Reports of explorations and surveys, to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean: Vol. 1, Pt. 2

ITINERARY OF THE ROUTE FROM FORT BENTON TO FORT OWEN,
river. Beyond this point wagons cannot proceed on their route. We should have crossed
to the opposite bank of the river before this, but the river is quite high, filled with floating
ice, and dangerous to ford. The whole of the road from Fort Benton to this vicinity is
better on the north side of the Missouri. Snowing during the day.......
November 5.-Occupy the day in making a short distance over the rocky bluffs and hills.
These hills are partly wooded with pines and other evergreens. At midday ford the
Missouri, about three hundred feet wide, three to six feet deep; a chilly, snowy day; the
river filled with floating ice, and the water freezing constantly on our clothes and the
animals after making the ford. Camp on the Missouri's west bank, at the inlet of a small
stream fifty or sixty feet wide, which I suppose to be Dearborn river; water, wood, and
grass good.....-.. —--------- -.....................
November 7.-After gaining the camp of November 5th, the more difficult part of the route
is passed. The route during the day, keeping as near the Missouri as was practicable,
was hilly, but not difficult for pack-animals. The Missouri, in its course coming from the
southward, passes out of sight at the close of the day, and thenceforward is not again
seen. Encamp on a tributary brook thirty feet wide, with grass, water, and wood-good
as usual, and neither enough seen to be troublesome. The country is hilly, partly grassed
and partly wooded.........
November 8.-Route follows the general valley on which we encamped last night; ascend
it to near its source, keeping on the hills bordering the stream. For the greater part of
the day we follow an Indian trail, and the road is generally practicable for wagons, though
very hilly and laborious; a good soil, of not much depth; the rock appears generally near
the surface; excellent pasturage ground at intervals; camp on the same stream as
yesterday; water, wood, and grass as usual..
November 9.-Open, unwooded country, and good road during the whole day. Encamp,
at night, within a short distance of the summit of the Little Blackfoot Pass, and by the side
of a broad Indian trail, which we strike a mile or two back. A large Pend d'Oreille
camp is near by; route during the day perfectly practicable for wagons; good camping
grounds in vicinity; Indians have as many as 1,000 horses with them, which are pastured
without difficulty....... —---------------------------------------------
November 10.-Cross the summit of the Rocky mountains by the Little Blackfoot Pass,
above two miles from camp. The divide which separates the water of the Little Blackfoot river from the tributary of the Missouri, finding its source on its eastern side, is an
inconsiderable hill, whose eastern ascent can be accomplished with loaded wagons without
difficulty, and of which the western descent is as gradual and easy as could be desired.
Descend the valley of Little Blackfoot river, of good width, gradual descent, enclosed by
half-wooded, half-grassed hills; broad trail, and road good for wagons; good camping
grounds abound..................................-
November 11.-With the exception of a small portion of the distance, where the trail
on the side-bills was too much inclined, the trai[ has been practicable and easy for
wagons. All these cares can be avoided, generally, by taking the bed of the river for a
short distance. Valley unwooded for several miles froni the stream, excepting what
skirts the streams themselves. Near the camp of to-night a large fork comes in from
the southward, as large as or larger thanl the stream which has been followed from the
summit, and which is now sixty or eighty feet wide and one to two feet deep. Meet
other large bands of Indians with large niumbers of horses, all of whom find camping
grounds without difficulty..i.i....)..........................................
November 12.-A good road, practicable for wagons, throughout the day. For fourteen
miles the trail keeps to the interval, and then, to avoid a large bend in the river, pursues
its same general direction over the grand slopes bordering it. Valley wide and open; good
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