Salem Overlook
The high point of land Lewis selected as a staging point for the trip across the portage
As Captain Lewis discovered on June 14, 1805 there were five falls the Corps of Discovery had to portage their canoes and baggage. The Captains determined that if the men set out from this spot at sunrise they could reach the Upper Portage Camp by dark.
The first trip across the portage was completed on June 22. Lewis wrote "after dark we had reached within half a mile of our intended camp when the tongue gave way and we were obliged to leave the canoe, each man took as much as he could carry on his back and proceeded to the river much fatigued where we formed our encampment."
The next day Clark and the men returned with the empty carriages to the Lower Portage Camp and prepared another load to be portaged. It was then carried to the staging area. Following this pattern the portage was completed in four trips.
The portage route crossed the plains several miles from the river. There was little water on the plains and the men arrived at the Upper Portage Camp suffering from dehydration. On days when it rained the men drank water from puddles. Private Joseph Whitehouse wrote on June 26 that he had become sick from drinking too much cold water too quickly and while he was still too hot after arriving at the upper camp.
On June 29 a violent storm struck the area. Captain Clark wrote "the hail and wind being so large and violent in the plain, and them naked, (he meant they had no cover on their heads) they were very much bruised and some nearly killed, one knocked down three times, their heads bloody."
As Lewis wrote the "fatigues" of the men portaging the canoes and baggage were incredible, however none of the men complained. On June 25 after they after they got one canoe and the baggage to the staging area for the next day's trip they danced on the prairie to fiddle music provided by Pierre Cruzatte.
The first trip across the portage was completed on June 22. Lewis wrote "after dark we had reached within half a mile of our intended camp when the tongue gave way and we were obliged to leave the canoe, each man took as much as he could carry on his back and proceeded to the river much fatigued where we formed our encampment."
The next day Clark and the men returned with the empty carriages to the Lower Portage Camp and prepared another load to be portaged. It was then carried to the staging area. Following this pattern the portage was completed in four trips.
The portage route crossed the plains several miles from the river. There was little water on the plains and the men arrived at the Upper Portage Camp suffering from dehydration. On days when it rained the men drank water from puddles. Private Joseph Whitehouse wrote on June 26 that he had become sick from drinking too much cold water too quickly and while he was still too hot after arriving at the upper camp.
On June 29 a violent storm struck the area. Captain Clark wrote "the hail and wind being so large and violent in the plain, and them naked, (he meant they had no cover on their heads) they were very much bruised and some nearly killed, one knocked down three times, their heads bloody."
As Lewis wrote the "fatigues" of the men portaging the canoes and baggage were incredible, however none of the men complained. On June 25 after they after they got one canoe and the baggage to the staging area for the next day's trip they danced on the prairie to fiddle music provided by Pierre Cruzatte.