Lewis and Clark’s encounters with grizzlies started with cautious curiosity, referring to them as “gentlemen”—an ironic term given the bears’ tenacity. As they came to know these creatures better, their tone shifted from respect to outright dread:

"We had thought the beast much the same as those of the east, but we find to our sorrow that these gentlemen bear little resemblance to their kin. When struck with a ball, the grizzly merely shakes himself and continues his approach, undeterred by what would send any civilized creature fleeing."

After facing the grizzlies’ relentless charges despite multiple gunshots, the men’s surprise turned to wry resignation. Their “gentlemen” moniker became a way to cope with the animals’ shocking power, as if framing them in polite terms could somehow tame their danger.

2. The Prairie Dog Siege

The Corps became fascinated by prairie dogs and undertook a hilariously elaborate effort to capture one alive. After trying to flood the burrows with gallons of water, the men finally managed to catch one:

"We proceeded to pour water into their habitations, yet the little creature defied our efforts to capture it. At length, with much determination and a good quantity of water, we managed to secure one of these animals. The men seemed quite pleased, considering it a victory hard won.”

The sheer commitment to capturing a prairie dog, coupled with the dry documentation of their tactics, paints a scene of almost slapstick comedy, as if the prairie dog had been an elusive foe worthy of the Corps’s strategic prowess.

3. The Canoe Fiasco

During the portage around the Great Falls of the Missouri, the men attempted to move their canoes using makeshift buffalo-skin carriages, which quickly failed:

“Our new invention, though hopeful at first, soon showed itself unfit for the task. The wheels scarcely held under the weight of the canoe, and the buffalo skins, though well-fashioned, proved themselves incapable of bearing so much as a short journey.”

Clark’s recounting is drenched in irony, as if describing a marvel of engineering that, tragically, was not meant for this world. The men’s optimism and quick descent into frustration reveal their ingenuity—and the occasional folly of improvisation under duress.

4. Bear Scare: Escape Route of the Century

On one occasion, a hunter had to dive off a cliff to escape a charging grizzly. Lewis documents the close call with a mix of awe and disbelief:

"Finding himself pursued by one of these ferocious animals, our man made the singular decision to leap from a cliff, trusting to the river below. It is perhaps owing to Providence alone that he escaped, the bear left bewildered above.”

The matter-of-fact tone with which Lewis recounts this life-or-death moment adds a layer of humor. It’s as if diving off cliffs was just another unremarkable tool in the explorers’ survival kit.

5. Mosquito Woes

The relentless mosquito swarms drove the men nearly mad, and Clark’s journal provides an understated but telling description of their misery:

"The mosquitoes are intolerable. At night they attack in such multitudes that sleep is rendered impossible, our bodies covered in bites. Each man appears desperate; we light fires and hope only that the smoke might provide some respite.”

Their desperation is clear, with Clark’s matter-of-fact tone underscoring the absurdity of their predicament. Even bear grease—used in a last-ditch attempt to repel the insects—proved only a temporary solution, leaving the men as tormented by nature’s smallest creatures as they were by its largest.

6. Peevish Prickly Pears

Prickly pear cacti became an ongoing nuisance, their thorns frequently piercing the men’s skin. Lewis’s grudging respect for the plant is almost comical:

“The prickly pear here covers much of the plain and causes us endless discomfort, its thorns lodging themselves in our feet and hands. We have little choice but to bear it, for it seems we are surrounded on all sides by this formidable plant.”

The prickly pear was like a background antagonist for the Corps, forever lurking and ready to deliver a fresh sting. Lewis’s understatement underscores the frustration of fighting a silent, spiny enemy they couldn’t hope to defeat.

7. The “Accidental” Fire Incident

Clark once accidentally set a prairie on fire, and his understated description captures the casual chaos:

“The flames spread swiftly through the dry grass, soon beyond our control. Some of the men, alarmed, took to flight, while others simply laid down in the nearest bare spot, surrendering to whatever fate the fire might bring.”

Clark’s choice to include this near-disaster with minimal embellishment paints a scene of resigned acceptance in the face of chaos. The men’s stoic response to yet another unexpected hazard becomes almost humorous, a reflection of their adaptability (or, perhaps, surrender) to the unpredictable nature of their expedition.

8. Sacagawea’s Unexpected Strength

Sacagawea once dove into a river to retrieve valuable items after a canoe capsized, impressing the men with her skill:

“Sacagawea, without hesitation, plunged into the river, retrieving all items of worth with an agility uncommon among us. The men, who had nearly lost their wits at the sight of our goods vanishing downstream, found themselves in awe of her.”

Clark’s understated admiration hints at the men’s realization that they were often saved not by strength, but by those they least expected, adding a touch of ironic humility to the journal entry.

9. The Mountain of Mosquitoes

The mosquito attacks reached such an extreme that even Clark, usually understated, could hardly contain his frustration:

“We light fires, smear our faces with bear grease, and cover ourselves as best we can, yet the insects persist in their assault. The men are half-mad with itching and scratching; the smoke provides little relief, and the night offers no reprieve.”

Clark’s description captures the absurdity of their tactics, with every tool and strategy ultimately useless. It’s a darkly funny reminder that even seasoned explorers can be brought low by something as tiny as a mosquito.

10. The Grizzly Bear vs. Man Incident

One of the grizzly bear encounters turned into a drawn-out battle, with the bear shrugging off several shots. Lewis recounts:

“The beast took no less than five shots before it showed signs of faltering. It approached us with steady purpose, each shot seeming to agitate it further rather than halt its progress. It is a wonder to see such strength in an animal, an unyielding will to survive.”

Lewis’s deadpan description of the grizzly’s indifference to bullets and the men’s growing panic evokes an almost comedic frustration. The sense of incredulity in his words speaks to their dawning understanding that these “gentlemen” weren’t to be trifled with.

11. Dealing with “Indian Dogs”

Lewis’s description of Native American dogs, who were less than cooperative, reveals his exasperated amusement:

“These dogs follow us for miles, heedless of our efforts to shoo them away, barking and nipping at the heels of our horses. They appear to regard us with an impudence that suggests a disregard for our authority, requiring little from us but the pleasure of their pursuit.”

Lewis’s bemused tone at the dogs’ stubborn independence reflects the recurring theme of the Corps’ failed attempts to control or understand the untamed aspects of their journey.

12. The Prickly Pear Revisited

The prickly pear wasn’t just a one-time irritation but a constant source of torment. One entry describes the men’s frustration with both the plant and their inability to avoid it:

“We are pierced daily by the thorns of the prickly pear. It grows in such abundance that we can scarce take a step without meeting its spines. There is no end to it, nor, it seems, to our misery.”

Lewis’s weary tone speaks to the futility of avoiding such a prevalent menace. The prickly pear became a symbol of the harshness of the West, an enemy that simply could not be bested, no matter their attempts to tread lightly.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5624860&forum_id=2...id#48282130)

Clark once accidentally set a prairie on fire, and his understated description captures the casual chaos:

“The flames spread swiftly through the dry grass, soon beyond our control. Some of the men, alarmed, took to flight, while others simply laid down in the nearest bare spot, surrendering to whatever fate the fire might bring.”

O PLZ LORD GIVE ME A FORTITIOUS WILDFIRE

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5624860&forum_id=2...id#48285975)