Lewis and Clark Across the Mountains
An Engineer Tracks the Trail
 1997-98 Steve F. Russell. All Rights Reserved

  The Lost Trail - Again!

Commentary:

The party traveled from Packer Meadows over the ridges south of the Crooked Fork of the Lochsa River and then on to Powell Ranger Station where they camped for the night. At the forks of the trail, they took the left fork which led them down to the river and the Salmon fishing areas used by the Flathead tribe. They did not notice the main Lolo Trail which was the right fork that went over the side of the main ridge and down a secondary ridge to the crossing of Crooked Fork and on to Rocky Point.

Even today, this junction is easy to miss due to its location on the ridge. There is no secondary ridge marking its location and no rock cairn exists now. Without good directions, a modern traveler would not find it starting from the top of the ridge. When Lewis and Clark passed it, the well-beaten trail was the one to the Lochsa River that was being used by Flathead fishing parties. The weather may also have been a contributing factor since Clark reported that it was cloudy in the valleys and they may not have been able to see Rocky Point.

The Party remarks at how difficult the traveling has become but they were just now entering the rugged mountains and ridge system of the Lolo Trail. They would soon find out how difficult this passage can be and how little game is available.

Their camp at Powell was at the flats that make up the ranger station. That actual location was probably around the helicopter landing pad (Heliport) and a little to the east. The creek Clark refers to used run through this area and was used for a fish hatchery in the 1950s before being changed.

The actual distance travelled this day was about 13 miles.

From the Journals:

• The Day:   It was a cloudy day in the valleys and toward evening several small showers of rain, some hail, and several severe claps of thunder. Some snow fell. Disagreeable travelling. Sunrise at 6:48 AM and Sunset at 7:26 PM.
  
  
• Activities:   They set out early and traveled all day crossing over two mountains and two forks of the Lochsa River. In the evening, they killed a colt to eat. They named the south fork of the Lochsa (Whitesand Creek) "Colt Killed Creek" for it. The Lochsa River they called Koos Koos Ke.
  
  
• The Route:  Their general route was along the ridges to the south of Crooked Fork until they reached the mouth of White Sand Creek (Colt Killed Creek). They then crossed over to the north side of the river and stayed on that side until reaching their camp at Powell Ranger Station.
  
  In the morning, they crossed a high mountain on the right side (west side) of Pack Creek {Glade Creek} and came to the forks of Brushy Fork and Crooked Fork. These creeks are very stoney and have much fall. They crossed to the southeast side of Crooked Fork at the mouth of Brushy Fork {Glade Creek} and crossed a very high steep mountain to reach a large fork from the left (White Sand Creek). They crossed Crooked Fork {Glade Creek} above its mouth with White Sand Creek at a place where the Tushepaws (Flathead) had made two fishing weirs across the creek to catch Salmon. The Tushepaws had only recently left the place, the grass having been all eaten and no sign of fish. They proceeded on two miles and encamped at Powell.
  
  The mountains they crossed were much worse than yesterday, the last one excessively bad, much downed timber, steep and stoney.
  
  
• The Encampment:   After traveling 17 miles, the party camped opposite a small island at the mouth of a branch on the right (north) side of the Lochsa River. The river at this place is 80 yards wide, swift, and stoney.

Go back to the beginning        1997-98 Steve F. Russell. All Rights Reserved