On this day in Lewis & Clark history...
Nez Perce men guide Lewis to the Blackfoot River where they exchange gifts and go separate ways. Clark continues up the Bitterroot River. He crosses the swift and deep river near present Connor, Montana wetting some of the cargo.
From the journals...
July 4th 1806.
I now continued my rout up the N. side of the Cokahlahishkit river through a timbered country for 8 miles and encamped in a handsom bottom on the river where there was an abundance of excelence grass for our horses.
Horses
July 4th 1806.
the banks bold not very high but never overflow.
the East fork below its junction with this stream is 100 yds. wide and above it about 90.
the water of boath are terbid but the East branch much the most so; their beds are composed of sand and gravel;
the East fork possesses a large portion of the former.
neither of those streams are navigable in consequence of the rapids and shoals which obstruct their currents.
Blackfoot River near its confluence with Clark's Fork
July 4th 1806.
common to the Rocky Mountains and a ground squirrel of a speceis which I had never before seen, I preserved the skins of both of these animals.
Red squirrel, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
On the Waters of Clarks River. Jul 4th 1806.
Yellow monkey-flower, Mimulus guttatus
On the waters of Clarks R Jul. 4th 1806.
Mock orange (syringa), Philadelphus lewisii
July 4th 1806.
Cokahlahishkit R which falls in on the N. E. side, is 60 yds. wide deep and rapid.
Friday July 4th 1806
proceeded on up the Vally on the West Side of Clarks river crossing
Bitterroot River (Clarks River)
