Doubt Passing through the Bitterroot Mountains and along the ancient Lolo Trail they encountered hazardous travel and hardship. August 30-September 9, 1805 The onliest time I felt like giving in was the eleven days an nights we spent wandering through the bitter peaks trying to follow an old buffalo trail. Old man winter, who seem to always come sooner an stay longer in the mountains whether he be invited or not brung so much snow our guide lead us across our own footstep. The going was so rough an steep between climbing over dead trees an slipping an falling off wet rocks the horses, with four legs, barely keeps they feet, while us with only two was slowed to a cold wet crawl. There came a cold spell so mean it made us bones ache, turned our faith to ice an some a the men blue. With game smarter than us an no where to be found, we fed off three colts too small to carry a full load, rather than eats each other or Massa Lewis' dog. ...