After recovering, on September 27, they set to work building five dug-out canoes (pirogues), assisted by the Nez Perce.
The Rockies were now behind them, the Pacific in front. On October 7 they broke camp, and started down the Clearwater River for the Snake and the Columbia.
All of these westerly-flowing rivers are fast because they fall from mountains to ocean in a short distance.
As a result, travel was quick, and the expedition reached the Snake River on October 10.