“. . . this horrible mountainous desert” - Idaho Historical Markers on Waymarking.com

One of a group of three Forest Service signs near the mouth of Fish Creek, about a mile below the Lochsa Historical Ranger Station.

Marker Name: “. . . this horrible mountainous desert” -- Sargent Patrick Glas, 19 September 1805 Marker Type: Roadside Marker Text: The Corps struggles across the Lolo Trail Westward 1805 -- Look up Fish Creek to your right and you will see into the rugged backcountry traveled by the Corps of Discovery. The expedition journeyed through the upper portions of this drainage, which Clark called “Hungery Creek.” Hungry, dejected and desperate, the men of the Corps crossed this endless sea of mountains. Today, you see no trail through this area. Downed trees and bogs make travel treacherous on foot or by horse. Eastward 1806 -- Against the advice of their Nimiipuu (Nez Perce) hosts, the Corps left Kamiah before the snow left the mountains. Drenched by rain and unable to locate the trail because of deep snow at Cache Mountain, they retreated for the first time in their 8000-mile journey. Lewis dispatched Interpreter Drewyer and Private Shannon back to the plains beyond the “Kooskooske” River (to the Camas Prairie) to acquire Nimiipuu guides. Nimiipuu Guides While camped with the Corps along Hungery Creek, their Nez Perce guides performed a fire ceremony. They told the Corps the ceremony would provide good weather for the trip. “last evening the indians entertained us with seting the fir trees on fire, they have a great number of dry lims near their bodies which when set on fire creates a very suddon and immence blaze from bottom to top of thos tall trees. they are a beatifull object in this situation at night. this exhibition, reminded me of a display of fireworks. the natives told us that their object in seting those trees on fire was to bring fair weather for our journey.” -- Captain Meriwether Lewis, 25 June 1806 The guides skillfully led the expedition over the mountains to a gentler landscape in what is now the state of Montana. “. . . we were entirely surrouned by those mountains from which to one unacquainted with them it would have seemed impossible ever to have escaped, . . . these fellows are most admireable pilots.” -- Captain Meriwether Lewis, 27 June 1806 County: Idaho Group Responsible for Placement: U.S. Forest Service City: Not listed Date Dedicated: Not listed Marker Number: Not listed Web link(s) for additional information: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   10/09/2010 Volcanoguy visited it