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



October 11. Trail follows the winding of the river, keeping on the western 

 bank. The valley retains its general wide and open character. The wood is 

 mostly confined to the neighboring hills. Road good. Camp on the river bank, 

 with an abundance of drill- wood, pure water, and good grass 18 



October 12. At the end of two miles the river 2 



Through tolerably smooth grass-land the trail crosses a small summit and touches 

 on the south end of Flathead lake 10 



Follow round the western border of lake, crossing over steep hills. Ground 

 mainly unwooded, but the wooded is approaching near to the trail. Camp on 

 the edge of the lake, with good water, wood and grass 7f 



19f 



October 13. Wooded and rocky hills crowd upon the western border of the 



lake. The trail w r inds round these hills through woods of pine, hemlock, fir, 

 spruce, poplar, and is generally narrow, and occasionally steep and rough. Camp 

 in a small meadow on the opening lake, where the grass is good ; water and wood 

 abundant, and good as usual 12 



October 14. Sometimes trailing through the woods, and then taking to the 

 gravelly beach of the lake, we reach its north bend, and emerge upon an open 

 prairie bottom of good soil. Through this prairie bottom flows Flathead river and 

 some of its tributaries 5$- 



The trail touches the river above the lake. Camp on a brook flowing into 

 Flathead river, with an abundance of wood, good water, and grass 4 



03 



^4, 



October 15. Trail on the right bank of the river, but not in sight of it. High, 

 nearly level ground, partly prairie, partly wood land, extends to where Flathead 

 river issues from the mountain ridge on its eastern side. Good road to this point. . 18 



Winding on the base of the mountain, the trail is rocky and very rough, but after 

 a short distance the mountains again recede from the river 1 J 



The same nearly level upland is renewed. Henceforward, to the prairie east of 

 the Rocky mountains, the trail is absent ; always woods. Trail to camp much 

 obstructed by fallen timber. Ford Flathead river, three hundred feet wide, two 

 and a half feet deep ; pebbly bottom ; banks sixty feet high l 



Camp in the woods, without grass 



23 



October 16. Journeyed only to get grass ; woods and fallen timber obstructed 

 the trail. Encamped on a small lake, with good grass, wood and water 3 



October 17. Cross Flathead river above its forks, two hundred and fifty feet 

 wide, two and a half feet deep ; pebbly bottom ; steep banks, sixty feet high. Mount 

 ains now close in upon the river and trail, and the valley continues narrow to its 

 source 5^ 



Trail winds up and down the thickly-wooded slopes of the mountain, and is 

 generally very steep and toilsome. The river is occasionally broken with rapids, 

 and then again is still and deep, frequently twelve feet deep. Camp on the hill 

 side near the river. Grass very scarce 6f 



12 



October 18. Trail is easier during the day. Woods of pine, spruce, fir, larch, 

 white birch, and poplar, fill the valley. Occasional small grass spots, nearly 

 stripped at this late season, are met with, but no good camping grounds were found. 

 Camp on one of the small grass spots 11 J 



