Day-by-Day / November 18, 1805

November 18, 1805

The astonishing Pacific Ocean

Station Camp near Chinook, WA Clark takes a group to view the Pacific Ocean. On the way, they collect a California condor specimen and mark their names on trees. The men behold “with estonishment the high waves dashing against the rocks & this emence ocian.”

Clark as a Tour Guide[1]Originally aired weekdays by Yellowstone Public Radio during the Bicentennial observance of 2003-2006. Narrated by Hal Hansen. Scripts by Whit Hansen and Ed Jacobson. Produced by Leni Holliman. © … Continue reading

Dashing Waves

the waves appear to brake with tremendious force in every direction     quite across a large Sand bar lies within the mouth nearest to point Adams which is nearly covered at high tide . . . . men appear much Satisfied with their trip beholding with estonishment the high waves dashing against the rocks & this emence ocian.
—William Clark

Wallacut Village

N. W. 7 Mile to the enterance of a creek at a lodge or cabin of Chinnooks [Chinooks] passing on a wide Sand bar the bay to my left and Several Small ponds Containing great numbers of water fowls to my right; with a narrow bottom of alder & Small balsam between the Ponds and the Mountn. at the Cabin I saw 4 womin and Some Children one of the women in a desperate Situation, covered with Sores Scabs & ulsers no doubt the effects of veneral disorder which Several of this nation which I have Seen appears to have.
—William Clark

California Condor Specimen

Rubin Fields Killed a Buzzard of the large Kind near the meat of the whale we Saw: W. 25 lb. measured from the tips of the wings across 9½ feet, from the point of the Bill to the end of the tail 3 feet 10¼ inches, middle toe 5½ inches, toe nale 1 inch & 3½ lines, wing feather 2½ feet long & 1 inch 5 lines diamiter tale feathers 14½ inches, and the head is 6½ inches including the beak.
—William Clark

 

Marking the Anchorage

this rock Island is Small and at the South of a deep bend in which the nativs inform us the Ships anchor, and from whence they receive their goods in return for their peltries and Elk Skins &c. this appears to be a very good harber for large Ships. here I found Capt Lewis name on a tree. I also engraved my name & by land the day of the month and year, as also Several of the men.
—William Clark

Station Camp Activities

In the evening our hunters came in with a deer, 2 brants, a squirrel, a hawk, and a flounder, which the tide had thrown on a sand-bar. The Indians still remained with us, and Capt. Lewis got a specimen of their language.
Patrick Gass

Weather Diary

Day of the month Wind State of the Weather
18th S. E fair after clouds

Cloudy Reubin Field Killed a Vulture [Clark:] I proceed to the Ocean.
Meriwether Lewis[2]Some abbreviations have been spelled out.

 

Notes

Notes
1 Originally aired weekdays by Yellowstone Public Radio during the Bicentennial observance of 2003-2006. Narrated by Hal Hansen. Scripts by Whit Hansen and Ed Jacobson. Produced by Leni Holliman. © 2003 by Yellowstone Public Radio.
2 Some abbreviations have been spelled out.

Discover More

  • The Lewis and Clark Expedition: Day by Day by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2018). The story in prose, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
  • The Lewis and Clark Journals: An American Epic of Discovery (abridged) by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2003). Selected journal excerpts, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
  • The Lewis and Clark Journals. by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 1983–2001). The complete story in 13 volumes.