4th of May, 1805:
I saw immense quantities of buffalo in every
direction; having an abundance of meat on
hand I passed them without firing on them.
I passed several in the open plain within
fifty paces, they viewed me for a moment as
something novel and then very unconcernedly
continued to feed.
I begin to feel extremely anxious to get in
view of the Rocky Mountains.
3rd of June, 1805:
Captain Clark and myself strolled out to the
top of the heights in the fork of these rivers,
from which we had an extensive and most enchanting
view.
The country, in every direction around us,
was one vast plain…The greenness perfectly
clothed the ground.
The weather was pleasant and fair.
To the south we saw a range of lofty mountains.
These were partially covered with snow.
Behind these mountains, and at a great distance,
a second and more lofty range of mountains
appeared to stretch across the country, where
their snowy tops lost themselves beneath the
horizon.
This last range was perfectly covered with
snow.
November 8th 1805:
We Set out early, proceeded under high rugged
hills . . . . We proceeded on about 12 miles
below the Village under a high mountainous
Country.
Great joy in camp, as we are in view of the
Ocean, this great Pacific Ocean which we have
been so long anxious to See.
Captain Meriwether Lewis, Corps of Discovery.
