Lost Trail Pass Lolo pass and behond

After conquering Lehmi Pass we headed north and climbed Lost Trail Pass. The Corps had a terrible time because their Shoshone guide lost the trail and led them over a ridge 1000 feet higher than we had to to reach the summit. We then proceeded on northward in the Bitterroot valley throgh which the Salmon River flows.

It's a pretty little valley named after the Bitterroot Mountains with a fine looking river.

When the Corps noted that the Salmon turns west, and must connect with the Columbia they decided they should follow it. The Indians told them that some had tried but they call the Salmon the River of No return. Capt Clark inspected it and agreed that they could not navigate it with canoes.

We drove down Forest 30 along the Salmon and agree with the Indians.

On the way to Lolo we stopped and visited a chapel that was built by Father De Smet, who was an early Missionary to the Indians of the Bitterroot Valley.

Continuing north, now along the Bitterroot River, we come to the confluence of that river and Lolo Creek. This is the place called Travelers Rest where the Corps camped on September 9th and 10th.

From here they turned west and followed the Lochsa River and  Clearwater River to cross Lolo Pass.
It is easy to see why they call it the Clearwater River.

As a matter of fact, Gail and Doc had to inspect it at close range.

Actually they had to soak their feet for a while

We had no problem sumiting Lolo Pass on Highway US 12. The Corps had a terrible time. They expected one range, they actually had range after range. Srrgeant Gass said it was the most terrible mountains he had ever seen. Captain Clark said he had never been colder or wetter. When they passed Lolo Hot Springs, Clark said it was hot and not bad tasting. We found it the same when we spent the night at the Lolo Hot Springs Resort.

The Corps were wet, cold and hungry. Killed Colt creek is a camp site at which they did that very thing, to stave off starvation. They finally left the mountains behind near present day Weippe Prarie. The met the Nez Perce indians who fed them and helped them make dugout canoes to continue their journey by water. This place is called Canoe Camp and looks like this

Here they made canoes similar to this, small and large. The large ones were 55 feet long! That is how long the Keel Boat was.

We spent several days at Lewiston Idaho, which is 40 miles down stream from Orofino, which is where Canoe camp is located.

Lewiston is at the confluence of the Snake River and the Clearwater River. Next we investigate the Snake River in Hells Canyon.