Lenoir

Clarence George III

Almost everyone went through South Pass. No need to follow Lewis and Clark through the Bitterroot Mountains to the north. The southern rout was a grass and sage covered saddle in the middle of nowhere, Wyoming but had a relatively easy grade to travel. The Native Peoples had known about the pass for as long as memory, but the Europeans had started to use it in frequency in the early 1800s.

Clarence had estimated that if they got to the pass in July or August there would be less chance of heavy snow. He was a bit taken back by the boulder strewn path east of the pass. The men foresaw broken axels and separated iron wheels in their futures and tried to reinforce or go gently as they could over ruts and rocks.

As they travelled past wild ravines on the ascent they did notice snow on the ground. Nervously they kept walking, which at least kept them warm.

To camp they chose a sheltered ravine on Rock Creek, fed by the cold snow-melt from the shaded side.

After dinner Clarence kissed his wife under the weight of a buffalo robe. "I will keep you warm." He informed Lenoir, a large hand placed over her belly. He was very happy with his choice in wives. She cooked, she was medicine for weary eyes, her ability to make him feel adored felt dangerously akin to being worshipped. Perhaps it was too much to pray that she had a son.

He thought that he could name his son Clarence George Jr. He would be the third, as Clarence's father's name was Clarence George as well. A girl wasn't much worth thinking about unless it happened, but he determined Mary, like his mother. God rest her soul.