Down to the Columbia

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Q1: What were the western rivers like?

[Answer]

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.