So you slog along, step by step and finally you are almost
there to the crest or to the top of the peak. You pause to breathe in and out
for a minute or so before you take the final steps and can suddenly see the
other side. What are your expectations in those fleeting moments?
In 1803 Meriweather Lewis & William Clark had been sent
by President, Thomas Jefferson to “find a water passage to the Pacific.”
L&C and a small team left St. Louis in early 1804 and worked their way
3,000 miles northward and then westward on the Missouri River. They found their
way across completely unknown land. As they approached the heart of the Rocky
Mountains (in what is now western Montana) in July and August 1805, the river
they were navigating in their canoes turned south. For weeks they canoed onward to the south seeking a water passage that would take them west to the Pacific. The endless
wall of the Rockies was on their right.
The Missouri became more and more shallow and narrow. They finally reached the headwaters of the Mighty Mo at Three Forks, MT. Supplies were low. They were a long way from home...or anywhere. The mountain air at 3,000 feet in elevation was
turning cold at night. L&C searched in vain for a waterway west or Indians
who could guide them over the ridge of the Rockies, sell them horses to
transport their remaining supplies to the Pacific, or help in any way. Neither
a waterway nor Indians were found.
On about August 8th, in desperation, Lewis took
three men and headed directly west, up hill, on foot. He told Clark and the
remaining men (plus Sacajawea who was a member of the party) that he would “find Indians if it takes a month.” They had to
have help or parish. And there was no way for them to either a) turn around and
go back down river to St. Louis before winter, or b) survive the mountain
winter where they were.
Lewis and his men slogged up and up toward the crest. In
their hearts they probably had hopes that when they reached the top, they would
peer over and see the Pacific Ocean glimmering on the horizon. Finally, on
August 12, 1805, they did made it to the top of the Rockies. The picture above is
what they saw.
From today’s Lemhi Pass at 7,373’ all Lewis could see to
the west was… in his words: “We proceeded on to the top of the
dividing range from which I discovered immense ranges of high mountains still
to the west of us, with their tops partially covered with snow.” Winter was coming.
Stay tuned.
Or pushing, pushing, each revolution of the pedals creaking as bike follows the path winding up the mountain. What is around the next turn? Just make it to the bend to see what lies beyond. Repeat enough times and the top comes into view. A new perspective now. Can't stay here forever though. More mountains to climb, while one can still do it.
ReplyDeleteGot to make hay while the sun shines was the motto on San Juan Island.The thought has endless applications.
ReplyDelete