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Where is this man, what is he doing and why the strange looking shirt?

He's a docent dressed in the clothing worn by members of the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery and he's demonstrating the important task of making moccasins.

A crowd of interested tourists. Yes, the man doing the demonstration is in the middle working away.

The moccasin demonstration is authentic and each man needed to make his own pair.

See more pictures of the Pacific NW in our Gallery.

Next month - same place, and a study in the efficiency of the Corps of Discovery. . . the frontier rifle and how it was used.

This lady is our star next month in this column. She's proud of her rifle and very good with it. We'll show you why it is HER rifle and why it works better for her than it would for you or me. Each rifle is made to certain specifications that make it more accurate.

Also, note the props on the table and the bag over her shoulder. Each item had a purpose and it all led to a very efficient way of wilderness travel.

Beginning April 1st - BE HERE!

The Corps of Discovery

"This accession of territory affirms forever the power of the United States, and I have given England a maritime rival who sooner or later will humble her pride." so said Napoleon Bonaparte after completing the Louisiana Purchase with Thomas Jefferson.

At the time, it didn't sit well with congress. There were even talks about the constitutionality of it, but the president was well conversant with that hallowed document and was sure of his ground.

The purchase doubled the size of the United States and was an unusual sale because neither did France know exactly what was being sold nor did Jefferson know just what he was buying. His intent, however was clear.

With this new territory he no longer had to fear Spain or England controlling the port city of New Orleans. The U.S. had its much needed warm water port. Everything else, at the time was simply a few extra perks. But they were indeed wonderful perks.

Jefferson organized an exhibition to explore these new lands, called it the Corps of Discovery and commissioned Captain Meriwether Lewis and Lieutenant William Clark. He got an appropriation from congress for $2,500 and sent them on their way.

"Left Pittsburgh this day (August 31, 1803) at 11:00 AM with 11 hands, 7 of which were soldiers, a pilot and 3 young men on trial who promised to go with me throughout the voyage." These were the first words written by Captain Lewis as he began his journal of the expedition. Copies of his journal pages are on display in the Lewis and Clark Museum near the mouth of the Columbia River.

The party grew by the time it reached the Missouri River for its western leg, now 33 in all. Remarkably, only one man died on the trip, Charles Floyd. The cause of death was probably acute appendicitis and he was buried at the river bluffs near present day Sioux City Iowa. The bluff was promptly named in his honor, Floyd's Bluff.

From the continental divide west, the trip was faster, but not less hazardous, The rapids were deep and swift, abundant falls kept the men alert.

Then, near present day Portland, Oregon, Lewis spotted Mount Hood which he knew was close to the sea. It was a time of jubilation.

The pictures on the left are of a reconstruction of fort Clatsop on the southern bank of the Columbia River near its mouth. There, the Corps of Discovery spent the winter of 1804 / 1805 before beginning their trek homeward. The exact location of the fort was decided by vote.

There were no tailors, cobblers or other personal tradesmen in the group. Even the cooking was shared and somewhat haphazard and medicine was natural and herbal from the knowledge of Lewis and the Indians they encountered. They were men of mettle, used to living off the land, independently.

Among other tasks, shoemaking fell to the resources of each man. They had to kill the game, prepare the leather and sew the moccasins just as shown here. Making the moccasins was a never ending task because walking on the rocks wore them out in a matter of weeks.

One of the most destructive conditions in your body is stress. It affects heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, circulation and so on throughout your entire system. All of the effects are uncomfortable and potentially dangerous.  Although there is no record of proof, herbal medicine undoubtedly played an important part on the journey. Because of the lack of competent medical attention, it was common to find herbalist a common part of any community and Lewis’ mother was the “herb lady” who taught him skills which he took with him across the country.

Several Herbs That Work! Products are effective in reducing stress levels in our modern life. All natural and organic, they are Relax U and the vitamin B complex which you’ll find in abundance in Herbs That Work!, Real Food. All of these can help you keep the charging Grizzly Bear in your life under control.

On the road to Klamath Falls, Oregon - not recommended at night or in fog. More on that in the months ahead.