By the end of April they were close to the Bitterroots again, and thus nearly over the Rockies. But the weather was poor. The Nez Perce welcomed them oncde more, and the expedition had to stay with them. By June 10, 1806 they thought there was now a chance of making a snow-free crossing of the mountains.
As they left, each member was riding one horse and leading a second. Five days later they began to make their way up into the mountains. It had been spring down on the plain, but up in the Bitterroot mountains it proved still to be winter.
