On this day in Lewis & Clark history...
Heavy snows obscure the Lolo trail and wet the men as they brush the overhanging snow from the trees. Clark sets out ahead to make warming fires at their evening camp in a small cove. No game is found, so another horse is killed for meat.
From the journals...
Saturday [Monday] Septr. 16th 1805
began to Snow about 3 hours before Day
men all wet cold and hungary.
Near Snowbank Camp
Monday 16th.
The snow fell so thick, and the day was so dark, that a person could not see to a distance of 200 yards.
Lolo Trail near Papoose Ridge
Monday 16th Sept 1805.
it appeared as if we have been in the clouds all this day.
Lolo Trail near Papoose Ridge
Monday 16th Sept 1805.
when we a woke this morning to our great Surprize we were covred with Snow, which had fell about 2 Inches deep the later part of last night, & continues a cold Snowey morning.
Lolo Trail snow storm
Saturday [Monday] Septr. 16th 1805
I walked in front to keep the road and found great dificuelty in keeping it as in maney places the Snow had entirely filled up the track, and obliged me to hunt Several minits for the track
Old trail near Snowbank Camp
Saturday [Monday] Septr. 16th 1805
Steep hills Side & falling timber Continue to day, and a thickly timbered Countrey of 8 different kinds of pine, which are So covered with Snow, that in passing thro them we are continually covered with Snow, I have been wet and as cold in every part as I ever was in my life, indeed I was at one time fearfull my feet would freeze in the thin mockersons which I wore
Downed trees on the Lolo Trail
Saturday [Monday] Septr. 16th 1805
I saw 4 Black tail Deer to day before we Set out which came up the mountain and what is Singular Snaped 7 tims at a large buck. it is Singular as my gun has a Steel frisen and never Snaped 7 times before in examining her found the flint loose
Rifle flint
Saturday [Monday] Septr. 16th 1805
halted and built fires for the party agains their arrival which was at Dusk verry cold and much fatigued we Encamped at this Branch in a thickly timbered bottom which was Scercely large enough for us to lie leavil, men all wet cold and hungary.
Meadows near 'Lonesome Cove' on the Lolo Trail
Monday 16th Sept 1805.
towards evening we descended a Mountain down in to a deep cove where we Camped on a small creek in a thicket of Spruce pine and balsom fer timber.