Across the Northern Reach

At 4 p.m. on 7 April 1805, the permanent party heads their six canoes and two pirogues up the Missouri toward the Rocky Mountain barrier. At the same moment, Corp. Warfington and a small crew accompanied by Too Né’s delegation bound for a meeting with President Jefferson head downriver in the barge.

The Missouri River reaches it most northern position flowing from the Great Falls of the Missouri across present Montana and North Dakota. Moving through this stretch, the expedition passes the Yellowstone, Milk, Poplar, and Musselshell rivers. In the Upper Missouri River Breaks, the journalists describe both “scenes of barrenness and desolation” and “seens of visionary inchantment”.

At the mouth of the Marias, they come to a river they did not expect. They are unsure which fork is the true Missouri. After ten days exploring each, the captains decide to take the left fork.

Lewis scouts ahead to find the Falls of the Missouri that they are expecting. Sacagawea becomes dangerously ill and travels with Clark and the boats until they can go no farther—below present Belt Creek.

If the expedition is to be successful, Sacagawea will need gain her health, and the heavy boats will need to be carted around not one, but several waterfalls on a long and difficult portage.

April 1805

1. Apr 7, 1805 – Finally, Off to the WestLeni HollimanDuration: 4:05
2. Apr 8, 1805 – A Leaking CanoeLeni HollimanDuration: 2:57
3. Apr 11, 1805 – Bear Tracks and VenisonLeni HollimanDuration: 3:11
4. Apr 12, 1805 – Passing Under a Falling BankLeni HollimanDuration: 3:41
5. Apr 13, 1805 – Pirogue Nearly OverturnedLeni HollimanDuration: 3:36
6. Apr 14, 1805 – Evidence of Spiritous LiqourLeni HollimanDuration: 3:27
7. Apr 15, 1805 – Water Unfit to DrinkLeni HollimanDuration: 3:20
8. Apr 18, 1805 – Wind Detains the CorpsLeni HollimanDuration: 2:12
9. Apr 19, 1805 – Too Windy for Canoes on RiverLeni HollimanDuration: 2:34
10. Apr 20, 1805 – An Indian GraveLeni HollimanDuration: 3:57
11. Apr 21, 1805 – Buffalo VealLeni HollimanDuration: 2:59
12. Apr 22, 1805 – Captain Lewis' Four Legged FriendLeni HollimanDuration: 3:42
13. Apr 25, 1805 – The Banks of the YellowstoneLeni HollimanDuration: 3:29
14. Apr 26, 1805 – The Yellowstone & MissouriLeni HollimanDuration: 3:22
15. Apr 27, 1805 – First Camp in MontanaLeni HollimanDuration: 4:01
16. Apr 28, 1805 – Winds Finally FavorableLeni HollimanDuration: 4:08
17. Apr 29, 1805 – Killed the First GrizzlyLeni HollimanDuration: 4:05

May 1805

1. May 2, 1805 – Spring SnowLeni HollimanDuration: 3:10
2. May 3, 1805 – PorcupinesLeni HollimanDuration: 3:30
3. May 4, 1805 – Lewis Doctors FieldsLeni HollimanDuration: 3:18
4. May 5, 1805 – Wolves and CoyotesLeni HollimanDuration: 3:48
5. May 6, 1805 – More GrizzliesLeni HollimanDuration: 3:36
6. May 9, 1805 – Big Dry RiverLeni HollimanDuration: 2:54
7. May 10, 1805 – Boils and ImposthumesLeni HollimanDuration: 3:47
8. May 11, 1805 – Bratton Kills a GrizzlyLeni HollimanDuration: 3:49
9. May 12, 1805 – ChokecherriesLeni HollimanDuration: 2:53
10. May 13, 1805 – First Mention of the Iron BoatLeni HollimanDuration: 2:54
11. May 16, 1805 – Another Grizzly ThrillerLeni HollimanDuration: 3:47
12. May 17, 1805 – A Late Night FireLeni HollimanDuration: 2:50
13. May 18, 1805 – First Rain This SpringLeni HollimanDuration: 2:22
14. May 19, 1805 – Lewis' Dog Bitten by a BeaverLeni HollimanDuration: 2:35
15. May 20, 1805 – Exploring the Musselshell RiverLeni HollimanDuration: 2:59
16. May 23, 1805 – Weather Cold, River RisingLeni HollimanDuration: 2:40
17. May 24, 1805 – Ice in the MorningLeni HollimanDuration: 3:21
18. May 25, 1805 – An 'Ibex' or Bighorn SheepLeni HollimanDuration: 3:26
19. May 26, 1805 – First Glimpse of the RockiesLeni HollimanDuration: 3:15
20. May 27, 1805 – Narrow Channel, High BanksLeni HollimanDuration: 2:46
21. May 30, 1805 – Recent Indian EncampmentsLeni HollimanDuration: 3:20
22. May 31, 1805 – A Well Deserved DramLeni HollimanDuration: 3:37

June 1805

1. June 1, 1805 – A Fine View of the MountainsLeni HollimanDuration: 2:41
2. June 2, 1805 – Hides for the Iron BoatLeni HollimanDuration: 3:07
3. June 3, 1805 – Choosing Between Two RiversLeni HollimanDuration: 3:26
4. June 6, 1805 – Lewis ConvincedLeni HollimanDuration: 2:51
5. June 7, 1805 – Off a CliffLeni HollimanDuration: 3:44
6. June 8, 1805 – Maria's RiverLeni HollimanDuration: 3:21
7. June 9, 1805 – Caching and StashingLeni HollimanDuration: 2:54
8. June 10, 1805 – Hiding the Red PirogueLeni HollimanDuration: 3:35

Originally aired by Yellowstone Public Radio during the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial observance in 2004–2006, these 627 radio episodes parallel the expedition dates starting 14 May 1804 and ending 25 September 1806. They aired only on weekdays with four introductory vignettes and four episodes about events after the expedition. They are narrated by Hal Hansen, scripted by Whit Hansen and Ed Jacobson, and produced by Leni Holliman.