Aug 8. Left Camp at 8 A.M. with Capt A. Burpee East & a party of Scouts to make a reconnaissance to Waterton or Chief Mnt Lake & ascertain the practicability of a waggon trail to that point. Morning cloudy & windy but fine. Followed the so called Kootanie trail which resembles a buffalo path more than anything else. By it the Kootanie indians in company with the Flatheads & Pend Oreilles come over to hunt buffalo in the autumn when these animals fall back among the foot hills. The Western indians associate themselves thus for protection against the Blackfoot & allied tribes.

The country passed over beautiful in appearance. Luxuriant growth of grass & flowering plants. Poplar & birch thickets