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  April 2000 Newsletter  




Washington Chapter Newsletter : April, 2000 : Vol. 1 #2


Discover Petroglyphs, Pictographs & History at May 20 Meeting
 submitted by Cheryl Essary


Horsethief Lake State Park is a recreational area along the Columbia River's Long Narrows, which was once the site of Wakemap (wah' -kuh-map), a native village. Petroglyphs (chiseled) & pictographs (painted) can still be seen on the nearby rocks (only by appointment with a park ranger). Tsagagalal, "She Who Watches", the most famous of the pictographs, peers from her cliff-top home just west of the park. A cemetery at the park's entrance is still maintained by a tribal family & includes graves moved when The Dalles dam flooded the funeral islands & river flats with its back waters.

William Clark reported that Wah' -kuh-map was "a great emporium . . . where all the neighboring nations assembled." Land routes and the Columbia River brought thousands of Native Americans from all over the area, as the rapids provided the salmon that were of unbelievable size and strength. It is said that French-Canadian voyageurs gave this place its name, "Les Dalles," meaning "paving stones," which actually were the partially submerged basalt rock.

If you have been consumed with curiosity about how the Corps of Discovery navigated and negotiated in this beautiful but treacherous area, you will have the chance to have all your questions answered at Horsethief Lake State Park (in Klickitat County, near White Salmon and Bingen, across the Columbia River from The Dalles) on Saturday, May 20, 2000. We have an outstanding day of history planned. Those who have signed up for the pictograph tour (see list of names below) will meet at 10:00 a.m. at the trailhead sign in the gravel parking lot for your approximately 1-1/2 hour walk, led by park rangers. The tour will leave promptly at 10:00 a.m., so please plan to arrive a few minutes early.

Even if you don't go on the tour, you'll want to come to the potluck picnic lunch at noon (bring your own food, plates, utensils, etc.). We will then be treated to two afternoon speakers. Gary Lentz, park ranger at Lewis and Clark trail State Park, will share information about the Columbia Gorge pictographs and demonstrate how to make petroglyphs and pictographs using primitive materials and techniques. The next program will be presented by Martin Plamondon, who is working on a large Lewis and Clark trail mapping project and has also researched and written extensively on the expedition. He will speak to us about Clark's mapping method, the methods of surveying the traverse (distance and direction) and why it was done the way they did it. He will use his own maps to illustrate. Also, he will show aerial photos of Celilo Falls and the Long and Short Narrows and address the white water challenges of these rapids. Have your questions ready! In addition, Don Popejoy will lead a hike around, through, up and over Horsethief Butte. He will have a tour booklet about "She" and the hike of the Butte available for a $5 donation as a fund-raiser for the chapter.

The Columbia Gorge is famous for its colorful wildflowers, so why not take a walk around the park or hiking trails? In the park area, likely bloomers in mid-May include Western Blue Flag, Heart-Leaf Buckwheat, Black Hawthorn, Choke Cherry, Slender Godetia (Clarkia gracilis), Slender Evening Primrose, and Rigid Fiddleneck.

Tsagagalal
Tsagagalal, "She Who Watches"


Pictograph Tour List
Pam Andersen Pat Fletcher Richard Klein
Norm Adams Marge Gary Tom Laidlaw
Bill Bradfield Walt Gary Don Popejoy
Don Dinsmore Murray Hayes Barbara Snoey
Muff Donohue Penney Hubbard Martin Snoey
Mike Ewing Nick Kirkmire Carlos Vest
Jack Fletcher Mary Jill Klay Roger Wendlick & friend


The rangers at the park are graciously accommodating our group. Please do them the courtesy of not only showing up, but try to be a few minutes early. If you cannot come, please notify Cheryl Essary at (509)488-9074 or e-mail at merckdf@televar.com



President's Message: Opportunity is Knocking
from Murray Hayes
First I should like to thank the membership for their vote of confidence to our current leadership by your unanimous election of the slate of officers proposed by the nominating committee. But don't let us get by on past successes-let us know where we can improve the organization.

We are now entering our third year as the statewide chapter of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation. Following the 1997 Annual Meeting at Skamania Lodge in the Columbia Gorge, an organizing committee was formed and took a conservative approach in writing the bylaws; we selected from the models of existing chapters and the LCTHF and edited the result into our present organization. Since the chapter was new, we emphasized procedures and left the purpose and objectives vague to allow flexibility and to learn from our experience over time with input from the membership. The board has resisted suggestions to change our bylaws (i.e. our rules on officer succession, dates for election, a more descriptive name for the chapter, etc.).

We have succeeded in entertaining and educating ourselves in the history of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and more opportunities are scheduled for the year 2000. We have settled on a pattern of holding an annual business and organization meeting in February in the Puget Sound area, two meetings on the trail with field trips, and a get together at the Annual Meeting. We have also added special meetings when opportunity presented itself. We have tried to have at least one joint meeting per year with Oregon or Idaho and plan to continue this pattern and possibly add an additional joint meeting each year. I am pleased with this flexibility-some might say lack of direction-and hope we can keep both the spontaneity and predictability with respect to long-term planning alive.

We are beginning to know each other better, and it may be time to look to the future for constructive change in the structure and programs of the organization. I suggest to the board and the membership that we devote time to re-defining our Purpose and Objectives. Our bylaws list our purpose as "to stimulate public interest in matters relating to the Lewis and Clark Expedition" and to "seek out and identify Lewis and Clark Expedition related sites and monitor the condition of interpretative facilities in its geographical area". Our programs have met the first purpose, but we have done nothing specific to meet the second.

At this point, it may be wise to ask: "Is this sufficient? Why is the Washington Chapter? What should our chapter be? What do you want to do?" Some alternatives include:

1. Things are going fine; don't rock the boat. We need those members who enjoy the participation and find no reason to become more active - Thank You.

2. Increase our activities in education. WE NEED A CHAIR & HELPERS-can you volunteer?
      a. actively distribute the LCTHF Curriculum Guide (individually, by chapter)
      b. involve young people
      c. scholarship program
      d. essay contests
      e. publicize and provide speakers and or demonstrations
      f. other

3. Get involved in projects
      a. information for ourselves and the public - web site, brochures, etc.
      b. lecture series - outside experts and/or regional experts - our members!
      c. hands-on projects - maintain neglected sites, build "things", exhibits, etc.

4. Raise funds to support projects (our dues structure will support the present pattern)
      a. for specific projects
      b. in anticipation of "something"

5. Your ideas??

Will you help me & the board to improve our program by getting involved in our future plans?
Mark up this list or send your suggestion(s) to me or a member of the board (see list below).
Thanks from Murray!


Board member names & addresses:
      Murray Hayes, 936 Cameron Rd,Sequim, WA 98383; 360-582-1069
            Cheryl Essary, 886 So Hwy 17, Othello, WA 99344; 509-488-9074
                  Pam Andersen, 2374 Crestline Blvd NW, Olympia, WA 98502; 369-943-3979
                        Rennie Kubik, 10808 NE 27th Court, Vancouver, WA 98696; 360-546-5989
                              Lee Edtl, 919 22nd Avenue, Longview, WA 98632; 360-577-0485
                                    Don Payne, 32237 3rd Ave SW, Federal Way, WA 98023; 253-838-5906
                                          Don Popejoy, East 308 Weile, Apt. #3, Spokane, WA 99208; 509-483-3174
                                                Lyle Soule, 12223 Mt. Cruiser Lane NW, #B308, Silverdale, WA 98383; 360-394-1755
                                                      Doc Wesselius, 1608 Big Hanaford Valley, Centralia, WA 98531; 360-736-6106



Chapter Becomes Affiliate Member of WSHS


At their February 12 meeting, the board unanimously approved a proposal for the chapter to become an affiliate member organization of the Washington State Historical Society (WSHS). The agreement stipulates that we will provide the Society with a roster of our members for a one-time solicitation for WSHS membership. In return for each chapter member who joins the society, our chapter will receive $1.50 per year so long as that member continues to be a member of the society. The society is specifically prohibited from employing this roster list for any other use. Our Washington State Chapter will benefit both monetarily and by recognition of our place among area historical organizations. Individual membership benefits of joining WSHS include receiving their excellent quarterly publication, Columbia, and newsletter as well as discounts on admission to the museum.
Help Students Learn About the Lewis and Clark Legacy


The story of the Lewis and Clark Expedition is an exciting one, filled with examples of the traits we want to instill in students of all ages-honesty, leadership, teamwork, compassion and courage! The story of the Expedition is filled with examples of everyday classroom lessons in math, science, geography, art, music and drama, English, grammar, creative writing and history. Your board encourages each member to consider donating a copy of the Foundation's "An American Legacy: The Lewis and Clark Expedition" to your local school district. This cross-curriculum educator's guide for grades 5-9 contains curriculum & resources with lesson plans, a reference guide, handouts & reading materials in the sciences, mathematics, social studies, language arts and the arts. Order a copy today for just $40 + $6 shipping & handling, from the LCTHF, Box 3434, Great Falls, MT 59403 or telephone 1-800-701-3434.



The Journals:
Shooting the Dangerous Rapids Near Horsethief Lake State Park


Near the chapter's May meeting site in the Columbia Gorge, the Lewis and Clark expedition endured several days of fast, wet adventure in October 1805, astonishing onlooking Chinook Indians by running the churning white water obstacles with their canoes.

Sergeant John Ordway in his October 22nd journal entry wrote, " . . . we came to the first falls of the Columbia R." The Corps of Discover was about to begin a 55-mile stretch of fast-moving river, including four major barriers that are hard to imagine today. The barriers are beneath the surface of reservoirs created by dams generating electricity. Captain William Clark recorded, " . . . we landed and walked down accompanied by an old man [Chinook Indian] to view the falls and the best route to make a portage." (October 22nd, Tuesday)

The portage of Celilo Falls was accomplished on the 23rd. Clark wrote, " . . . at this place we were obliged to let the Canoes down by strong ropes of Elk Skin which we had for the purpose, one Canoe in passing this place got loose by the cords breaking, and was cought by the Indians below . . . landed safe with all the canoes at our Camp below the falls by 3 oClock P.M. nearly covered with flees which were so thick amongst the Straw and fish Skins at the upper part of the portage at which place the nativs had been camped not long since; that every man of the party was obliged to strip naked dureing the time of taking over the canoes, that they might have an opportunity of brushing the flees off their legs and bodies."

On the 24th, the Corps' canoes shot the white water of the Short Narrows (The Dalles proper). Clark wrote ". . . at this place the water of this great river is compressed into a channel between two rocks not exceeding fort five yards wide and continues for 1/4 of a mile when it again widens to 200 yards . . . the only danger in passing thro those narrows was the whorls and swills [swells] arriseing from the Compression of the water, and which I thought (as also our principal waterman Peter Crusat) by good Stearing we could pass down Safe, accordingly I deturmined to pass through this place notwithstanding the horrid appearance of this agitated gut swelling, boiling & whorling in every diretion, which from the top of the rock did not appear as bad as when I was in it; however, we passed Safe to the astonishment of all the Inds. of the last Lodges who viewed us from the top of the rock."

On the 25th, Clark wrote, "Capt. Lewis and my Self walked down to See the place the Indians pointed out as the worst place in passing through the gut, which we found difficuelt of passing without great danger, but as the portage was impracticable with our large canoes, we concluded to Make a portage of our most valuable articles and run the canoes thro [the Long Narrows] ."

Sergeant Patrick Gass recorded this passage in his journal entry for Friday 25th. "We found there were bad rapids in the narrows and therefore carried over part of our baggage by land, about three quarters of a mile; and then took the canoes over, one at a time. In going over one of them filled with water, on account of which we were detained three hours. The rapids continued for 4 miles, when the river became more placid. At night we came to a place where there is a considerable quantity of timber on the hills, both oak and pine, and encamped at the mouth of a creek on the south side. The natives about here are, or pretend to be, very uneasy, and say the Indians below will kill us."

Saturday, the 26th, Gass reported: "A fine morning. We hauled up all our canoes to dress and repair them, as they had been injured in passing over the portage, round the falls."

Horsethief Lake State Park, with its famous pictographs, is by a cliff-line cove that appears on Clark's equally famous map of the area. The National Geographic's Guide to the Lewis and Clark Trail suggests that a panoramic view of this section of the river can be seen from above the cove on Washington Route 14, by walking Horsethief Bluff Trail along the base of a bluff east of the park.

contributed by Charles Blair

What Questions Would You Like to Have Answered?


Here is a great opportunity: Gary Lentz has offered to write a column in our newsletter based on questions from our members. What aspect of the Lewis and Clark Expedition have you been wondering about? He will research and respond to questions for publication in the newsletter. Send your questions to: Gary Lentz, 36149 Hwy 12, Dayton, WA 99328.



Retracing Clark's Hike to the Pacific Ocean
submitted by Doc Wesselius


On March 11, 2000, Mark Hamilton, poet at large, was guided by Al LePage, National Coast Trail Association Executive Director, on a day hike along Clark's reconnaissance route from "Station Camp" to the Pacific Ocean. They were accompanied by amateur Lewis and Clark historians Jim Sayce, Glen Kirkpatrick, and Doc Wesselius while retracing the route taken by Clark on November 18 and 19, 1805, to reach the ocean.

Mark has retraced the entire westbound Lewis and Clark Trail alone, using a kayak and a dory, and on foot with a pack mule. After completing Clark's eastbound route to St. Louis, again solo, he intends to complete his book of poems inspired by the travels. Al and Jim, Long Beach Department of Community Development Director, are enthusiastic promoters for establishing a hiking trail from Cape Disappointment to Long Beach. As part of the Pacific Coast Trail system, the segment will commemorate the Lewis and Clark Expedition. A trail from "Station Camp" to Cape Disappointment is also being planned, giving the public a chance to hike part of the historic route of the Corps of Discovery.

On a cloudy morning, Clark set out from "Station Camp" with eleven men at first light to reach the Pacific Ocean. Using Clark's sketch map of "Hayley's Bay", the modern-day explorers also got an early start, with an unseasonably clear, sunny morning. To warm up for the day-long hike, the Coastal Forest Trail was taken to view the eastern side of Cape Disappointment and Bakers Bay. Contemplating Clark's route along the shore gave rise to a realization that would affect considerations for the rest of the day: the bay's shoreline has changed considerably in the past two hundred years. Sand deposits, with the establishment of marshes, have obliterated Clark's route along a sandy beach. Only when Clark's route followed high ground can today's hiker retrace the exact route.

The men of the Corps crossed a low neck of head-lands to reach the ocean from "Hayley's Bay." Today this area is the entrance to the campgrounds at Ft. Canby State Park, with the Coast Guard station on the eastern side of Cape Disappointment. Although Clark's map does not indicate that he made a hike to the top of Cape Disappointment, the modern-day group visited the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center to experience the panoramic view from the top of the headlands. The Discovery Trail from the interpretive center to the campground entrance, although not part of Clark's route, gives today's hiker an appreciation of the geography, flora, and fauna experienced by the earlier explorers. A sense of history is also gained as the trail passes through World War II coastal fortifications and provides a view of The Graveyard of the Pacific and the North Jetty at the mouth of the Columbia River.

The sea coast has also changed considerably in the past 200 years. The buildup of sand has created a vastly different appearance for the coastline. Many bays have been filled and are now swamps and marshes. McKinzie Head, which the corpsmen hiked over, is now separated from the mainland by swamps. McKinzie Head Trail is a short gravel road to the top of the promontory located in the campground of the park. The discussion at the top centered around "When did Clark first see Tillamook Head on the Oregon coast-line?" The prominent headland can be seen on the exploration route on the east side of Cape Disappointment and is clearly visible from the McKinzie Head.

After a night's rest on the beach, the corpsmen took to the high ground to avoid the cliffs of the next headlands. The North Head Trail over the western-most promontory on the coast approximates the route taken by the explorers. This trail gave the modern day explorers a sense of the hardiness of the corpsmen; it is a steep and muddy trail. The spectacular view of the ocean and seashore was worth the effort, and a lunch break was welcomed. A lively discussion ensued pertaining to various aspects of the epic exploration during the short stop on the trail. From the top of the promontory, a long beach can be observed stretching north as far as the eye can see. Not only did this view draw Clark and his companions to continue their hike but it beckoned the present day explorers to proceed on.

The Windward Trail from North Head to Beards Hollow completes the established trail system that follows Clark's route. At Beards Hollow, the detachment had to again take to the high ground in order to reach the long sandy beach. Since their route is approximately along Loop Road 100, the modern day explorers decided to cut through the bay that the 1805 explorers had skirted. The bay has filled with shifting black sand and crushed basalt rock carried by the river to the ocean. The bay is now a large marsh because water cannot drain to the ocean. This was the challenge for the day. The quiet poet surprised the group and solved the dilemma by wading into the ankle deep water to find a way to the beach. We agreed that completing this section of the trail to reach Long Beach was also going to be a challenge for the trail planners. But we had little time to ponder this question; the day was not complete. One expects to get rained on when hiking on the coast, and Mother Nature did not disappoint us. We reached the beach in a downpour, mixed with hail. Undaunted we proceeded on; the discussion changed to "where did Clark stop and turn around to return to "Station Camp?" Doc assured Glen that he knew exactly where Clark stopped his beach walk, "just keep going." For some reason the group did not quite believe that the statue of Clark carving his name on a brass tree in a downtown Long Beach plaza was historically accurate.

Clark spent so much time on the beautiful beach that he did not turn back in time to reach "Station Camp" before darkness set in, and another night was spent away from the main camp. One cannot fault Clark; the day on the beach must have been an experience for the corpsmen to relish after their long and difficult overland trek. The hike ended for the modern day hikers at Long Beach, and the group welcomed the comforts of their camps that evening. The day was worth the effort, and that evening each individual reflected on the wonderful experience they had endured but also were grateful for their modern day comforts.



Corner of Discovery: Profiles of our Members
prepared by Cheryl Essary


A column featuring Chapter members and their comments concerning their interest in the Lewis and Clark Expedition

Tom DeFina of Miami, Florida, joined our Washington State Chapter after writing to many state chapters, choosing ours because of its informative newsletter. His first journey with Lewis and Clark began when a friend gave him a first edition of the book First Across the Continent by Noah Brooks. He then went in search of other information about the Corps of Discovery. Thomas Jefferson gets his vote as the favorite member of the expedition (well, he was there in spirit, right?), for his efforts to make the expedition a reality and for choosing and believing in Meriwether Lewis.

Living in Florida, Tom gets strange reactions when he tries to talk with people about Lewis and Clark. Some believe it is a candy bar, others just smile and offer some Cuban coffee. He plans to explore the great points of the trail despite his geographical disadvantage. In the meantime, he would like for chapter members (that means YOU) to share their stories and comments on the Corps with him, as this will enable him to drift away and experience the journey from afar. His e-mail address is: callps01@aol.com and his mailing address is P.O. Box 172541, Hialeah, Florida 33017.

Incidentally, Tom is not the only one in his home who enjoys our Washington State Chapter newsletter. His dog drooled on the last one, and Tom had to remind him that, given the right time and place, he could be someone's dinner.

Ron Evans of Port Gamble grew up in the Boston area where Lewis and Clark were not exactly a hot topic. After settling in Washington, he read Undaunted Courage and watched the Ken Burns PBS video, which were plenty to stir his interest.

He has visited many sites along the trail, among them Fort Clatsop, the Lolo Trail and the interpretive centers in Great Falls and at Fort Canby State Park. But by far the most memorable trip for him was a 5-day canoe trip along the Upper Missouri National Wild and Scenic River, with his father in 1998. They traveled from Fort Benton to Judith Landing. He believes this is the best way to experience the journey, as you can see almost exactly what they saw. Although he had seen pictures and knew what to expect, he was still amazed by how rugged yet beautiful the area was. Being only one of two canoes also made the trip remarkable.

Ron says that Undaunted Courage is his favorite book on the expedition, possibly because it was the one that got him interested, but also because of how well it was researched. He admits that he has only hit the tip of the iceberg as regards Lewis and Clark books. William Clark is his favorite member of the expedition because he gladly accepted the challenge of co-leading the group into the unknown. He also admires his toughness under pressure, his easy-going nature, and numerous skills. Ron also appreciates Clark's later life as a respected man and leader. The fact that only one man died is the most amazing thing about the journey to Ron. And that man, Sgt. Floyd, would have died even if he had not been in the wilderness, as his death is believed to have been caused by a ruptured appendix.

Ron wishes he had been born 180 years earlier so that he could have contributed to the expedition. The unknown and purely wild country they experienced can never be imitated. He looks forward to meetings, trips, speakers, newsletters, etc. so that he can learn more about our heroes.

Note: I encouraged all of you to consider sending me your comments about your interest in the Corps of Discovery to enable us to continue this column. As you have just read, Tom DeFina and Ron Evans responded after our winter newsletter. If you enjoy reading about your fellow members, please take the time to share your own responses to the following questions so we can all get to know one another better. Send them along to me at 886 So Hwy 17, Othello, WA 99344-9799 (or by e-mail to merckdf@concord.televar.com).

1. How did you become interested in Lewis and Clark?
2. What parts of the trail have you traveled? What was your favorite place? Why?
3. Other than the journals, what is/are your favorite Lewis and Clark book(s)? Why?
4. Do you have a favorite member of the expedition? If so, whom and why?
5. What aspect of the expedition most interests you? (geography, natural history, Native Americans, etc.)
6. Is there anything else you would like to add?



Elderhostels Teach Lewis & Clark
submitted by Bill Lauman


When I retired in January, 1999, after a 40-year banking career, I finally had time to pursue some long postponed interests. One of those interests was the Lewis and Clark Expedition. I have had a deep interest in U.S. history and the Expedition for many years. Besides being a seminal event in our nation's evolution, the Voyage of Discovery was one of the few pieces of U.S. history that touched my native state of Washington. Shortly after my retirement, my wife and I attended a Lewis and Clark Elderhostel at the Alton Collins Retreat Center in Eagle Creek, Oregon. They must have sensed my deep interest, because at the end of the session they asked if I would be interested in teaching the subject.

What-me teach Lewis and Clark? I am not a scholar or even an expert. I'm just an enthusiast who studies Lewis and Clark as a hobby. After some soul-searching, I accepted the offer. I knew my agreeing to teach would serve as a catalyst for me to read more, travel the route and organize my thoughts on this fascinating adventure.

But what to teach? Should I cover just the Corp's time in the Pacific Northwest, or some other geographic segment? Should I examine their interaction with the many Indian tribes? Their botanical or zoological discoveries? The medicine? The alternatives were many. In the end, even though I had only 7-l/2 hours over five days, I decided to give an overview of the entire Expedition. I realized that it would be impossible to do the Expedition justice in this short time, but I hoped to pique the participants' interest so they would pursue further reading, maybe travel parts of the route, or even possibly join the Foundation. I have now taught three sessions & have two more scheduled for 2000. Teaching is probably not the right word because I try to make them very participatory. People who attend Elderhostels make wonderful participants. They are bright, well-traveled, & eager to learn. They've paid money & some have come great distances to learn.

Recently Elderhostel published a special catalog entitled "In the Footsteps of Lewis and Clark." It featured 20 different Lewis and Clark Elderhostel programs offered from May through October 2000 at different locations around the country. The capstone of these offerings is six motor coach trips following the route of the Corps from St. Charles, Missouri, to Astoria, Oregon. Elderhostel says the response to this special catalog has been "unbelievable, overwhelming." All 20 individual sessions are full with waiting lists. The motor trips filled immediately with long waiting lists, so two more trips were added which also filled.

Elderhostel is just one of many organizations offering Lewis and Clark instruction, but I think the excellent response to its offerings is indicative of the growing general interest as we approach the bicentennial. Anyone interested in learning more about Elderhostel may contact: Elderhostel, Inc., 75 Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110-1941; phone toll free 1-877-426-8056 or fax toll free 1-877-426-2166. Elderhostel also has an excellent web site at www.elderhostel.org. Just enter Lewis and Clark or any other subject of interest to view the many offerings.

NOTE: You may want to consider being an Elderhostel instructor. Positions are currently filled for this summer's programs but they are interested in hearing from chapter membes who may want to instruct future L&C Trail tours. Applicants should have the following qualifications: a broad understanding & knowledge of the Corps of Discovery's journey; teaching experience (high school or college level preferred); enthusiasm and the ability to share information effectively. Interested individuals should contact Betsy Miller at 503-786-8080 or by e-mail at betsyhm@frontiernet.net.

The Lewis & Clark Corner: Info supplied by Don Popejoy [dpoctalc1@aol.com]


Books of interest:
Lewis & Clark in North Dakota edited & annotated by Russell Reid (1988)
Along the Lewis and Clark Trail in North Dakota compiled by Shelia C. Robinson (1993)
Astoria and Empire by James P. Ronda (1990)
Lewis and Clark on the Upper Missouri by the Discovery Writers, Dale A. Burk (1999) [This is a companion book to the earlier Lewis and Clark in the Bitterroot (1998)]
Chiefs and Chief Traders - Indian Relations at Fort Nez Perce 1818-1855, Volume One by Theodore Stern (1993)
William Clark - Jeffersonian Man on the Frontier by Jerome O. Steffen (1977)

Websites of interest:
http://www.rutnut.com/crc (The Columbia River Connection: Lewis and Clark and the Oregon Trail (this is an ongoing website so please take a look at least once a month)
http://www.lcbo.net (Lewis & Clark Bicentennial in Oregon)
http://www.elderhostel.org (a calendar of Elderhostel events, including Lewis & Clark programs)



Chapter Logo Contest Winner!


At last, our chapter has it's own logo! With a significant percentage of the total votes cast, Gary Lentz's design was declared the winner at the February 12 meeting. The winning design depicts Lewis and Clark (with historically correct head gear) superimposed over a solid background of the state of Washington, along with our motto and the chapter name.

It is being "tweaked" by a computer expert and will be ready very soon. Check it out in the next issue of the newsletter! We're also looking into having T-shirts and/or coffee mugs printed with the logo for sale to our members. Many thanks to members Josephine Green and Doc Wesselius for also submitting designs.

The Great Columbia River
submitted by Don Popejoy


On October 18, 1805 , Clark writes in his journal, "this morning Cool and fare wind from the S.E." After spending two wonderful days exploring and gathering information at the Kosith campsite (Sacajawea State Park), the Corps of Discovery is no doubt eager to move on. After all, before them waits the River of the West, the Mighty Columbia River! The captains and the men are up early as everyone is getting the dugouts packed, taking last minute readings and measurements, and writing a "vocabillary" of the Shahaptian language. This included the Yakamas, Walulas, Umatillas, Palouses, Nez Perce, and the Wanapums. Finally, at 4 PM (2 PM according to Patrick Gass and Joseph Whitehouse) all is in order, and the men push the dugouts into the waters of the Columbia for the first time, seeking adventure and the thrill of not knowing what lay ahead. Unbounded energy flows from the camp as the men splash into the water, their dugouts fully loaded. And somewhere close by is Seaman, the large black Newfoundland dog, barking and running from man to man, showing that his excitement matches that of his mates. The Corps, all gay and excited, and the two captains, Lewis and Clark, stared into their not too distant future wondering what was next. Clark is going over the map the great Chief Cut-sah-nim gave him and Lewis is talking to the two chiefs who had expressed a desire to go on with the Corps.

" . . . every thing being arranged we took in our Two Chiefs, and Set out on the great Columbia river..." That's it? Is that the best Clark can write? Where oh where is Lewis when we need his prose? Gass expresses his excitement by saying "we proceeded down the Great Columbia, which is a very beautiful river." Whitehouse is equally dry when he says "the water running very smooth." The Corps had finally reached the apex of their mission; Jefferson's goal had been reached . . . find the Columbia River, the River of the West. Well? Come on guys, get excited, say something. Anything!

There are a couple theories floating around that could explain the lack of verbiage on the part of the captains and the men. Keep in mind that Lewis was always the one who came up with the flowery sentences, and his descriptions of the White Cliffs, the Great Falls of the Missouri, the Gates of the Mountains and on and on, defy mortal man (yes, I know Lewis was mortal after all) to come up with any better words than he used. One theory is the "Nicandri Theory" and the other the "Wesselius Theory." One theory states the depression of not only Meriwether Lewis, but of the Corps as a whole. This depression stems from the Corps' continual set-backs and the distance they still needed to travel to find winter quarters. Remember, the expedition was to spend the winter back at the Mandan villages. The other theory reveals the thought that once the Corps had found the source of the Columbia, no more could be said that would make the adventure any more exciting. I think a combination of these thoughts works well, but still human nature demands that we express our feelings no matter what our circumstances.

Wana means little river). This river was to be of great importance to them on their mad journey back to St.Louis. Across the river near today's Yellepit, the expedition, in April 1806, was told of a short cut to the Clearwater River over land rather then the water route they had taken on their westward trip. As they passed the Walla Walla River and noted it's features, the Corps rounded a smooth and gentle bend in the Columbia and the stunning view of Wallula Gap opened up to them. This was the beginning of another strange but magnificent landscape, strewn with desolation, eerie beauty and thousands of thriving natives. The "rugid rocks" that Clark talks about are of the Columbia River Basalt Group which form a fault along the Horse Heaven Hills in a northwest to southwest direction, cutting across the Columbia River. I have traveled this road many times, both in good weather and bad, and I never fail to marvel at the sight of Wallula Gap. The "Conocal form Covered with Snow" is of course Mt. Hood. It is in the Cascade Range and is named after Sir Samuel Hood by Lieutenant Broughton of George Vancouver's exploring expedition in 1792. Lewis and Clark had no doubt heard of this majestic mountain; and now seeing it for the first time and from such a distance, the cool image of the snow and ice must have warmed their hearts, knowing that the Pacific Ocean lay not that far away! From Wallula Gap to the Pacific is 325 miles.

Wallula Gap
Wallula Gap on the Columbia River


Because of such a late start, the captains call a halt to camp just a few miles below the Walla Walla River where there is a small fresh water stream and very little firewood. "...we proceeded on about 2 miles lower to Some willows, at which place we observed a drift log formed a Camp on the Lard Side under a high hill nearly opposit to five Lodges of Indians." John Ordway notes, as did everyone, "we Saw a great nomber of horses near Some Indian villages . . . ." This October 18th campsite is at Spring Gulch Creek near the Washington/Oregon border. As you stand in this dry creek bed, you can almost see the large Indian camp up against the high hills behind you. As camp is set up and night falls, here comes the first high chief (Yellipit ?) bringing with him some 20 Indians with mashed berries and wood for a large fire. Yellipit, also spelled Yellept, was a "handsome, well-proportioned man, about 5 feet eight inches high, and thirty-five years of age, with a bold and dignified countenance." This man would play a large part in the Expedition's return journey in April 1806.

Near this campsite are two stunning towers of lava that rise high on the slopes to the east. These two pillars of Frenchman Springs basalt are known to the Native Americans as the Twin Sisters. We know them as the Two Captains, but Coyote legend prevails. There is a nice pullout from Highway 730 with a new sign by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that describes the legend and the surrounding area. Stop and take the hike! It's worth the view and can be done with a minimum of effort. As you wind your way to the back side of the towers, there is another trail to follow that is more gentle but slightly longer. Either way you go is spectacular and once you reach the top, you will be amazed at what you see. As you look back upstream, you can see the place where old Fort Nez Perce stood and as you do a complete 360 degree turn, your world will spin with the unbounded grandeur of Mother Nature! Don't be in a hurry to leave; stay awhile and breathe in the beauty of life. Through this land of enchantment, the Corps has traveled 21 miles.

Local History:
At Wallula Gap, the Columbia River swings in a broad north-south direction between high basalt cliffs. The waters were impounded by McNary Lock and Dam and now form Lake Wallula. Under these ancient waters lay Native American village sites and fishing grounds, the October 18, 1805 Lewis and Clark campsite, an 1818 Hudson's Bay Company fort (Fort Nez Perce) and the old town of Wallula which means "abundance of water." The Umatilla Rapids, which Lewis and Clark had to portage around and which were the most hazardous along the entire stretch of the Columbia, have also disappeared. There is a turnout near the town of Wallula (Wah-loo'-lah) where you will find a granite marker for Fort Nez Perce with some of the original foundation stones. The site was moved to higher ground when the waters where backed up from McNary Lock and Dam. The original location of Fort Nez Perce is a short distance to the south of this marker and closer to the river. About a mile south of Wallula and on the north side of the Walla Walla River is Madame Dorion Memorial Park. Madame Marie Dorion, a Sioux, was the first woman after Sacajawea known to have crossed the continent on foot. In 1811 she left Missouri with her two sons and husband, who was an interpreter for the Pacific Fur Company. After reaching Astoria, the party returned to the Snake River Basin looking for a place to establish a hunting and trading post. Bannock warriors attacked and killed the men, but the amazing Marie escaped into the Blue Mountains WITH her sons! After a long, cold winter Marie walked out to find safety near the site of this park. There is a new sign at the park which offers an excellent overview of Madame Dorion's ordeal.

Wallula Gap is a giant gouge along the rib of the Horse Heaven Hills, and the Columbia River is almost a mile wide at this point. About 15,000 years ago Wallula Gap was a dam for the glacial Lake Missoula floodwaters and the waters that flowed through here were more than five miles wide and 800 feet higher than the present level of the Columbia River! Then the Pend Oreille ice dam broke, and the waters of glacial Lake Missoula poured out over eastern and western Washington and converged here at the narrow valve of Wallula Gap. I can just see Noah and his small animal-filled ark clutching tightly to his toga and saying "Hold on Sham, Ham and Japeth, here we go boys!"

Long ago the twin formations of basalt were called Chimney Rocks by early explorers and the Twin Sisters or Cayuse Sisters by Indian legend. According to this legend, "Coyote, the mischievous spirit hero of many native stories, fell in love with three sisters who were building a salmon trap on the river near here. Each night Coyote would destroy their trap, and each day the girls would rebuild it. One morning coyote saw the girls crying and found out that they were starving because they had not been able to catch any fish in their trap. Coyote promised them a working fish trap if they would become his wives. They agreed, and coyote kept his promise; however, over the years he became jealous of them. He changed two of the wives into these basalt pillars and turned the third into a cave downstream. He then became a rock nearby so he could watch over them forever."



Upcoming Chapter Meetings for 2000 - Mark Your Calendars Now!


August 2000: Annual LCTHF Meeting, Dillon, Montana
September 23, 2000: Bonneville Dam Visitor's Center, Columbia River; tour and L&C lecture


Doc Wesselius is working on plans for next year's meeting. Tentative plans for sites and programs include our annual business meeting in Tacoma, as well as the Yakima Arboretum with a speaker on native plants and Fort Vancouver with a presentation on the Lamp;&C influence on the Pacific northwest fur trade and a tour of the fort.

Suggestions for future meetings would be greatly appreciated, both for meeting locations and meeting speakers. It is through the strong and broad-based interest of our members that we remain an effective and active group.

Kudos, Opportunities, Announcements


Ruth Hubbard seeks a roommate for the Annual Meeting in Dillon, Montana. Call her at 206-285-0939.

The chapter treasurer's job is unglamorous and behind-the-scenes but vital to our chapter's health and welfare. A huge thank you to Dee Roché-Coons for serving so well during these past two years.

Jack Markley has a friend who located a copy of Volume II of the rare 1814 Biddle journals and wishes to sell to a serious buyer. If you're interested, contact Jack at 5022 Mt. Angeles Rd, Port Angeles, WA 98362

Welcome to the following new members: Jack & Millie Lyons, O. J. Lamont, Brad Yazzolino, Bill Garvin, Roger Wendlick, Richard & Barbara Carlson, Albert LePage, Grant & Genevieve Erickson, John & Joanne Price, and Ron Evans.

We encouragecarpooling to our meetings. If you can give rides or if you need a ride, contact President Murray Hayes at 360-582-1069 or by e-mail at mlhayes@olypen.com.

Thanks to member Bea Sweeten for once again including a donation with her membership renewal.

If you plan to go to Dillon this year, remember to offer to help the committee in any way you can: bus loading, courier duty, chair set up, etc. It's a lot of work to put on one of these meetings.

Thanks to all our members who renewed their chapter memberships! If you would like a copy of the roster, request it from Pam Andersen.

The Governor's L&C Committee has committee member vacancies in Garfield, Benton & Franklin counties; if you or someone you know are interested, contact Barb Kubik, 10808 NE 27th Court, Vancouver, WA 98696; 360-546-5989.

Plans for developing a tri-state web site of important L&C points of interest for tourists, with narratives, maps and photos are progressing well. The information may also form the text for a tourist brochure for WA, OR & ID. Members Doc Wesselius, Don Popejoy and Jay Rasmussen are leading the project. And a heartfelt thanks to your editor's home-based support, Andy Andersen, who proof-reads these newsletters & provides computer technical support when I'm buffaloed.

Woodcarving Project in Observance of Lewis and Clark Bicentennial
 submitted by Don Payne


Chapter member George Eisentrout and members of the Capitol Woodcarvers Association have proposed a Bicentennial 2003-2006 project presenting wood carvings of the flora and fauna identified during the Lewis and Clark expedition to the Pacific. They are soliciting interest among wood carvers statewide to participate in this endeavor and are exploring the possibility of generating a Lewis and Clark theme at one of the upcoming Northwest Carver Shows. As interest builds, a better idea of the magnitude of the interest and ultimate physical size of the project will emerge. The Washington State Chapter will make some preliminary contacts of various venues where this significant collection of wood carvings might be displayed during the Bicentennial. For more information, contact George at 360-352-2617 or Don Payne at 253-838-5906.



* * Share YOUR L&C Enthusiasm * *


Where would we be without: Chuck Blair who puts together the glorious journal excerpts for each issue; Don Popejoy (our "Charles Kuralt" on the road) writing about places in Washington associated with Lewis and Clark, as well as keeping us up to date with his listing of books and web sites; Cheryl Essary, our personable Corner of Discovery colum-nist helping us get to know one another better; or the articles by Gary Lentz, Bill Lauman and Doc Wesselius sharing their enthusiasm & knowledge about the Expedition? Now, what about the rest of you? You needn't be a scholar to offer contributions to our chapter newsletter. This is YOUR newsletter! Share one of your experiences as you've visited parts of the trail. We're always looking for ideas and suggestions for articles. An important tool to keep our members up to date is your willingness to send in newspaper clippings about any Lamp;&C trail area. Share your "recommended reading" ideas with members-anything related to L&C, the Northwest, history, travel, etc. And share your personal association with L&C by writing to Cheryl Essary. We want to hear from more of you! Remaining deadlines for this year are July 15 and November 15. Send any of the above to your editor, Pam Andersen, at 2374 Crestline Blvd NW, Olympia, WA 98502.

News and Activities from Near and Far


  • Chapter Member Joyce Badgley Hunsaker is putting the final touches to her new, nonfiction book entitled "Sacagawea, Beyond the Shining Mountains With Lewis and Clark." Text of the book is based upon her living history program of the same name, which she presented last spring at our joint WA/OR chapter meeting. The text is joined by quotations from the Lewis and Clark journals, endnotes, a timeline, maps, extensive interpretive captioning, period etchings & photographs. Also included: a Shoshoni vocabulary, full bibliography, recommended reading lists, a suggested list of related study activities for educators and an index. The book, like the living history program, has been endorsed by Sacagawea's family descendants-both the Shoshoni and Charbonneau sides. Watch this newsletter for information on how to order your copy. (source: Oregon Chapter Newsletter, March 2000)

  • The Tri-Cities of Kennewick, Pasco & Richland have several L&C projects in the works. Among them are plans to rebuild a Wanapum river village similar to what Lewis & Clark would have at present-day Sacajawea State Park. The Tri-Cities L&C Bicentennial Council & the Tri-Cities VCB are looking at ways to improve facilities at the park. Ideas include a small amphitheater for interpretive programs, better boat facilities, upgraded parking lots, more books for the site library, & a full educational program during tourist seasons. The Council is supported by $50,000 from Batelle, operator of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland. Research scientists at Battelle have volunteered for projects such as investigating scientific tools used by the Corps of Discovery, tracking relatives of Corps members, & creating comparisons between plant & animal life then & now. Another major project on the drawing board is to connect pieces of regional river shore trails to make a 22-mile loop, including a link to Sacajawea State Park. This would include lights, restrooms, water fountains & informational signs explaining the river, the land and regional history. (source: Tri-City Herald, 2/10/00)

  • The 2nd Annual Lewis and Clark in the Land of the Nez Perce: Workshop and Rendezvous offered by the Lewis-Clark College in Lewiston centers around Weippe with the focus on three tracks: June 22 - thematic track (how history is made, viewed, & recorded); June 23 - trail track (discussion on a select segment of the Lewis & Clark Trail that may be controversial/enlightening); and on June 24 - a bus tour to the Weippe Prairie. Cost is $120 for the entire Rendezvous (includes meals, handouts/booklet, & bus tour). Another option is to attend a part of the conference: Thursday -$49.00 (social & dinner, introductions/discussion); Friday--$59.00 (lunch only, main activity day, speakers, various activities); Saturday--$49.00 (lunch only & bus tour). Information & registration forms can be obtained from Patty Leonard, Planning Committee, Lewis-Clark State College, 500 8th Avenue, Lewiston, Idaho 83501 or by e-mail at PLeonard@lcsc.edu. (contributed by Gary Lentz)

  • House Resolution #3621 was introduced on 2/10/00, as part of an effort to commission William Clark as Captain.

  • The C. M. Russell Museum Shop offers a publication featuring art works by Russell which interpret the L&C expedition as well as other early explorers of the West; 14 color & 24 b&w images, explanatory text, & historical contributions by Robert K. Doerk, Jr. Soft cover, 32 pages; $8 + $3.75 s&h. Contact the shop at 400 13th St N, Great Falls, MT 59401; phone 406-727-8787; fax 406-727-2402.

  • A long out-of-print classic reference, A History of the Lewis and Clark Journals by Paul Russell Cutright was reissued by University of Oklahoma Press in paperback in March. ISBN #0806132477. Highly recommended reading.

  • The US Forest Service offers a series of workshops called the "Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Training Academy." Sessions run from February 25 through July 12, 2000, and are available for a modest fee of $25 to $60. Some are one to two-day sessions, others are longer. Sessions include: black powder weapons and demonstrations; long distance trails; interpretive writing; planning community events; various interpretation training; journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. If you would like more information, please contact: Jane Schmoyer-Weber, USFS Lewis and Clark Center, P. O. Box 1806, Great Falls, MT 59403; phone 406-453-6157.

  • The new Sacagawea Dollar Coin was released by the United States Mint in mid-February and has been an unanticipated success. This is the first coin in United States Mint history that has a baby on it. (source: Lewis & Clark Natl. Historic Trail NPS Admin Update, March 2000)



  • U.S. Rep. Brian Baird will seek money to place a memorial near the site of Station Camp on the Washington side of the Columbia River. Baird succeeded in getting an amendment to a bill passed in 1999 that amends federal designation of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail as ending not in Oregon but in Oregon & Washington. He supports the expansion of Fort Clatsop & an immediate & concentrated effort to get national recognition for Station Camp, along with funding to mark the trail. (source: The Oregonian, 3/23/00)

  • The annual Great Falls Lewis and Clark Festival will be held June 21-25. Plans include a free evening of music by the Great Falls Symphony, four great lectures, a silent auction to assist the Interpretive Center, a botanical walk at Sulphur Springs, a hike to Cochrane Dam, the Honor Guard's Lewis and Clark Reenactment & Period Demonstration, an Indian Encampment by members of the Assiniboine, Gros Ventre & other Montana tribes, the Captain's Mess (offering buffalo burgers), & a choice of float trips. Check the Festival's web page at corpsofdiscovery.org or call their office at 406-452-5661. This festival is lots of fun for families, so check it out if you haven't attended previously.

  • North Dakota has a new state license plate, featuring the same color scheme as the current plate but adds the familiar silhouette images of Lewis and Clark, along with the image of Sacagawea & her infant son, Jean Baptiste.

  • The National Park Service's Lewis and Clark Trail Brochure will undergo revisions and be reprinted. Anticipated changes include adding major highway routes, new visitor centers, and more information about the Corps of Discovery. If you have any comments or input, contact Laurie Heupel at P.O. Box 1806, Great Falls, Montana, 59403 or Laurie_Heupel@nps.gov .

    February 12 Meeting Report


    Forty-seven members and guests attended the business meeting in Tacoma. Current contributors of articles for the newsletter were thanked, and all members were encouraged to submit contributions for future issues. Don Popejoy announced we have 143 members with more renewals to come. The Treasurer's Report showed a balance of $1,991.85 as of 12/31/99. Mr. Hayes expressed the board's appreciation to Dee Roché-Coons for two years of service as the chapter treasurer. Nominated officers for the year 2000 were unanimously elected.

    Chapter projects: The National Park Service plans another in-residence scholar program at Fort Clatsop, and the chapter will work toward co-sponsorship of another lecture such as that by Dr. Gary Moulton last year. Two additional projects are being considered. A guidebook for Washington, Oregon and Idaho portions of the trail is being crafted for publication on a web site for people to access and print out information pertinent to their travels along the trail; work has begun on accumulating the information to be posted for this project, and members are encouraged to submit photos and comments about trail sites in Washington. Second, the Washington and Oregon chapters are negotiating to set up a series of speakers during the next few years as a bicentennial project. Volunteers are needed to accomplish both of these efforts.

    Dr. R. T. Ravenholt suggested a family encampment at Lemhi Meadows during the Foundation's annual meeting in Dillon; look for further information in the next newsletter. George Eisentrout announced his woodcarvers' club is pursuing a bicentennial project to carve representations of flora/fauna described by the expedition.

    During David Nicandri's presentation, "Clark and Lewis in Washington: The Narrative of Discovery," he noted Meriwether Lewis' journal is silent from the time of the Nez Perce encampment area near the confluence of the Clearwater and Snake rivers until the corps was ensconced at Fort Clatsop for the winter. We have only William Clark's descriptions of areas along the trail between those two points. He suggested that the tremendous differences in descriptive styles between Lewis and Clark are perhaps responsible for the fact that many Washington sites have not received the respect and protection to which they may have been entitled. The most difficult portion of the entire journey could be the 18 days the Corps spent in what is today's Pacific County; the journals indicate that the accomplishment of their mission as set forth by President Jefferson happened at Station Camp. Despite the lack of Lewis' descriptions for this portion of the trail, Mr. Nicandri emphasized that Washington has a Lewis and Clark history second to none.

    Lewis and Clark Bicentennial News


    From the March 2000 edition of Fieldnotes, newsletter of the National Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Council:

  • The major launch event for the entire bicentennial commemoration will be held January 18, 2003 at Monticello. January 18 is significant because on that date in 1803, President Thomas Jefferson officially requested that Congress appropriate $2,500 to fund an expedition into the unexplored western reaches of North America. Jefferson had long imagined such an expedition, and the January 18 appropriation request marks a change from concept to reality.

  • The National Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Exhibition, a collection of Lewis and Clark artifacts and documents assembled for the first time since 1806 from over 40 museums, will open in St. Louis in 2004 and then embark on a coast-to-coast tour. Northwesterners are indeed very fortunate that the exhibit will visit the Oregon Historical Society in Portland. At the center of the exhibition will be over 50 works of art, documents and other artifacts that came to the Missouri Historical Society directly through the Lewis and Clark families. The entire exhibition will likely contain up to 1,000 different elements, all tied to a story line emphasizing the cultural encounters of the journey.

  • The Lewis and Clark Expedition U.S. House of Representatives Congressional Caucus, co-chaired by Reps. Rick Hill (R-MT), Earl Pomeroy (D-ND) & Doug Bereuter (R-NE), has reached 40 members. The Caucus was founded to coordinate activities & seek funding for federal & state agencies, communities, tribes & organizations dedicated to commemorate the L&C Bicentennial. A parallel effort in the Senate, co-chaired by Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Larry Craig (R-ID) & Conrad Burns (R-MT), was created for the same purposes and enjoys a membership of 18 senators. Legislative accomplishments to date include helping to pass a bill requiring the Treasury to mint a Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Coin, and House & Senate Resolutions expressing support for the Bicentennial. The Trail State and Tribal Project Inventory and Priorities report, a total of 315 projects from eleven trail states & sixteen tribes, was submitted to the caucuses on March 2 by the Council .

  • For a complete listing of projects presented by the Natl. L&C Bicentennial Council to the Congressional Lewis & Clark Caucus in Washington, D.C., check the Council's web site at www.lewisandclark200.org under Projects.

  • Nez Perce tribe member Allen Pinkham of Lapwai, ID, was named tribal liaison for the Natl. L&C Bicentennial Council. The position is funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. In this role, Pinkham will work with 52 tribes to facilitate economic ventures, education & publicity connected with the Bicentennial.

  • The LCTHF has hired Jeff Olson, a fourth generation North Dakota homesteader and former journalist with the Bismarck Tribune, to coordinate the Trail Stewardship Project, a joint undertaking between the Foundation & the Bicentennial Council. The first phase is taking inventory of the Trail's most sensitive areas, including historical sites, ecologically fragile zones, cultural features & sites on private and tribal lands. A big part of Jeff's job will be developing relations with private landowners since more than 50% of trail lands are in private hands.

    Bicentennial activities planned along the trail in Washington: Columbia County - a campsite has been identified & interpretive markers are planned; reenactments are also being considered. Walla Walla County - Ft. Walla Walla has completed a large display devoted to L&C at the mouth of the Walla Walla River; each campsite in the county on the overland return journey will be identified & a marker placed near them; re-creations of the overland journey are planned & a special youth activity at the fort will allow children to participate in L&C-related activities; Benton & Franklin Counties - The Wanapum people are planning to recreate a large tule mat lodge village as described by Clark in 1805; the Columbia River Exhibition on Science, History & Technology museum plans a display on the scientific instruments of the expedition. Klickitat County: focus of activities will be at Maryhill Museum in Goldendale; the museum is planning a Native American & "medals of peace & friendship" exhibits. Skamania County - activities will be centered at the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center. Clark County: U.S. Rep. Brian Baird has been instrumental in assisting with plans for an American Indian visitor center east of Vancouver. Cowlitz County - Proposed sculpture of Sacagawea to be located at Lake Sacajawea in Longview. Wahkiakum County - Skamokowa & Cathlamet are developing some plans; some trail work might require a shoreline permit. Pacific County: Funding & survey work to relocate Hwy 101 is underway from WA Dept of Transportation; may be some money for developing safe, public access to the riverfront in the vicinity of the ten-day campsite. (source: Gov L&C Comm Minutes, 1/8/00)

  • Debbie Kruger & her husband, who run a drugstore & soda fountain in Mandan, ND, thought it would be great to have a Lewis and Clark candy bar for the bicentennial. They produced 20,000 or so flat, milk chocolate bars in colorful wrappers that feature a river scene of the two explorers, Sacajawea & some buffalo. But the New England Confectionary Co. (NECCO), producers of the Clark Bar, strongly objected. The Kruger's attorney and North Dakota Senator Byron Dorgan (who referred to NECCO as a "corporate bully") are attempting to settle the matter. (source: Washington Post, 2/12/00)

  • A coalition charting a bicentennial commemoration of the Lewis and Clark expedition may ask that Portland International Airport change its name in honor of the explorers. (source: Medford, OR Mail Tribune, Jan 2000)

    To honor Lewis & Clark, revive the Missouri
     (Excerpts of an article written for national newspapers by historian Stephen Ambrose)


    Large parts of the Missouri River . . . have been overly tamed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. And now a further threat looms over the "Mighty Mo'", one that will carry implications for other waterways as well. Soon the Corps will make a monumental decision about how it manages the flow of water through the river's lower section, from the Dakotas to St. Louis. Recent signs are that the regional staff, operating from afar in Portland, has badly misjudged the competing needs of agribusiness, barge operators, the people who visit the river for boating and fishing, and the river's battered ecosystems.

    When Lewis and Clark traveled up the Missouri in 1804 . . . the river was varied and dynamic, with caving banks, snag-filled side channels and thousands of sand bars and islands. It teemed with life. The river Lewis and Clark knew is mostly lost. For the better part of two centuries, the government's engineers have transformed much of the Missouri into little more than a barge canal and a series of slackwater reservoirs. In pursuit of navigation and flood control, the Corps destroyed all of the river's islands, sand bars and side channels. It is not surprising that more than 100 species native to the Missouri are in trouble, including many of the species that Lewis first described in his journals.

    We have paid a tremendous price. And what did we get in return? Not much. The cargo barge volume the Corps said would come has never materialized; Missouri barges now carry only 1 million tons annually, mostly sand and gravel. In contrast, barges on the Mississippi River carry more than 100 million tons each year. Obviously we cannot restore the river that Lewis and Clark knew. Great cities have risen along the Missouri's banks and must be protected from flooding. But by 2004, the bicentennial of Lewis and Clark's Voyage of Discovery, we can create a river they would at least recognize.

    The Corps is developing a new management plan for the river's six big dams in eastern Montana and the Dakotas. Today, those dams still operate primarily to benefit a handful of barges, at the expense of recreation and river wildlife. The Corps should release more water in the spring to build back the sand bars and trigger fish spawning and less water in the summer to aid recreation and river wildlife. The river's few barges could continue to use the waterway in the spring and fall, when more than 80% of the river's farm-related cargo already moves. Floodplain farmers would still be able to drain their fields, according to Corps studies. And Mississippi River barges would benefit from great Missouri River flows in the fall, when many of the nation's farm products head to New Orleans for export.

    The Army's engineers have ignored the needs of recreation, river wildlife and riverside communities for too long. If we act now, we can by 2004 create a string of natural places along the Missouri where people can enjoy themselves and wildlife will flourish.



    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


    MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION/RENEWAL

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    Posted: May 5, 2000
    Updated: July 19, 2000

    Send Questions, Comments and Corrections to Jay Rasmussen