May 27, 1805

Earlier this month, we almost lost two of our pirogues (boats) that were holding very important items, such as journals Lewis and Clark had previously finished, and crucial supplies that we need for the expedition. Sacagawea saved these items by sweeping up as many things as she could hold in one quick action. Both Lewis and Clark were growing impatient because they have this very bad urge to see the Rockies. It just so happens that we found sight of the Rockies yesterday. Lewis and Clark both took observations of them, Clark noting that he now realized the challenge that the mountains posed. Our progress over the Rockies was very slow and tedious since we were traveling up a very windy river that was almost completely dried up and had rocks that were jutting out in all different directions.
One of the animals we noted on this leg of the journey was the Hutchins's Goose. We noted it on May 5, above the mouth of the Poplar River in Montana. Another was the Columbian Black-Tailed Deer that we saw on May 19, to the north of Cape Disappointment, in Pacific County, Washington. I found the Shiras's Moose to be quite interesting, with its ability to swim at 6 miles per hour for up to two hours. I took note of this creature on May 10, at Milk River in Montana.

I hope I can eventually finish this journal; I've barely written in half of it yet!! Ha-ha!! Lewis and Clark have probably filled, front cover to back cover, at least 4 or 5 of these journals... Oh well; I'll catch up eventually.
Keep Well,
George Gibson



http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisandclark/record_species_043_7_3.html
The fascinating moose I noted on.