But these were soon scattered, and the explorers only found that the general direction of the trails was up into the mountains which define the boundary between Montana and Idaho.

Skirting the base of these mountains (the Bitter Root), the party endeavored to find a plain trail, or Indian road, leading up to a practicable pass.

Travelling in a southwesterly direction along the main stream, they entered a valley which led into the mountains.

Here they ate their last bit of fresh meat, the remainder of a deer they had killed a day or two before; they reserved for their final resort, in case of famine, a small piece of salt pork.

The journal says:-- "They then continued through the low bottom, along the main stream, near the foot of the mountains on their right.