Along the Trail with Lewis and Clark

Lewis and Clark's route from St Louis MO to Astoria OR

 Ever have something that you have thought about doing?  An adventure that you have always wanted to go on? 

Well this is mine.   Every since I read the diaries of Lewis and Clark's journey across the Louisiana Purchase, I have wanted to go.  Wanted to see what they saw, experience what they experienced.  Now I know there is a big difference between 1804 and 2024, but much of the land still looks the same.  

In recent years I have read several books on Lewis and Clark.   Undaunted Courage by Stephen E Ambrose is a must read for anyone interested in their journey.  Most recently a trip to St Louis, put in my hands Along the Trail with Lewis and Clark by Barbara Fifer.  This wonderful book is full of current maps, detailing the meanderings of the Missouri and Columbia Rivers and the  roads and places of special interest along the way.  Another great book is Traveling the Lewis and Clark Trail by Julie Fanselow.  She not only documents the historic journey, but also brings it full circle by detailing her journey along the same route and all that there is to discover.

So as you can see, I have done my homework.  Over the past Winter I listed all the museums and places of interest I want to visit.  I have written out a four page itinerary with turn by turn instructions, and every point of interest documented.  I also have down places that I wish to stay at (state or county parks, or towns).   Of course, I have left plenty of time to explore and discover new things.

I am very familiar with North Dakota, having been there several times and spent over a week there in 2020.  I also know Montana pretty good, although the highline route I propose to take will be new sights for me to see.  Once we get west of Montana, this is an area of new exploration.  I have only been half way through Washington, and never visited Oregon at all.  I look forward to seeing the Pacific Ocean and exploring along the coast.  

My traveling partner this time will be Buck, my faithful friend.  He has never been on this long of a journey, but I am sure he is up to the trip.  

Here is a brief history lesson of how this came about.  In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson commissioned Merriweather Lewis to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase.  This was recently purchased from France and nearly doubled the size of the United States at that time.  President Jefferson was anxious to find a Northwest passage from St Louis to the Pacific Ocean.  The area had previously been partially explored, but mainly by trappers and Voyageurs.  The area was wild and inhabited at that time by many different tribes of Indians.  

Lewis recruited the help of William Clark and they put together a group of rugged men to make the journey.  When they left in May 1804 they had no idea what they would encounter and how long the journey would take.  They headed northwest of St Louis on the Missouri River.  

Follow along as we walk in the steps of the Corp of Discovery.