WALLACE W HANSEN

Native Plants of the Northwest

Native Plant Nursery & Gardens

2158 Bower Ct S.E., Salem, Oregon 97301 E-Mail: Wallace W Hansen
PHONE (503)581-2638 FAX(503)581-9957

Updated June 12, 2003

Wallace Hansen Celebrates Lewis and Clark's Bicentennial

Botanical Discoveries of the Lewis and Clark Expedition

Bear grass (Xerophyllum tenax)

Weippe Prairie in Idaho on June 15, 1806

We believe this specimen was collected along the Lolo Trail in Idaho County, Idaho. We know the expedition's camp this evening was along Eldorado Creek near the mouth of Lunch Creek, though the species is not mentioned on this date. But on June 26, Lewis noted

"There is a great abundance of a speceis of bear-grass which grows on every part of these mountains it's growth is luxouriant and continues to green all winter but the horses will not eat it."

There is no note of a specimen being made but Pursh says:

"The leaves are made use of by the natives, to make baskets & other ornaments. On high land, Rocky mountains Jun. 15th 1806."

Available at very low price during our Spring Sale, Bear Grass is a lovely Northwest Native perennial. It's fountain-like form and sweet-smelling flowers make this an excellent choice for your landscape.

Bear Grass

(Xerophyllum tenax)

At this time in 1806:

Along the trail home, provisions are sometimes supplemented by game for the human members of the expedition and grass for the horses. Other times, food is scarce for everyone.

We had some little difficulty in collecting our horses this morning; they had straggled off to a greater distance than usual. It rained very hard in the morning, and after collecting our horses we waited an hour for it to abate; but, as it had every appearance of a settled rain, we set out at 10 A.M. We passed a little prairie at the distance of 8 1/2 miles to which we had previously sent R. Fields and Willard. We found two deer which they had killed and hung up. At the distance of 2 1/2 miles further we arrived at Collins's Creek, where we found our hunters. They had killed another deer and had seen two large bear together--the one black, and the other white. We halted at the creek, dined, and grazed our horses. Captain Lewis, 15 June 1806

Here the journey takes an abrupt departure from the normal course: they turn back and retrace their way rather than jeopardize the entire venture. It's a hard decision but may be a wise one.

The difficulty we met with from the fallen timber detained us until 11 o'clock before we reached this place. Here is a handsome little glade, in which we found some grass for our horses. We therefore halted to let them graze and took dinner, knowing that there was no other convenient situation for that purpose short of the glades on Hungry Creek, where we intended to encamp as the last probable place at which we shall find a sufficient quantity of grass for many days. This morning Windsor busted [sic] his rifle near the muzzle.

Before we reached this little branch on which we dined, we saw in the hollows and N. hillsides large quantities of snow yet undissolved. In some places it was from two to three feet deep. The snow has increased in quantity so much that the greater part of our route this evening was over the snow, which has become sufficiently firm to bear our horses; otherwise it would have been impossible for us to proceed, as it lay in immense masses, in some places 8 or ten feet deep. We found much difficulty in pursuing the road, as it was so frequently covered with snow.

The air was cold. My hands and feet were benumbed. We knew that it would require five days to reach the fish weirs at the entrance of Colt Creek, provided we were so fortunate as to be enabled to follow the proper ridges of the mountains to lead us to that place. Of this, Drouilliard, our principal dependence as a woodman and guide, was entirely doubtful.

Short of that point we could not hope for any food for our horses, not even underwood itself, as the whole was covered many feet deep in snow. If we proceeded and should get bewildered in these mountains, the certainty was that we should lose all our horses and consequently our baggage, instruments, perhaps our papers, and thus eminently risk the loss of the discoveries which we had already made if we should be so fortunate as to escape with life. The snow bore our horses very well and the traveling was therefore infinitely better than the obstruction of rocks and fallen timber which we met with in our passage over, last fall, when the snow lay on this part of the ridge in detached spots only.

Under these circumstances we conceived it madness in this stage of the expedition to proceed without a guide who could certainly conduct us to the fish weirs on the Kooskooskee (Traveler's Creek Rest), as our horses could not possibly sustain a journey of more than five days without food. We therefore came to the resolution to return with our horses while they were yet strong and in good order and endeavor to keep them so, until we could procure an Indian to conduct us over the snowy mountains; and again to proceed as soon as we could procure such a guide, knowing from the appearance of the snow that, if we remained until it had dissolved sufficiently for us to follow the road, we should not be enabled to return to the United States within this season.

Having come to this resolution, we ordered the party to make a deposit for all the baggage which we had not immediate use for and also all the roots and bread of cows which they had, except an allowance for a few days to enable them to return to some place at which we could subsist by hunting until we procured a guide. We left our instruments, papers, &c., believing them safer here than to risk them on horseback over the roads and creeks which we had passed.

Our baggage being laid on scaffolds and well covered, we began our retrograde march at 1 P.M., having remained about 3 hours on this snowy mountain. We returned by the route we had come to Hungry Creek, which we ascended about 2 miles, and encamped. We had here more grass for our horses than the preceding evening, yet it was but scant. The party were a good deal dejected, though not as much so as I had apprehended they would have been. This is the first time since we have been on this long tour that we have ever been compelled to retreat or make a retrograde march. It rained on us most of this evening. Captain Lewis, 16 June 1806

As I write this tonight, I compare the different ways similar circumstances can affect us all. What for the Corps must have been an unwelcome rainfall will be greeted with joy here in Oregon's Willamette Valley. We've had unusually hot conditions and no rain for days. If tonight's forecasted weather holds true, the coming rain will be much more welcome than that which dampened the expedition's flagging spirits. 

Current events:

June 19, 2003

For more information call: (509) 547-0511

June 24, 2003

For more information call: (509) 525-7703

June 27-29, 2003

The festival will provide a variety of stage entertainment and presentations. Portrayals of William Clark, Meriwether Lewis and, Lucy Marks (mother of Meriwether Lewis) will add to the entertainment. The characters will stroll around the Faire to interact with visitors. Nez Perce cultural presentations will include storytellers, drummers and dancers in native regalia. The Lewis & Clark re-enactors, the Hog Heaven Muzzle Loaders, will demonstrate dug-out canoe construction in their recreated encampment.

Many vendor and artisan items will be for sale including Lewis & Clark memorabilia, handcrafted artwork, and great food. Children’s activities include candlemaking, facepainting, and storytelling. Festival is organized by the Lewiston Chamber of Commerce and grant funding has been provided by the Idaho Governor's Lewis & Clark Trail Committee.

Contact:
Doreen M. Krabbenhoft
Lewiston Chamber of Commerce
111 Main Street, Suite 120
Lewiston, ID 83501
208-743-3531
208-743-2176 (F)
lccdir@lewistonchamber.org
www.lewistonchamber.org

Back Issues:

To see back issues of Wallace Hansen Celebrates Lewis and Clark, click on this link to jump to the index. 

Commemorative Painting by Heidi Hansen:

The illustrated map below was created by renowned botanical artist Heidi D. Hansen especially for this website. Done in ink and watercolors, Heidi shows many of the plants Captain Lewis documented overlaid atop a map showing a portion of the journey. (Click on image for large view). All the plants pictured are available from Wally Hansen! See our Spring Sale site and our online catalog for more information.

Good luck and happy gardening!

Wally

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