370 ITINERARY OF THE ROUTE FROM FORT BENTON TO FORT OWEN. 



river. Beyond this point wagons cannot proceed on their route. We should have crossed 

 to the opposite bank of the river before this, but the river is quite high, filled with floating 

 ice, and dangerous to ford. The whole of the road from Fort Benton to this vicinity is 



better on the north side of the Missouri. Snowing during the day 17 



November 5. Occupy the day in making a short distance over the rocky bluff s and hills. 

 These hills are partly wooded with pines and other evergreens. At midday ford the 

 Missouri, about three hundred feet wide, three to six feet deep; a chilly, snowy day; the 

 river filled with floating ice, and the water freezing constantly on our clothes and the 

 animals after making the ford. Camp on the Missouri s west bank, at the inlet of a small 

 stream fifty or sixty feet wide, which I suppose to be Dearborn river; water, wood, and 



grass good 6 



November 7. After gaining the camp of November 5th, the more difficult part of the route 

 is passed. The route during the day, keeping as near the Missouri as was practicable, 

 was hilly, but not difficult for pack-animals. The Missouri, in its course coming from the 

 southward, passes out of sight at the close of the day, and thenceforward is not again 

 seen. Encamp on a tributary brook thirty feet wide, with grass, water, and wood good 

 as usual, and neither enough seen to be troublesome. The country is hilly, partly grassed 



and partly wooded 11 



November 8. Route follows the general valley on which we encamped last night; ascend 

 it to near its source, keeping on the hills bordering the stream. For the greater part of 

 the day we follow an Indian trail, and the road is generally practicable for wagons, though 

 very hilly and laborious ; a good soil, of not much depth; the rock appears generally near 

 the surface; excellent pasturage ground at intervals; camp on the same stream as 



yesterday ; water, wood, and grass as usual 18 



November 9. Open, unwooded country, and good road during the whole day. Encamp, 

 at night, within a short distance of the summit of the Little Blackfoot Pass, and by the side 

 of a broad Indian trail, which we strike a mile or two back. A large Pend d Oreille 

 camp is near by; route during the day perfectly practicable for wagons; good camping 

 grounds in vicinity; Indians have as many as 1,000 horses with them, which are pastured 



without difficulty 15 



November 10. Cross the summit of the Rocky mountains by the Little Blackfoot Pass, 

 above two miles from camp. The divide which separates the water of the Little Black- 

 foot river from the tributary of the Missouri, finding its source on its eastern side, is an 

 inconsiderable hill, whose eastern ascent can be accomplished with loaded wagons without 

 difficulty, and of which the western descent is as gradual and easy as could be desired. 

 Descend the valley of Little Blackfoot river, of good width, gradual descent, enclosed by 

 half- wooded, half-grassed hills; broad trail, and road good for \vagons; good camping 



grounds abound 14f 



November 11. With the exception of a small portion of the distance, where the trail 

 on the side-hills was too much inclined, the trail has been practicable and easy for 

 wagons. All these cares can be avoided, generally, by taking the bed of the river for a 

 short distance. Valley unwooded for several miles from the stream, excepting what 

 skirts the streams themselves. Near the camp of to-night a large fork comes in from 

 the southward, as large as or larger than the stream which has been followed from the 

 summit, and which is now sixty or eighty feet wide and one to two feet deep. Meet 

 other large bands of Indians with large numbers of horses, all of whom find camping 



grounds without difficulty 17 



November 12. A good road, practicable for wagons, throughout the day. For fourteen 

 miles the trail keeps to the interval, and then, to avoid a large bend in the river, pursues 

 its same general direction over the grand slopes bordering it. Valley wide and open ; good 



