July 15, 2013 Great Falls, Montana Lewis & Clark

We spent a whole afternoon going thru the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, then the Giant Spring State Park.  Lewis & Clark and their party had been paddling upstream on the Missouri River on their quest for a northwest passage to the Pacific Ocean.  L&C had been told to expect a portage past one set of falls, but found that it was actually FIVE different falls!  It took them 11 days to portage their boats 18 miles.  The details recorded include a damaging hail storm (golf ball size hail and no shelter, there were men with wounds) and stepping on prickly pear cactus (thin leather moccasins and very sharp spines, ow...).  All I can say is:  those guys must have been plenty tough!

The Giant Spring was equally interesting.  I don't know the rate of flow, but I can tell you that it left a clear-water plume down the side of the muddy Missouri River for at least five miles.  That is undoubtedly the biggest spring I have ever seen.  Yes I put my feet in, and within 30 seconds the pain and numbness set in.  54 degrees doesn't sound too bad, but it's very COLD!  Reminded me of the cold Atlantic Ocean water off the Maine Coast that I once plunged into.  No, thanks.  Water that cold water is for drinking!

Re-creation of the portage; two stories tall, in the museum.

Doggone it, all these years I've been pronouncing this wrong.....

Interesting, that Mr. Lewis ended up in dead in Mississippi....

What the Great Falls looked like, back when...

Giant spring.  It really is gigantic!

It has greenery growing in it.

Hope you can read the words.  54 degrees is COLD!