HISTORY · HISTORICAL MARKER
William Clark's Campsite, August 21 and 25, 1805
History
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William Clark's reconnaissance party camped here on their way down the Salmon River on August 21, 1805, and returned on August 25 convinced that the canyon was impassable. Clark's hunters saw deer and elk, but not close enough to chance a shot. "Old Toby," Clark's Lemhi Shoshone guide, obtained two salmon from some Lemhi women and children who were gathering berries near the river. Clark found the salmon "pleasant eateing," but complained that they weakened him "verry fast." Mountain hunger had began. Patrick Gass wrote on August 25, 1805, "Two men went out to hunt and all the rest to fish. We soon caught as many small fish as made, with two salmon our guide got from some indians, a comfortable supper."
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