It seems that conventional wisdom has Lewis & Clark followers taking the Oregon side of the river after Portland and heading to Astoria. But The Corps camped along the Washngton side, and there were three camp sites we wanted to see. The first was the place where, after all their suffering and travails, they first sighted the Pacific Ocean. That was across from Pillar Rock which is just east of the town of Altoona, Washington.
We found a delightful road east out of Altoona
Complete with wild flowers
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Which led us to Pillar Rock
CLARK November 7, 1805 "Ocian in view! O! the Joy."
You can see the opening to the Ocean just to the left of the rock, with Cape Disappointment just beyond.
Their troubles were not over, though, at their next camp site;
CLARK November 8, 1805 "we are all wet and disagreeable, as we have been for Several days past, and our present Situation a verry disagreeable one in as much; as we have not leavel land Sufficient for an encampment and for our baggage to lie Cleare of the tide, the High hills jutting in So Close and Steep that we cannot retreat back, and the water of the river too Salt to be used, added to this the waves are increasing to Such a hight that we cannot move from this place, in this Situation we are compelled to for our Camp leaves the hite of the Ebb and flood tides, and rase our baggage on logs - ... The Seas roled and tossed the Canoes in Such a manner this evening that Several of our party were Sea Sick.
Although a road has been built along the coast at this point, it is still apparent the situation was not ideal.
Tomorrow we will check out Cape Disappointment and return here to visit the next two camp sites.
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