er a portage around the Cascades the climate changed. Rain became much heavierand the Corps were rained upon so heavily that their clothes rotted on their backs. The captains made the journey to the Pacific at different times but each reached thewestern most point in their trip. Sacagawea also reached the ocean when going along ona trip to see a beached whale. The rest of the Corps of Discovery stayed at Fort Clatsopfor the winter. The temperature stayed above zero but the wet cloudy weather was just asbad. The meat spoiled within days and had to be eaten spoiled because of lack of food. On March 23, 1806 the Corps began the long journey home. The journey up the Columbia River was even fiercer. The Indians were not as willing totrade for horses. The Indians even stole form the Corps showing how little sympathythey had for the group. The Corps traded every possible thing they could spare for thehorses and used there knowledge of medicine and healing to gain favor with the Indians. The Walla Walla tribe helped immensely. Giving food, a welcoming celebration, andmany fine horses the Corps were back on their feet and ready to travel the Lolo Trailonce again. Only this time the Corps traveled the shorter more direct route. At the Great Falls the Corps separated. Lewis led a group of men exploring Northeast ofthe falls and trying to make peace with the Blackfeet tribe and Clark led a groupexploring the Bitterroot Valley. The two groups would meet at the mouth of theYellowstone River. When the Corps reunited at the mouth of the Yellowstone River they journeyed to theMandan Villages where the Corps lost four members of their group, the three members ofthe Charbonneau family and John Colter who joined a fur trading party. The Corps then traveled down the Missouri River to St. Louis and on September 23,1806 the expedition ended. When in St. Louis Lewis wrote a letter to Jefferson abouttheir arrival home. The Corps of Disco...
