Public invited to watch Wendover ascent re-enactment

On Sept. 15, 1805 Captains Lewis and Clark and the members of their corps began the treacherous ascent up Wendover Ridge.

Along the way they rolled a horse and broke Captain Clark's desk and spent five days hungry, cold and wet trying to stay alive while crossing the snowy Bitterroot Mountains or what is now known as the Lolo Trail.

Wendover Ridge ascent

At 8 a.m. PST on the morning of Sept. 15, the Discovery Expedition: Bitterroots Corps will assemble at Wendover Ridge Trailhead (U.S. Highway 12; Milepost 158, 16 miles west of Lolo Pass) to begin preparations for their arduous re-enactment Bitterroot Mountain crossing.

The Forest Service 9 Mile Packstring will be on-site to pack the corps provisions up the steep ridgeline trail including a replica of Captain William Clark's field desk. From 8 to 9:30 a.m. PST, professional interpreters will be at the trailhead providing programs on historic packing techniques and insight into what Lewis and Clark may have been thinking as they ventured into these rugged mountains. Visitors are invited to watch as the corps and packstring load Clark's desk, saddle mounts and begin the ascent of the ridgeline trail. At 9:30 a.m. PST, the Forest Service packstring, followed by the Discovery Expedition: Bitterroot Corps will begin the Wendover Ridge ascent. The public is invited to the trailhead to see them off on their journey. Between Sept. 16 and 19 the Discovery Expedition: Bitterroots Corps, re-enacting this journey, will spend days crossing the permitted section of the Lolo Trail National Historic Landmark. At 1 p.m. on Sept. 20 the public is once again encouraged to see the corps as they re-enact the meeting of Captain Clark and the Nez Perce at Weippe. More information on the Weippe event may be found at www.weippe.com.

Hand-made Replica of Captain Clark's Field Desk

Captain William Clark used his portable desk to record his daily logs and produce his maps during the 1804 to 1806 expedition, but where is his desk now? Unfortunately it was destroyed in the Idaho Bitterroot Mountains when his horse rolled down the steep Wendover Ridge trail. Captain Clark wrote in his journal on 15 September, 1805 "Proceeding down the north side of Koos Koos Kee River, (today's Lochsa River), my horse sliped down a steep hill, roled for forty yards and broke my desk". So how do we know what Captain Clark's desk looked like? Gib Floyd, a retired Idaho school teacher and administrator, and long-time wood craftsman has spent countless hours researching the design and construction of this desk. He now hand-crafts exact desk replica's and has donated one to be packed on a horse up Wendover Ridge on the 200th anniversary date. The desk will be signed by Bud Clark (great, great, great grandson of Captain William Clark) and donated to the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation where it will be auctioned to support trail stewardship efforts.

Floyd is a member of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation and the current Idaho Chapter president. The Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation whose motto is "Keepers of the Story, Stewards of the Trail" is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and protecting the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail. This organization has hundreds of members across many states and organizes volunteer efforts in support of Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail stewardship. Locally, this organization has partnered with the Forest Service to host volunteers to help monitor campsite impacts along the Lolo Trail. For more information on the Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation contact the foundation at (888)701-3434.