June 23 & 24

Saturday June 23 & 24, 2002: Great Falls, MT - Missoula, MT
Still following Lewis and Clark in our thoughts as well as following their footsteps, we view the rivers and try to imagine what it was like.A boat trip on the Missouri took us to the Gates of the Mountains and we were amazed at the natural beauty. A visit to the Great Falls of the Missouri helped us to appreciate their experience as they portaged their canoes and supplies for 18 miles. it took nearly a month to make what they were told was only a half-day portage. Seeing the steep, rocky cliffs and raging waters, remembering the thousands of mosquitoes and other afflictions we could begin to imagine how relieved they were to be beyond the falls. ok Along the way, the corps of Discovery often danced for the Indians and for their own entertainment. One account describes John Potts: "He boss other mans to do funny dance and sing songs, all laugh (from Lewis and Clark, Partners in Discovery).In a similar manner, our group sang songs, danced and laughed as we listened to two guitarists play country western music. What fun! The art of Karl Bodmer and Charley Russell has made the Lewis and Clark trip and life in the 1800s West come alive for millions of people around the world who may never have seen a buffalo, a cowboy, and Indian, or the people of the Corps of Discovery. What a debt we owe to each of them and to Maximilian, who financed Bodmer's work and wrote the commentary to go with it. Jean Worley & Bill Dudine
Karl Bodmer's Plains Tipi	Charley Russel's Camp Fortunate
At Charley Russell's Museum we also found this excellent recipe. Mrs. Charley Russell's White Cake Recipe (usual cake making procedure and baked the usual time 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup sugar 5 egg whites beaten stiff 1 cup water 2 1/2 cups sifted cake flour 2 tsp baking powder Cream butter and sugar; alternate liquid and flour; add egg whites last. Cool cake before icing Icing: 1 egg, 4 teaspoons powdered sugar to taste. Cook in double boiler until thifck and creamy hotel
Pat Brockhuisen and Marion Farron with our flag in front of Rainbow Falls	Mike Lanphere demonstrates the "Duds and Grub of the Expedition." Lewis wrote: "The first morsel the cook makes love to is about six feet of the lowerintestine of the buffalo..." and goes on to describe a delicacy cooked by Charbonneau - Boudin Blanc or White Pudding; really a sausage made by stuffing said intestine with kidney suet and leftovers.

Site Co-ordinator Ann Goldhahn and Local Instructor George Dean treated us royally while in Great Falls. Most notable was the Bar-B-Q dinner Saturday night. here they are at Ryan Dam. We were extremely fortunate to see so much water being run over the dam. this is the highest the Missouri River has been in several years.
As we arrived at the great Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center some re-enactors were just setting up their little campsite by the river. George and Joanne Carr and I got some questions answered as we helped to set up the tepee. Tom Laidlaw

The drive to Missoula took us past Square Butte and over the continental divide at Rogers Pass. The pass that Lewis used on his return in 1806 is about 6 miles northwest of here.