...And Gazed at the Pacific Summary and Analysis

On November 3rd, Clark notes he can clearly see Mt. Hood on the horizon, less than 50 miles away from their encampment. Four days later, the captain writes about the "great joy in the camp" at the sight of the ocean and the sound of the waves crashing on the shore at a distance. Indeed, this has been the goal of the members of the Corps of Discovery since the start of their long trek, which has stretched over 4000 miles and started over a year and a half ago.

Their joy is soon tamed by the heavy weather that hampers their advance. The size of the waves makes the men sea sick and the huge logs carried by the stream threaten to break and sink the canoes. Rain keeps falling, all their equipment is...