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REVIEWS
LEWIS AND CLARK: WEATHER AND CLIMATE DATA FROM THE EXPEDITION JOURNALS
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by Vernon Preston
foreword by Terry Nathans
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| American Meteorological Society, Boston, 2006. Illustrations, photographs, maps, bibliography. 544 pages. $90.00 cloth. |
| Vernon Preston's impressive and very thorough book Lewis and Clark: Weather and Climate Data from the Expedition Journals is not the kind of book that one would pick up and read sequentially. Rather, it stands as the definitive reference on the weather encountered by the Expedition and the perception of that weather by the team. This is not the kind of book that a casual reader would enjoy; rather, it is one for history buffs and weather geeks. Within that admittedly narrow audience, the book truly delivers. |
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The book begins with a fine overview of the meteorological aspects of the trip, including the whys and wherefores of the measurement and reporting. That overview is followed by a description of the methods used in reporting weather in the diaries kept by Expedition members. Reports were made by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark and also by three sergeants: Charles Floyd, Patrick Gass, and John Ordway. In addition, Private Joseph Whitehouse's reports for some of the journey are included. |
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The reports constitute the bulk of the book. Daily reports of morning and afternoon weather and river conditions are listed in tabular form, followed by direct quotes from the various journals and diaries. Most days include at least three observations. Preston chose to use the journal entries as is, without editing punctuation or spelling, which actually adds to the charm of the narrative. On November 14, for example, Ordway wrote "the Storm continues, and obledges us to Stay in this disagreeable harbour with nothing but pounded Sammon to Eat" (p. 313). Most of the time, the journal entries portray very similar weather conditions. Occasionally, however, the reports diverge significantly, as on Friday, April 11, when Lewis, Clark, and Ordway report persistent rain, yet Gass merely states "We had a cloudy morning" (p. 381). |
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The last section of the book is a "Lewis and Clark Trail Pictorial," a series of beautiful photos showing landmarks visited and described by the group. In most cases, the photos show pristine landscapes without evidence of human habitation, and one can imagine how the same scenery looked to Expedition members. Occasionally, the trappings of civilization are obvious, however, as in the case of Ryan Dam on the Missouri at Great Falls, which appears in one of the photos. |
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The appendices contain transcripts of correspondence involving Lewis and Clark, including letters to and from President Jefferson, and the bibliography is quite thorough. |
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I could not help comparing this book with another one, Lewis & Clark's Northwest Journey: 'Weather Disagreeable' by George R. Miller (Frank Amato Publications, 2004). As opposed to Preston's reference book, Miller's is shorter, less detailed, and written in a much more prosaic style. Miller's is the kind of book you can pick up and read sequentially, and you will learn quite a bit about why the West gets the weather it does rather than just seeing the what. |
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But, when it comes to a comprehensive and well-organized reference book on the weather encountered by Lewis and Clark, Vernon Preston's stands alone. |
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| George Taylor
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| Corvallis, Oregon |
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