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Photo courtesy Philip Greensun. |
The Dalles were the expedition's introduction to the Columbia River.
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October 24, 1805. Clark: at this place the water of this great river is compressed into a chanel between two rocks not exceeding forty five yards wide and continues for 1/4 of a mile when it again widens to 200 yards and continues this width for about 2 miles when it is again intersepted by rocks.
as the portage of our canoes over this high rock would be impossible with our Strength and the only danger in passing thro those narrows was the whorls and swills [swells] arriseing from the Compression of the water, and which I thought ... by good Stearing we could pass down Safe, accordingly I deturmined to pass through this place notwithstanding the horrid appearance of this agitated gut swelling, boiling & whorling in every direction, which from the top of the rock did not appear as bad as when I was in it; however we passed Safe to the astonishment of all the Inds. of the last Lodges who viewed us from the top of the rock.
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More about the animals: October 17, 1805. Clark: The number of dead Salmon on the Shores & floating in the river is incrediable to say - and at this Season they have only to collect the fish Split them open and dry them on their Scaffolds on which they have great numbers… |
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