July 1805
In late July 1805, they reached the Three Forks of the Missouri River, and headed southwest, up a stream they named the Jefferson River. Sacagawea recognized Beaverhead Rock, and knew they were close to her people, the Shoshone. Lewis went to the final ridge to the Continental Divide on the border between Montana and Idaho. From the top, he expected to see plains and a large river flowing to the Pacific Ocean, but only saw mountains upon more mountains.
A few days later, Lewis found the Shoshone, who gave them some horses and information about which Indian tribes they might encounter. They set up a camp on the borders of Montana and Idaho and named it Traveler's Rest.
Lewis and Clark explored the Bitterroots, a range of the Rocky Mountains. They failed to find a trail that the Nez Perce Indians used resulting in more time spent in the Bitterroots. The men were tired and supplies were low, but they managed to make it across the mountains. Once out of there, game was still scarce, so they purchased roots, fish, and dogs from the Nez Perce.
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