As we began our travels last spring, our northwest path continually put us on the trail of Lewis & Clark. After several weeks of following their footsteps and stopping to read the many interpretive boards in the many little parks, we decided if we were going to be traveling with them, we needed to learn more. We downloaded Undaunted Courage by Steven Ambrose and were transported back in time as we travelled across the country.
We thought we parted ways in Montana, but 7 months later we find ourselves at Fort Clatsop, the end of the Lewis & Clark trail on the Pacific Ocean in northern Oregon. The small party spent 3 very wet and hungry months at this small outpost before starting their journey back east.
This is the official sign marking the Lewis & Clark trail. We started to see them everywhere as we travelled northwest.After deciding Cape Disappointment in Washington wasn’t an ideal winter camp site, the party moved across the Columbia River to a small inlet. It was here they built Fort Clatsop, named for the local Native American tribe nearby.This replica of the 6 room encampment is where the party of 29 men, Lewis & Clark, and Sacagawea and her baby spent 3 long rainy and hungry months.This small room in the fort is set-up to house 8 men. We found the fire place to be an interesting design.Ten miles south of the fort, in the current town of Seaside, 3 men spent almost 2 months boiling salt water day and night to secure enough salt for their return trip east.I bet Seaside, Oregon looked a bit different back then.
