w w w . d i s t i n c t l y m o n t a n a . c o m
47
of the Corps of Discovery
of forage and game left both humans and horses hungry
and weak. They needed food and fresh horses or they were
not going to make it over the Bitterroots, later described by
Lewis as "the most terrible mountains." Being already Sep-
tember, time was running out before snow would completely
close their route.
They came down a steep drainage and into a spot the Salish
call the "the Big Open Area," or "the Great Clearing," now
known as Ross' Hole, near present-day Sula, and befriended
a band of Salish camped there.
Clark recorded that there were 33 lodges and 80 men, a
total of 400 people, and about 500 horses. The Salish were
friendly and, although their own food supply was low, were
very generous as they shared the roots and berries they had,
offered their guests buffalo robes and smoked into the night.
On September 5th, the expedition traded for what they
Lewis and Clark Meeting the Flathead Indians at Ross' Hole (1912). Mural by CM Russell, House of Representatives, Montana State Capitol. (used with permission, Montana Historical Society)
