Such Hardy Travelers As We Have Become

Journal 2006 06 26
Such Hardy Travelers As We Have Become

Sgt. Patrick Gass’s short journal entry reads, “We had a cloudy morning and at 8 o'clock we renewed our march, proceeding over some of the steepest mountains I ever passed. The snow is so deep that we cannot wind along the sides of these steps, but must slide straight down. The horses generally do not sink more than three inches in the snow; but sometimes they break through to their bellies. We kept on without halting to about 5 o'clock in the evening, when we stopped at the side of a hill where the snow was off, and where there was a little grass; and we here encamped for the night. The day was plesant throughout; but it appeared to me somewhat extraordinary, to be travelling over snow six or eight feet deep in the latter end of June. The most of us, however, had saved our socks as we expected to find snow on these mountains.”

I haven’t quoted much of the other men’s writings but this utterly human recording of the “march” is so different and earthy than the Captains logs that it seemed good to start today’s piece with it.

The Corps has just reentered the “tremendous” and “terrible” mountains they were so glad to escape from last September. They reach and pass their camp of last September 18th to reach a patch of grass their Indian guides knew would be clear to feed the horses.

“…about one mile short of this encampment on an elivated point we halted by the request of the Indians a few minutes and smoked the pipe.    on this eminence the natives have raised a conic mound of stones of 6 or eight feet high and on it's summit erected a pine pole of 15 feet long.  [2]    from hence they informed us that when passing over with their familes some of the men were usually sent on foot by the fishery at the entrance of Colt Creek in order to take fish and again met the main party at the Quawmash glade on the head of the Kooskooske river.  [3]    from this place we had an extensive view of these stupendous mountains principally covered with snow like that on which we stood; we were entirely surrounded by those mountains from which to one unacquainted with them it would have seemed impossible ever to have escaped; in short without the asssistance of our guides I doubt much whether we who had once passed them could find our way to Travellers rest in their present situation for the marked trees on which we had placed considerable reliance are much fewer and more difficult to find than we had apprehended.    these fellows are most admireable pilots; we find the road wherever the snow has disappeared though it be only for a few hundred paces.    after smoking the pipe and contemplating this seene sufficient to have damp the sperits of any except such hardy travellers as we have become, we continued our march…”

Here, Lewis, Clark and Gass all refer to this trip home as a march. I don’t recall them using that term for any portion of the westward journey. Already their minds are set on their next destination, Traveler’s Rest. That friendly place of repose where they hope to see new old friends and find the same rejuvenation found their last fall. Sounds like a group with their sights set on getting home. They already know the obstacles before them and move with confidence toward conquering them with speed.
What most catches my attention this day are two things. First, Lewis note that the sight from their perch was snow covered mountaintops in all compass directions would “damp the spirits of any except such hardy travelers as we have become…” Unconquerable. Indominatable. Fearless. Supremely confident. Have we worked at a level that it has trained and steeled us against the most formidable obstacles? Today, let’s embrace hard work and seemingly unbeatable obstacles as training that brings supreme confidence when facing those barriers again. Experience gained in battle. No substitute for the man who has been through hell and tempered by the heat. As Pastor Norm Willis often says, “If you’re going through hell, make it a short trip!” But it is in the heat of persecution and trial where our bodies, wills and spirits gain a strength they don’t contain without exposure to trial.

Second, like the Jacob and Laban, Moses and Joshua, Joshua and Caleb the Indians had erected a monument of stones to mark a place of remembrance to them. Jacob and Laban set a “witness pile” that served as a boundary to their families. Moses, Joshua and Calebs monuments were as remembrances to the miraculous deliverances of Jehovah God as He parted the waters and they crossed over to new lands.

Got any of those places in your life? Places where you look around and realize that something special has happened? The familiar places are no longer seen and insurmountable mountains are seen at every degree of the compass dial? Enjoy the view! Erect a pile of rocks to mark the spot and trust that God would not have you there if you had not been in training to overcome.

Be captured by the moment. Commemorate it. Keep marching and proceed on.