Clark and six hunters moved out ahead of the main party to search for game. Twenty miles along the trail he saw "...with inexpressible joy an immense plain and level country" in the distance. The hunting party moved on and camped that night by a stream they called, Hungry Creek, because they had not eaten all day.

On September 20, 1805 Clark emerged from the mountains onto "a level pine country; proceeded on through a beautiful country...to a small plain." There he lured two frightened Indian youngsters with trinkets, and they led the way to the tribe's chief.

When the expedition reached the Nez Perce Indian Village, it had taken them three and one half months to cross the Rocky Mountains.

(Information for this story from, THOSE TREMENDOUS MOUNTAINS by Dr. David Freeman Hawke.)