The geography of the American West possessed many unique features that were completely unknown to the explorers, and one of the most daunting of these was the Rocky Mountains. The Rocky Mountains are an incredible wonder of nature, and their immense height and …show more content…
Grizzlies were large and imposing animals, and their incredible power and presence was well documented throughout the expedition. After initial encounters with small bears, the men of the expedition did not fear the grizzly bears. However, upon encountering a full-size grizzly, Lewis and Clark developed a healthy respect for these powerful creatures. The men were commanded to sleep with their rifles at their sides, and to always travel in groups when they were leaving camp . These orders resulted from a combination of fear and respect and the incredible grizzly bears were very different from the black bears that the men of the expedition were accustomed to on the east coast. Grizzly bears are over one and a half times larger than the black bears of the east, with some grizzlies being twice as large as black bears. This amazing size inspired a sense of amazement in the men in addition to the fear, as such a massive foreign animal can inspire conflicting