As we have said, they are now more commonly known as bighorns.
The patience of the explorers was rewarded, on Sunday, May 26, 1806, by their first view of the Rocky Mountains.

Here is the journal's record on that date:-- "It was here (Cow Creek, Mont.) that, after ascending the highest summit of the hills on the north side of the river, Captain Lewis first caught a distant view of the Rock mountains--the object of all our hopes, and the reward of all our ambition.

On both sides of the river, and at no great distance from it, the mountains followed its course.

Above these at the distance of fifty miles from us, an irregular range of mountains spread from west to northwest from his position.

To the north of these, a few elevated points, the most remarkable of which bore N.65'0 W., appeared above the horizon; and as the sun shone on the snows of their summits, he obtained a clear and satisfactory view of those mountains which close on the Missouri the passage to the Pacific." As they continued to ascend the Missouri they found themselves confronted by many considerable rapids which sometimes delayed their progress.