45
w w w . d i s t i n c t l y m o n t a n a . c o m
to Fort Lewis was challenging, especially
crossing the Missouri. The adventuresome
missionary wrote that "This crossing could
be dangerous because the current does not
always permit the ice to form solidly. In such
cases one usually used a probe to try the
ice." In his typically understated manner,
he noted that "In the absence of such an in-
strument, one does the best he can, which
is what we did," and they managed to arrive
safely.
From their base at Fort Lewis during that
winter, Fr. Point and his young interpreter
visited scores of camps on foot. Travel was
easier than in December because the rivers
were soundly frozen and "the ice formed
solid bridges everywhere." The camps
were so densely settled that on one day,
between breakfast and supper, they visited
eleven different camps, both Gros Ventres
