“Great joy in camp we are in View of the Ocian, this great Pacific Octean which we been So long anxious to See….” William Clark spoke these words as the Expedition reached Pillar Rock on Nov. 7th, 1805, just 25 miles from their final westward destination, the Pacific Ocean. The more popular phrase from Clark is “Ocian in view! O! the joy!”
We felt the same joy as we approached Astoria, Oregon as we have followed the Corps of Discovery from the Clearwater and Snake River confluence, down the Snake River (Lewis’ River) 140 miles to the Columbia River, and then another 325 miles to where the Continent ends.
We arrived in Astoria early, with overcast skies, excited about our adventures to Fort Clatsop, Cape Disappointment, kayaking, and cruising the Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge, and of course, the Columbia River Maritime Museum.
Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery moved into Fort Clatsop December 25th and closed the gates for the first time New Year’s Day, 1806. They would stay here at their winter quarters until March 23rd, 1806 when they would begin their homeward bound journey. Clark would write: “This morning proved So raney and uncertain that we were undetermined for Some time wether we had best Set out…the rained ceased and it became fair about Meridean, at which time we loaded our Canoes & at 1pm left Fort Clatsop on our homeward bound journey. At this place we had wintered and remained from the 7th of Decr. 1805 to this day and have lived as well as we had any right to expect, and we can Say that we were never one day without 3 meals of Some kind a day either pore Elk meat or roots, notwithstanding the repeeted fall of rain which has fallen almost Constantly…”
So, our westward journey ends at a place of enchanting magic and historical significance; the “raging, for I can not say, Pacific Ocian.” (Capt. Clark)
