago
Posted at 8:10 PM CT on Thursday, 29 June 2006