Weather Diary and Narrative Journals Relating to Weather, Water & Climate

Section 4

Weather Diary and Narrative Journals Relating to Weather, Water & Climate

NOAA's National Weather Service 2003-2006 Lewis & Clark Corps of Discovery Bicentennial

1805

January 1, 1805 to December, 31 1805

The winter of 1804-1805 at Fort Mandan was harsh with frequent snows, blizzards and extreme temperatures. The party experienced a variety of natural phenomena including sun dogs, mirages, northern lights, and even an eclipse of the moon. As spring neared, the party moved quickly to free the keelboat and perogues from the icy barrier of the Missouri River before breakup. By late March the ice was flowing and temperatures were warming. On April 7, 1805, the keelboat and a small party returned down-river to St. Louis carrying journal notes and specimens from the previous years journey destined for President Thomas Jefferson. The main Expeditionary force set off towards the Rocky Mountains and their ultimate goal the Pacific Ocean. The party made slow progress westward as they endured strong Spring winds which created sand storms along the Missouri.

By June 2nd, they reached a flood swollen fork in the Missouri. Most of the party believed the north fork was the true Missouri as it was muddy like the previous weeks coming up the river. To be certain, Lewis and Clark took scouting parties to locate the great falls the Minetare/Hidatsa Indians had described. After an unsuccessful try, Lewis took a second party for a further investigation and discovered the Great Falls of the Missouri on June 13. It would take over a month to portage around the falls during a cool and wet early summer. At the end of July, they reached another decision point known today as the Three Forks of the Missouri just as the weather warmed to summer norms. The Expedition moved westward up the newly

Lewis & Clark Expedition Weather Journals, 1805, Page 1

named Jefferson River in search of the Shoshone Indian Nation to obtain horses for their trek across the Continental Divide. Lewis led a small scouting party across the great divide on August 12 and found the Shoshones. Clark took a small contingent to explore "Lewis's (today's Salmon) River but found it unpassable. Faced with potential failure, the Captains decided they would have to use an old Indian trail to cross the mountains. After purchasing horses, their Shoshone Indian guide, Old Toby, led them over a mountain pass from Idaho back into Montana, down the Bitterroot Valley and then westward along the Lolo Trail. During this time they experience early Fall snows in the high rugged mountains. Nearly starving to death, the Expedition left the Bitterroot Mountains near the end of September and reached the Nez Perce Indian Nation east of present-day Lewiston, Idaho. Here they set up Canoe Camp to build water craft to take them down the Clearwater, Snake and Columbia Rivers to the ocean.

With the current at their back, they set off towards the ocean from near present-day Orofino, Idaho on October 7. After passing many rapids in the Clearwater and Snake Rivers, the Expedition came to great Columbia River on October 16. They proceeded down the wide Columbia passing many dangerous falls, shutes and rapids, and by early November they had reached the tidal waters of the Columbia. Rain began on November 4 and numerous late Fall storms ravaged their camps as they progressed to the ocean. Finally, Clark declared prematurely on November 7th, "Great joy in camp we are in View of the Ocian!"; however, they were in the great Columbia River estuary. After being pinned down by the intense storms, the Expedition reached the mouth of the river on November 16. The Pacific Ocean at last. Some 4,162 miles by Clark's dead reckoning from St. Louis. Looking for winter quarters, the party moved back up the river, crossed to the south shore, and established Fort Clatsop near present-day Astoria, Oregon on December 7. They would remain at Fort Clatsop until their departure on March 23, 1806. Although mild temperatures remained for the rest of December, strong Pacific storm systems would bring daily rains, wind and sometimes thunder, lightning and hail.

The systematic entries for the Lewis and Clark Expedition daily narrative journals as well as that of the army sergeants and privates were taken every day in 1805. However, not every journalist noted weather, water or climate data each day. Different journals and notebooks were used during the Expedition. For a more detailed explanation on the journals and entry practices consult. (Cutright, 1976) and (Moulton, 1986, 2: 8-48; and 530-567)

Lewis & Clark Expedition Weather Journals, 1805, Page 2

January 1805

Lewis and Clark Expedition Weather Diary & Daily Narrative Journals

The Expedition established Fort Mandan on November 2, 1804 near present-day Washburn, North Dakota and remain here for winter quarters until they leave on April 7, 1805.

Tuesday, January 1 Weather Diary 1

Sunrise

4 PM

Missouri River 2

Temp

Weather

Wind Temp

Weather

Wind Rise/Fall Feet Inches

18a

s

SE

34a

f

NW

R

1

0

1 Reference: Coues, Volume III, pages 1269-70, 1286; Moulton, Volume 3, pages 281-283; Thwaites, Volume 6, Part II, pages 181-182.

2 River observations on the Missouri River were taken at sunrise for a 24-hour period.

Daily Narrative Journals

Clark

The Day was worm. Themtr 340 above 0. Some fiew Drops of rain about Sunset, at Dark it began to Snow, and Snowed the greater part of the night. (The temptr for Snow is about 0)

Gass

The day was warm and pleasant.

Ordway

cloudy but moderate. Rained a little in the eve.

Whitehouse the day was warm and pleasant.

Wednesday, January 2 Weather Diary

Lewis & Clark Expedition Weather Journals, 1805, Page 3

Sunrise Temp

4b

Weather s

Wind NW

4 PM Temp

8b

Weather f a s

Wind N

Missouri River

Rise/Fall Feet

-

-

Inches -

Daily Narrative Journals

Clark

a Snowey morning. Some Snow to Day. Verry Cold in the evening.

Gass

Some snow fell this morning. This day I discovered how the Indians keep their horses during the winter. In the day time they are permitted to run out and gather what they can; and at night are brought into the lodges, with the natives themselves

Ordway

Snowed fast this morning.

Whitehouse

This morning some Snow fell. The Mandan Indians in this Second Village had a number of horses, which they keep in their lodges with them, every Cold night during the Winter.

Thursday, January 3 Weather Diary the Snow was not considerable the ground is now covered 9 inches deep--

Sunrise Temp 14b

Weather c

Wind N

4 PM Temp

4b

Weather s

Wind SE

Missouri River

Rise/Fall Feet

-

-

Inches -

Daily Narrative Journals

Clark

some Snow to day

Gass

The weather was generally very cold.

Ordway

Snowed this morning

Lewis & Clark Expedition Weather Journals, 1805, Page 4

Friday, January 4 Weather Diary

Sunrise Temp 28a

Weather c a s

Wind W

4 PM Temp

4b

Weather c

Wind NW

Missouri River

Rise/Fall Feet

R

-

Inches 2 ?

Daily Narrative Journals

Clark

a worm Snowey morning, the Themtr. at 280 abov 0, Cloudy. The evening the weather became cold and windey, wind from the NW.

Gass

The weather was generally very cold.

Ordway

Cloud, warm morning. The afternoon blustry.

Whitehouse

This morning Clear, the weather is not as cold, the weather was moderate to what it had been some days past. In the Evening, the weather grew verry cold and the Wind blew hard from the NW all night--

Saturday, January 5 Weather Diary

Sunrise Temp 20b

Weather c

Wind NW

4 PM Temp 18b

Weather s

Wind NE

Missouri River

Rise/Fall Feet

R

-

Inches 2

Daily Narrative Journals

Clark

a cold day. Some Snow.

Gass

The weather was generally very cold.

Ordway

high blustry winds all last night & verry cold three of our hunters Stayed out all night. A cold morning.

Whitehouse a cloudy cold day. The weather continued verry Cold. The Weather continuing

Lewis & Clark Expedition Weather Journals, 1805, Page 5

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