After Indians told Lewis and Clark about a waterfall on the Missouri River, they assumed the portage would require only a half day, but Lewis discovered there were actually five waterfalls. On June 23, 1805, William Clark wrote of men hauling with all their strength, catching grass, knobs, and stones with their hands to gain more force in drawing the canoes and loads, while those not repairing the course fell asleep at every halt, yet no one complained and all went cheerfully on. The Corps labored for 11 days to make the 18 mile portage from Belt Creek, east of the city, to the White Bear Islands, where they re-entered the Missouri.