Westward (Party) — Saturday, September 14, 1805
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.
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