Salmon-Challis National Forest - Recreational Activities

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Lewis and Clark

Lewis and Clark Bicentennial

photo scrapbook

August 12, 2005 -- There were ~ 210 people (including agency folks) who attended. The agenda included the Director of BLM, Director of External Affairs for the Secretary of Interior, our own Regional Forester, the Supervisor of the Salmon-Challis NF, Bud Clark, the great, great, great grandson of Captain Clark, and members of the Lemhi Shoshone band of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribe.

The people in attendance were from all over...most of whom said they traveled there just to be there for this ceremony. I talked with people from Colorado, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, South Dakota, Texas, Oklahoma, New York, California, and of course Montana and Idaho.

The event was well orchestrated with folks from both forests and the BLM who helped with logistics and site management. The ceremony was followed by a BBQ lunch and interpretive walks.

Congratulations goes out to Katie Bump and Steve Matz and the other forest and BLM folks who made this a ceremony one that will be added to the history books for Lemhi Pass!

To start the tour, first click on either of the interactive maps, 1 or 2, then click on the locations you are interested in. Or, you can click on the Map Locations List link to navigate to the location you are interested in.

*anything misspelled is done to preserve the words of Lewis and Clarks' own remarks.

August 12 to September 3, 1805

Appointed by President Thomas Jefferson, Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were charged with finding a navigable water route to the Pacific Coast. Departing Wood River, Illinois, in May 1804, the expedition traveled for fifteen months to reach the headwaters of the Missouri River, then crossed the Continental Divide and entered the Lemhi Valley on August 12, 1805.

The Corps of Discovery faced many perils in this region. Stricken by limited provisions with winter fast approaching, the party transported mountains of canvas, wood and iron gear. After paddling the length of the Missouri River, the treacherous current of the Salmon River and the steep, crumbly surrounding mountains proved to be formidable obstacles.

Lewis with three men led an Advance Party over Lemhi Pass and encountered the Lemhi Shoshoni Nation. Convincing the Shoshoni that the small party posed no threat to their well-being, they agreed to accompany Lewis' party back over the pass and to assist the main party.

Clark led the Reconnaissance Party into the valley to explore the feasibility of navigating the Salmon River. Faced with the strong possibility of drowning should their flimsy canoes be swept into the rocks by the swift current, the party made a critical decision changing the course of the expedition and opted for a somewhat less hazardous, but equally difficult dry-land route.

Encamped back in Montana, Lewis sorted supplies necessary for the Portage Party over Lemhi Pass. Winter now only weeks away, the Entire Expedition grew anxious to get to the Pacific Coast.

Imagine the hardships faced by these explorers as they trekked through the Lemhi and Salmon River Valleys, and uncover places where you can retrace Lewis and Clark's steps in areas where little has changed since they were here.