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The Mt. Adams Sun, Bingen, WA., March 10, 1939, page 3

EARLY EXPLORATIONS OF TROUT LAKE DISTRICT ENTERTAININGLY TOLD

TROUT LAKE - People of local communities, and especially Trout Lake valley residents, will be greatly interested in the general report compiled by the local Forest service office recently, of the travels of George B. McClellan, who, at the head of a government expedition, came through the Trout Lake valley in 1853. This expedition was organized for the purpose of finding a pass through the mountains, a feasible route for a wagon road from Vancouver to the northeastern part of the state. Later expeditions were made; this one, however, proves of more than ordinary interested to local people.
McClellan, then Captain of the Corps of Engineers, U.S.A., in command of Western division, was in charge of the exploring a party, which consisted of 65 man and 170 horses and mules; they explored the country from Vancouver, Wash., to the Lewis river and down into the Trout Lake valley by way of Goose Lake. The Columbia River being too high to permit passing up the gorge, the other route was chosen.
The itinerary from the Lewis river covers ground familiar to practically everyone here, so a few comments on the part of the report will not be out of place.
From the camp Winnepat, near what is now Pine Creek Guard station, the party moved on Aug. 5, to Camp Wahamis (Paradise Valley) crossing over McClellan mountain.
On Aug. 6, they moved on to camp Yawakamis (near McClellan meadows). On Aug. 8, to camp Cheqous (near the foot of Red Mt.). From the mountain near this camp five snow mountains could be seen; Rainier, St. Helens, Adams, Hood and Jefferson. From Vancouver, starting on July 18, to Camp Chequos they had traveled 93 miles.
The expedition left Cheqous on Aug.11, one of the party coming down the just south of Goose Lake, skirting the shore, the other party making a half circle to the north, the two meeting somewhere above the ice caves. So on and down the valley to Camp-hool-se (south and slightly west of Trout Lake town). This route had led them past the ice caves and the lava arches, butter caves etc., and the Hool-hool-se camp was probably on Bolar creek, near the old Running place.
On Aug. 12, to camp on Tahk prairie (just south of Laurel); the expedition crossed the Nike-pum (White Salmon river) about where the Winebarger ranch is now located. On Aug. 13, to the second camp on Tahk prairie )southeast of Glenwood).
The expedition crossed the Klickitat and made their way on across the Okanogan country.
There is a great deal of interesting information in the report; many Indian names of importance as well as several Indian legends, in fact, the report is quite complete along this line.
How amazing is to realize that nearly 90 years ago, before the Civil War, these men traveled the country we know and left detailed reports whereby we, after all the years, can read of their journeys, pick out their probable route of travel and locate their camp sites. The old Indian trail which the party must have used, can still be followed in places along the line of hills on the south side of the valley.
Captain McClellan had with him a Lieut. J.K. Duncan, astronomer, topographer and draughtsman, Lieut. H.C. Hodges, quartermaster and commissary; Lieut. S. Mowry, meteorologist; Mr. George Gibbs, geologist and ethnologist; Mr. J.F. Minter, assistant engineer; Dr. J.G. Cooper, surgeon and naturalist; Mr. A.L. Lewis, assistant engineer and an interpreter. Sergeants, corporals and privates, together with packers, hunters and herders completed the party. Indian guides they took from place to place as they could find them.
(This article was written by Winifred Jones, referring to reports and maps compiled and made at the local Forest Service office from Government reports. No direct quotations have been used).

The Hood River News, Hood River, OR., March 10, 1939, page 8

McCLELLAN EXPLORED TROUT LAKE. LAUREL AND GLENWOOD AREAS IN 1853

(This article written by Winifred Jones; referring to reports and maps compiled and made at the local Forest Service office from Government reports. No direct quotations have been used.)
People of local communities, and especially Trout Lake valley residents, will be greatly interested in the general report compiled by the local Forest service office recently, of the travels of George B. McClellan, who, at the head of a government expedition, came through the Trout Lake valley in 1853. This expedition was organized for the purpose of locating a pass through the mountains; a feasible route for a wagon road from Vancouver to the northeastern part of the state. Later expeditions were made; this one, however, proves of more than ordinary interest to local people.
McClellan, then Captain of Corps of Engineers, U.S.A., in command of Western division, was in charge of the exploring party, which consisted of 65 men and 170 horses and mules; they explored the country from Vancouver, Wash., to the Lewis river and down into the Trout Lake valley by way of Goose lake. The Columbia river being too high to permit passing up the gorge, the other route was chosen.
The itinerary from the Lewis river covers ground familiar to practically everyone here, so a few comments on this part of the report will not be out of place.
From the camp Winnepat, near what is now Pine Creek Guard station, the party moved on August 5, to camp was Wahamis (Paradise valley), crossing over McClellan mountain.
On Aug. 6, they moved on to camp Yawakamis (near McClellan meadows). On Aug. 8, to camp Chequos (near the foot of Red mountain). From the mountain near this camp five snow mountains could be seen: Rainier, St. Helens, Adams, Hood and Jefferson. From Vancouver, starting on July 18, to camp Chequos they had traveled 93 miles.
The expedition left Chequos Aug. 11; one party coming down just south of Goose lake, skirting the shore; the other party making a half-circle to the north; the two meeting somewhere above the ice caves. So on down the valley to camp Hool-hool-se (south and slightly west of Trout Lake town). The route had led them past the ice caves and the lava arches, butter caves, etc., and the Hool-hool-se camp was probably on Bolar creek, near the old Running place.
On Aug. 12, to camp on Tahk prairie (just south of Laurel); the expedition crossed the Nikepum (White Salmon river) about where the Winebarger ranch is now located. And on Aug. 13, to the second camp on Tahk prairie (southeast of Glenwood).
The expedition crossed the Klickitat and made their way on across to the Okanogan country.
There is a great deal of interesting information in the report; many Indian names of importance and interest, as well as several Indian legends; in fact, the report is quite complete along this line.
How amazing it is to realize that nearly 90 years ago before the Civil war, these men traveled the country we know; and left detailed reports whereby we, after all the years, can read of their journeys, pick out their probable route of travel and locate their camp sites. The old Indian trail which the party must have used, can still be followed in places along the line of hills on the south side of the valley.
Captain McClellan had with him Lieut. J.K. Duncan, astronomer, topographer and draughtsman; Lieut. H. Hodges, quartermaster and commissary; Lieut. S. Mowry, meteorologist; George Gibbs, geologist and ethnologist; J.F. Minter, assistant engineer; Dr. J.G. Cooper, surgeon and naturalist; A.L. Lewes, assistant engineer and interpreter. Sergeants, corporals and privates, together with packers, hunters and herders, completed the party. Indian guides took them from place to place as they could find them.