Lewis and Clark’s Journey
On Aug. 31 , 1803 , Lewis correct out for St. Louis from Pittsburgh , Pa. , with a gang of 13 men and onedog . On the way , they picked up Clark along the Ohio River . Pittsburgh , which was then cognize as the " Gateway to the West , " was the perfect detail of departure – a bustling frontier town at the merging of two rivers that was a big center of sauceboat construction .
The sentence Lewis spent in Pittsburgh was occupy with anxiety . The construction of the boat he had designed was delayed by six weeks , and he had trouble intercommunicate with Clark . Adding to his tension was the news that weather condition and fallingwaterlevels could stay his trip until the next give . But Lewis hastened completion of the sauceboat , and the radical was capable to set out on time . The expedition set up cantonment for the winter in the St. Louis country , where they awaited the legal transfer of the Louisiana Territory before they officially set out on May 21 , 1804 .
The size of the group traveling with the Corps of Discovery alter throughout the stumble . Some member split off to research other routes , some stayed with friendly tribes and some were picked up along the way . The official team , however , dwell of 33 people , 29 of whom were member of theArmy . They earned between $ 5 and $ 8 per month for their services [ reservoir : Lewis and Clark Trail ] .
From St. Louis , the Corps of Discovery traveled nor'-west up the Missouri River to the Mandan Villages in what is now South Dakota . By following the Missouri they were able to forge through the Rocky Mountains , debate the most unsafe part of the trip because the Corps had no mind of its size of it . Once they cross the Rockies , the group survey the Clearwater River to the Snake River , eventually number to the Columbia River , which conduct them to their goal of the Pacific Ocean [ source : PBS ] . They had to drag their boats across the casual vale , but for the most part they did take after a water route from east to west . However , it rise to be too dangerous and difficult for commercial-grade endeavors .
After reaching the Pacific , the Corps arrange up Fort Clatsop , named for the folk that inhabited that area west of the Columbia River in what is now Oregon . The group spend the winter there , started the counter journeying on March 23 , 1806 , and arrived back in St. Louis on Sept. 26 [ source : National Geographic].
