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Meadow at Wapato Portage, Ridgefield NWR, Washington.
Image taken, October 10, 2009.
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Wapato Portage ...
Long Meadow ...
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Captain Clark wrote "... encamped on a butifull grassy place ...".
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"... and at 5 oClock reembarked and proceeded up on the N E. of an Island to an inlet about 1 mile above the village and encamped on a butifull grassy plac, where the nativs make a portage of their Canoes and Wappato roots to and from a large pond at a Short distance. ..."
[Clark, March 29, 1806]
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Long Meadow, south section looking north, Carty Unit, Ridgefield NWR, Washington.
View taken from the approximate location of Wapato Portage.
Image taken October 9, 2014.
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Click image to enlarge
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Long Meadow, south section looking south, Carty Unit, Ridgefield NWR, Washington.
View taken from the approximate location of Wapato Portage.
Carty Lake (not visible in this image) is on the left and the community of Ridgefield can be seen in the distance.
Image taken October 9, 2014.
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2,300 Years ...
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Wapato Portage, also called 45-CL-4, is a site which dates back at least 2,300 years. The Chinookan people used this site for over two thousand years. A Cathlapotle Village was located just downstream of the Lewis and Clark campsite.
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Campsite of March 29, 1806 ...
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Lewis and Clark, on their voyage down the Columbia River in 1805, identified a large Chinook village ("Cathlapotle") of 14 houses located at the confluence of the Columbia River, Lake River and the Lewis River. Lewis and Clark estimated that 900 inhabitants lived at the village. The village fronted on Lake River, the channel separating Bachelor Island from the Washington mainland.
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"... I observed on the Chanel which passes on the Stard Side of this Island a Short distance above its lower point is Situated a large village, the front of which occupies nearly 1/4 of a mile fronting the Chanel, and closely Connected, I counted 14 houses in front here the river widens to about 1 1/2 miles
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[Clark, November 5, 1805]
On March 29, 1806, they returned to trade and visit with this village. The men camped on Lake River in a meadow upstream of the village, today an area refered to as "Wapato Portage". This area is within the Carty Unit of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.
Lewis and Clark's previous campsite was on Deer Island, and their campsite of March 30, 1806, was at "Jolie Prairie" at the location of today's Columbia Shores.
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One mile or two ??? ...
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Captain Lewis wrote the location of their camp was "at the distance of 2 miles we encamped ..."
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"... at the distance of three miles above the entrance of the inlet on the N. side behind the lower point of an island we arrived at the village of the Cath-lah-poh-tle wich consists of 14 large wooden houses. here we arrived at 3 P. M.
... after remaining at this place 2 hours we set out & continued our rout between this island, which we now call Cath-lah-poh-tle after the nation, and the Lard shore. at the distance of 2 miles we encamped in a small prarie on the main shore, having traveled 19 miles by estimate. the river rising fast ..."
[Lewis, March 29, 1806]
Captain Clark wrote "an inlet about 1 mile above the village and encamped on a butifull grassy place ...".
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at 3 oClock P. M. we arived at the Quath lah pah tle Village of 14 Houses on main Shore to the N E. Side of a large island.
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we purchased wappatoe and Some pashaquar roots.
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and at 5 oClock reembarked and proceeded up on the N E. of an Island to an inlet about 1 mile above the village and encamped on a butifull grassy plac, where the nativs make a portage of their Canoes and Wappato roots to and from a large pond at a Short distance.
in this pond the nativs inform us they Collect great quantities of pappato, which the womin collect by getting into the water, Sometimes to their necks holding by a Small canoe and with their feet loosen the wappato or bulb of the root from the bottom from the Fibers, and it imedeately rises to the top of the water, they Collect & throw them into the Canoe, those deep roots are the largest and best roots. Great numbers of the whistling Swan, Gees and Ducks in the Ponds.
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[Clark, March 29, 1806]
Gass wrote:
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"... The morning was pleasant with some white frost and we proceeded on early; passed some old Indian lodges, and in the afternoon came to a large village, where we were received with great kindness, and got fish and wapto roots to eat. Here we bought some dogs and waptos, and then went on again, about a mile and encamped. ..."
[Gass, March 29, 1806]
Ordway commented that the prairie of their "handsom Green" campsite was at one time a village.
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towards evening we proceed. on a Short distance further and Camped on a handsom Green where had once been a village.
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[Ordway, March 29, 1806]
Whitehouse wrote:
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"... Towards evening we proceeded on our Voyage, & went a short distance & encamped at a handsome green where their had formerly been an old Indian Village; laying on the So side of the River.
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[Whitehouse, March 29, 1806]
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Views ...
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Location of Wapato Portage, Ridgefield NWR, Washington.
Image taken, October 10, 2009.
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Click image to enlarge
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Long Meadow at Wapato Portage, Carty Unit, Ridgefield NWR, Washington.
Image taken October 9, 2014.
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From the Journals of Lewis and Clark ...
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Clark, November 5, 1805 ...
Clark, March 29, 1806 ...
Lewis, March 29, 1806 ...
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