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Port Kelley and Spring Gulch Creek.
View of Port Kelley with Spring Gulch drainage visible (v-shape valley), as seen from Washington State Highway 730, south of Wallula Junction.
Image taken September 25, 2005.
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Spring Gulch ...
Lewis and Clark and Spring Gulch ...
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Lewis and Clark's camp of October 18, 1805 was located near Spring Gulch Creek, on the left bank of the Columbia River. The campsite is now under the waters of Lake Wallula, the reservoir behind the McNary Dam.
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Campsite of October 18, 1805 ...
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Shortly after noon on October 18, 1805, Lewis and Clark and the "Corps of Discovery" left the location of today's Sacajawea State Park, and began their journey down the Columbia River.
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"...
Took our leave of the Chiefs and all those about us and proceeded on down the great Columbia river
..."
[Clark, October 18, 1805]
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"... At one we proceeded on down the Great Columbia, which is a very beautiful river. The course is something to the east of south for about 12 miles and then winds round to almost a west course. ..."
[Gass, October 18, 1805]
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"... about 2 oClock P. M. we Set out. two chiefs continued on with us. we proceeded on down the great Calumbia River which is now verry wide about 3/4 of a mile in General the country in general Smooth plains for about 10 miles down then the barron hills make close to the River on each Side ..."
[Ordway, October 18, 1805]
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"... about 2 oClock P. m. we Set out ... we proceeded on down the Columbia River, which is now verry wide from a half a mile to three forths wide and verry Smooth & pleasant the country level for about 16 miles down then the hills and clifts made near the River, and Some Rapid places in the River. ..."
[Whitehouse, October 18, 1805, first draft]
The men made it 14 miles (on today's river).
Lewis and Clark's camp of October 18, 1805 was located near Spring Gulch Creek, on the left bank of the Columbia River. The campsite is now under the waters of
Lake Wallula, the reservoir created by the McNary Dam. On October 18, 1805, Captain Clark wrote:
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"... formed a Camp on the Lard Side under a high hill nearly opposit to five Lodges of Indians ... we made 21 miles to day ..."
Lewis and Clark's previous campsite was at Sacajawea State Park, and their campsite of October 19, 1805, was near the Oregon town of Irrigon.
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Early Maps ...
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1915 Topographic map detail, Columbia River from Spring Gulch to Wallula.
Includes "Spring Gulch", "Yellepit", "Lasts Island", "Wallula Ferry", "Wallula", and the "Walla Walla River".
Original 1:125,000 U.S. Geological Survey "Wallula Quadrangle, Oregon-Washington", 1916 edition.
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Views ...
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Spring Gulch, Washington.
Image taken September 24, 2005.
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Basalts on the upstream side of Spring Gulch, Washington.
Image taken September 24, 2005.
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- Port Kelley and Spring Gulch ...
- View from Spring Gulch ...
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Port Kelley and Spring Gulch ...
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Port Kelley and Spring Gulch Creek.
Port Kelley with Spring Gulch drainage visible (v-shape valley), as seen from Washington State Highway 730, south of Wallula Junction.
Image taken September 29, 2003.
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View from Spring Gulch ...
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Wallula Gap basalts as seen from Spring Gulch, Washington.
View looking across the Columbia River.
Image taken September 24, 2005.
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From the Journals of Lewis and Clark ...
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Clark, October 18, 1805 ...
Clark, April 27, 1806 ...
This morning we were detained untill 9 A M in consequence of the absence of one of Shabono's horses. the horse being at length recovered we Set out and to the distance of 15 miles passed through a Country Similar to that of yesterday. (passed Muscle Shell rapid) [Umatilla Rapids at the location of today's McNary Dam]
and at the experation of this distance again approached the river, and are rocky abrupt and 300 feet high [basalts of Wallula Gap]. we assended the hill [on the north and west sides of the Wallula Gap] and marched through a high plain 10 miles where we again returned to the river [Columbia River]. we halted altho we had not reached the Wal-lah-lal-lah village as we had been led to believe by our guide who informed us that the village was that the place we Should next return to the river, ...,
made a Small fire and boiled a Small quantity of our <boiled> jurked meat on which we dined;
while here we were met by the principal Chief of the Wal lah wal lah Nation and Several of his nation. this chief by name Yel lep-pet had visited us on the morning of the 19th of Octr. at our encampment imedeately opposit to us
[Spring Gulch Creek];
we gave him at that time a Small medal [Jefferson Peace Medal], and promised him a large one on our return. he appeared much gratified at Seeing us return. he envited us to remain at his village 3 or 4 days and assured us that we Should be furnished with a plenty of Such food as they had themselves, and Some horses to assist us on our journey.
after our Scanty repast we Continued our March accompanied by Yelleppit and his party to the Village which we found at the distance of Six miles, Situated on the North Side of the river [near the former Washington town of Yellepit]. about 16 miles below the enterance of Lewis's river [Snake River]. This Chief is a man of much influence not only in his own nation but also among the neignbouring tribes and nations.— the village Consists of 15 large mat Lodges.
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the Indians informed us that there was a good road Which passed from the Columbia opposit to this Village to the enterance of Kooskooske [Clearwater River] on the S. Side of Lewis's river [Snake River], they also informed us, there were a plenty of Deer and Antilopes on the road with good water and grass. we knew that a road in that direction if the Country would permit it would Shorten the rout at least 80 miles. the Indians also inform us that the County was leavel and the road good, under those circumstances we did not hesitate in pursueing the rout recommended by our guide and Corroberated by Yetleppit and others. we Concluded to pass our horses over early in the morning.— made 31 miles to day—
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