It seems I have been chasing the trail of Lewis and Clark for most of my adult life. Although I studied the Lousianna Purchase and the subsequent trek of these two explorers in my youth, it wasn’t until I was older that I grew to appreciate their discoveries and bravery.

Washington State was my home for most of my life. For Lewis and Clark, Washington is where their adventures culminated in a flea-infested winter before making their way back. I have enjoyed my time living along the great river they explored, known as the Columbia, and eventually discovering for myself the unique path the Missouri River takes.

We recently visited Fort Mandan in North Dakota and the Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site. This was my first time in North Dakota, and I was amazed at how far the Corp of Discovery traveled. Fort Mandan was where Lewis and Clark spent the winter of 1804-05. The Knife River Indian Village is where their guide Charbeneau lived with his wife, Sacagawea, before joining Lewis and Clark on their way to the Pacific Ocean. The Mandan and Hidatsa used this village along the Knife River during the summers, and you can still see the depressions left in the ground from their huts.

I am looking forward to following the rest of Lewis and Clark’s trail as we head east.