July 16, 1805 

 " Early this morning we passed about 40 little booths formed of wilow bushes to shelter them from the sun; they appeared to have been deserted about 10 days; we supposed that they were the snake Indians.  Drewyer killed a buffaloe this morning near the river and we halted and breakfasted on it.  here for the first time I ate of the small guts of the  cooked over a blazing fire in the Indian stile without any preperation of washing or other clensing and found them very good."

buffaloe*- This would be the last buffalo meat the party would eat until July11, 1806

 " The river confined in maney places in a very narrow Channel... without timber and maney places the mountain approach on both sides. 
The sunflower is in bloom and abundant in the river bottoms.  The Indians of the Missouri particularly those who do not cultiate maze make great uce of the seed of this plant for bread, or use it in thickening their scoope.  they most commonly first parch the seed and then pound them between two smooth stones untill they reduce it to a fine meal.  to this they sometimes mearly add a portion of water and drink it in that state, or add a sufficient quantity of marrow grease to reduce it to the consistency of common dough and eate it in that manner."

July 18, 1805

 " As we are anxious now to meet with the Sosonees or snake Indians as soon as possible in order to obtain information." Lewis

"I determined to go a head with a Small partey a few days and find the Snake Indians if possible."  Clark

July 19, 1805

 " This evening we entered much the most remarkable clifts that we have yet seen… from the singular appearance of this place I called it the gates of the rocky mountains."   Lewis

" I proceeded on in an Indian path river verry crooked passed over two mountains  Saw several Indian Camps which they have left this Spring.   Saw a gange of Elk as we had no provision concluded to kill some  killed two and dined being oblige to Substitute dry buffalow dung in place of wood, - my feet is verry much brused and cut walking over the flint & constantly Stuck full prickley pear thorns,  I puled out 17 by the light of the fire to night.   Musqutors verry troublesom."  Clark

July 20, 1805

"Set out early this morning as usual, currnat strong, we therefore employ the toe rope when ever the banks permit the use of it; the water is reather deep for the setting pole in most places.  at 6 AM the hills retreated from the river and the valley became wider than we have seen it since we entered the mountains.  we found the skin of an Elk and part of the flesh of the anamal which Capt. C had left hear the river at the upper side of the valley where he assended the mountain with a note. - just above our camp the river is again closed in by the Mounts on both sides.  I saw a black woodpecker* today about the size of the lark woodpecker... "  Lewis

black woodpecker* - The first description of Lewis's woodpecker, more fully described on May 27, 1806.  Perhaps the only remaining zoological specimen of the expedition is the skin of a Lewis's woodpecker, now in the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University.

" I observe a Smoke rise up the Valley of the last Creek, the cause of this Smoke I can’t account for certainly tho’ I think it probably the Indians have heard the Shooting of the Party below and Set the Prairies on fire to allarm their Camps; supposeing our party be a war party. I left signs to shew the Indians we were not their enemeys." Clark

July 21, 1805

 "This morning we passed a bold Creek 28 yds. wide which falls in on Stard. Side.  it has a handsome and an extensive valley.  this we called Pryor's Creek after Sergt. John Pryor one of our party*."   Lewis

John Pryor one of our party* - Pryor's first name was Nathaniel; to Lewis he was probably just "Sergeant Pryor".  The stream is Spokane Creek.

 "our feet so brused and cut I deturmined to delay for the Canoes & if possible kill some meat by the time they arrived...  I proceeded on about 3 miles this morning… finding no fresh Indian sign returned down river."   Clark

 " The Indian woman recognizes the country and assures us that this is the river on which her relations live, and the three forks are at no great distance.  Late this evening we arrived at Capt. Clarks camp; we took them on board with the meat they had collected and proceeded a short distance and encamped on an island*.  altho' Capt. C. was much fatiegued his feet yet blistered and soar he insisted on pursuing his rout in the morning."  Lewis

encamped on an island* - The site was in Broadwater County, Montana, a few miles upstream from Beaver (White Earth) Creek, and is now under Canyon Ferry Lake.

July 23, 1805

The search for Sacagawea’s nation continues : " Proceeded on an Indian roade… I saw no fresh signs of Indians to day."  Clark

July 24, 1805

" our trio of pests still invade and obstruct us on all occasions, these are the Musquetoes eye knats and prickly pears."   Lewis