In 1803, Thomas Jefferson dispatched Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to lead the Corps of Discovery on a mission to find a water route across North America. Little did the men realize that the time they would spend on the shores of the lower Columbia River would be counted among the most discouraging, dangerous, and disagreeable experiences faced during their expedition.
In early 1805, their fresh food had run out, and their clothes were literally rotting off their backs. A fierce winter storm forced the Corps off the river and pinned the group to a north shore cove consisting of little more than jagged rocks and steep hillside. Clark wrote in his journal in wet misery:
“As our situation became Seriously dangerous, we took the advantage of a low tide & moved our Camp around a point a Short distance to a Small wet bottom …”
As the expedition became in danger of foundering just within a few miles of its destination – the Pacific Ocean -- the storm finally broke and allowed the group to move on, and Clark recorded their departure:
“About 3 oClock the wind lulled and the river became calm, I had the canoes loaded in great haste and Set Out, from this dismal nitich where we have been confined for 6 days…”
The cache location overlooks the actual "Dismal Nitich" where the Expedition spent a miserable few days.
The cache has been replaced at a new location, approximately 30 feet beyond the white gate on the back side of the very large stump to your left heading up the hill.