Spots 
Leaving St. Louis in May 1804, the Corps of Discovery battles strong river currents and shifting sandbars along the lower Missouri River. William Clark registers daily compass bearings and weather patterns while rivermen tow heavy keelboats. Meriwether Lewis conducts shore reconnaissance to catalog plants and meet local river traders.
THE JOURNALS OF LEWIS AND CLARK → Clark, June 13, 1804
Shifting sands nearly capsize the expedition's main boat near the mouth of the Grand River in June 1804. Clark notes the historical sites of abandoned native villages destroyed by intertribal conflicts. Hunters venture inland to supply meat, bringing back deer, bear, and wild turkeys to sustain the crew.
Clark, June 13, 1804 → Clark, August 4, 1804
Diplomatic meetings with Otos and Missouris yield peace speeches and gifts of tobacco at Council Bluffs. The sudden loss of Sergeant Charles Floyd to severe illness strikes the expedition with grief near modern-day Sioux City. Men hunt wild game across the rolling prairie while keeping a strict watch for potential desertions.
Clark, August 5, 1804 → 2 Sepr.
Traversing the Great Plains reveals thousands of grazing buffalo and vast prairie dog towns along the riverbanks. Tense standoffs with Teton Sioux leaders test the commanders' diplomacy and military readiness near the Missouri bends. Lewis collects animal specimens and documents native customs as autumn frosts begin to settle over the landscape.
Lewis and Clark, September 8, 1804 → Lewis, October 20, 1804
Cold winds force the party to construct Fort Mandan near native earth-lodge villages in late October 1804. The commanders hire Toussaint Charbonneau and his Shoshone wife Sacagawea as interpreters for the western journey ahead. Blacksmiths forge iron battle-axes to trade with Mandan neighbors in exchange for vital stores of corn.
Clark, October 21, 1804 → Clark, January 28, 1805
Subzero temperatures freeze the Missouri solid, requiring men to free trapped canoes with heated stones. French traders and Mandan leaders visit the fort regularly to exchange news, trade goods, and geographical intelligence. By April 1805, the party repairs wooden craft and launches west into uncharted territory.
Clark, January 29, 1805 → Clark, April 26, 1805
Reaching the confluence of the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers opens expansive plains teeming with game. Hunters encounter massive grizzly bears that prove exceptionally difficult to slay with flintlock rifles. Lewis meticulously records avian species, beaver habitats, and river salinity levels as the expedition moves west.
Lewis, April 27, 1805 → Lewis, May 23, 1805
Striking white sandstone cliffs line the river corridors as the expedition pushes deeper into uncharted territory. Scouting parties ascend high bluffs to map distant mountain ranges and locate the correct river fork. Prickly pear cactus needles pierce moccasins across dry plains, complicating daily foot travel for hunters.
Clark, May 23, 1805 → Clark, June 16, 1805
Reaching the Great Falls of the Missouri requires building wooden wagons to haul canoes overland for miles. Sacagawea falls severely ill, prompting Lewis to treat her with mineral water from nearby sulfur springs. Men fashion makeshift iron-framed boats while enduring violent hail storms and thick mosquito swarms.
Lewis, June 17, 1805 → Lewis, July 15, 1805
Navigating the sheer rock cliffs of the Gates of the Rocky Mountains narrows the river channel dramatically. Lewis leads a small advance party on foot to make contact with native Shoshone inhabitants. Scouting over rough ridges reveals high valleys that branch toward the headwaters of the Missouri.
Clark, July 15, 1805 → Lewis, August 13, 1805
Lewis locates a Shoshone village along mountain streams and establishes friendly trade relations. Sacagawea unexpectedly recognizes the Shoshone chief Cameahwait as her brother, smoothing crucial diplomatic negotiations. The expedition exchanges rifles and trade goods for pack horses needed to cross the steep Bitterroot Mountains.
Clark, August 13, 1805 → Clark, August 24, 1805
Guides lead the party through treacherous mountain passes filled with snow, boulder fields, and scarce game. Desperate hunger forces the men to consume pack horses and wild berries along steep rocky trails. Descending to the Clearwater River allows the expedition to construct new dugout canoes with Nez Perce assistance.
Lewis, August 25, 1805 → Clark, October 24, 1805
Navigating the dangerous rapids of the Snake and Columbia rivers tests canoe crews against swirling waters. Coastal tribes trade dried salmon, sea otter pelts, and shell ornaments with the party along riverbanks. High winds and ocean tides announce the approach of the Pacific Ocean near the river mouth by November 1805.
Clark, October 25, 1805 → Clark, November 30, 1805
Endless rain hampers efforts to locate a suitable winter site on the southern shore of the Columbia estuary. The party builds Fort Clatsop out of timber logs to shelter men and preserve valuable dried meats. Strict military guard details and daily hunting parties operate through constant damp weather and dense fir forests.
Lewis, December 1, 1805 → Lewis, January 8, 1806
Clark leads a detachment to the ocean beach to inspect the skeleton of a massive stranded whale. The party trades small glass beads and fishhooks with local Clatsop and Chinook villagers for whale oil and blubber. Lewis records detailed notes on local weaving techniques, coastal hats, and indigenous canoe designs.
Clark, January 8, 1806 → Clark, February 4, 1806
Winter weeks at Fort Clatsop allow Lewis to compile extensive descriptions of Pacific Northwest evergreen trees and shrubs. Hunters track elk through thick underbrush to secure leather skins for repair work and clothing. Detailed journal entries capture avian anatomy, berry varieties, and timber durability for future American settlers.
Lewis, February 5, 1806 → Clark, February 24, 1806
Salt-makers near the ocean coast produce crucial mineral stores needed to preserve meat for the long return journey. Lewis cataloged small mammalian species, comparing western squirrels with eastern Atlantic varieties. Final preparations at Fort Clatsop conclude as commanders wait for favorable mountain weather to cross the range.
Lewis, February 25, 1806 → Lewis, March 21, 1806
Presenting Fort Clatsop to Chief Comowool, the expedition embarks eastward up the Columbia River in March 1806. Upriver progress against swift currents forces the crew to trade extra gear for edible roots and domestic dogs. Dense fog and spring river rises complicate navigation near islands and tributary junctions.
Clark, March 21, 1806 → Lewis, April 7, 1806
Steep rapids near the Columbia Narrows compel the party to abandon canoes and travel overland on foot. Clark negotiates with local leaders to purchase pack horses, using basic medical care to build goodwill. Native gambling games and trading assemblies surround the camp as supplies are packed onto horses.
Clark, April 7, 1806 → Clark, April 29, 1806
Traversing Wallahwollah territory brings warm hospitality and gifts of fresh horses from Chief Yellept. Clark treats numerous native patients suffering from eye infections and joint pain with simple remedies. The party advances along clear prairie streams toward the mountain foothills as spring flora blooms across the plains.
Lewis, April 30, 1806 → Lewis, May 15, 1806
Deep snow on the Bitterroot heights halts eastern progress, forcing a long stay among the Nez Perce. Hunters search surrounding timberlands for deer while the crew manages horse herds in river bottoms. Clark continues medical visits while Lewis records observations of local crow species and high-elevation weather.
Clark, May 15, 1806 → Lewis, June 11, 1806
Detailed studies of the camas root document how indigenous communities harvest and prepare the vital bulb for food. As mountain snows melt in late June 1806, Nez Perce guides direct the expedition across tricky alpine trails. The party successfully traverses high mountain passes, reaching the eastern slopes of the Rockies intact.
Clark, June 11, 1806 → Lewis, July 7, 1806
Splitting the expedition at Traveler's Rest allows Lewis to explore the Marias River while Clark surveys the Yellowstone. Lewis encounters hostile Blackfeet warriors along northern streams, resulting in a fatal skirmish over rifles. Clark explores long river valleys, carving his name into Pompeys Pillar along the southern route.
Lewis, July 8, 1806 → Clark, August 2, 1806
Reuniting on the lower Missouri, the entire party rides rapid downstream currents toward civilized settlements. Hunters harvest plentiful buffalo and wild game along river bottoms to supply the final leg of travel. Arriving in St. Louis in September 1806, the commanders complete their historic two-year transcontinental exploration.
Clark, August 3, 1806 → Clark, September 26, 1806
An eyewitness account of American wilderness, diplomatic encounters, and geography across the continent.