25 January: In the morning, cloudy sky. At seven thirty, −1°F [−18.3°C]. Wind west, moderately strong but very cold. At nine o’clock the sun appeared. Sky slightly cloudy. They cleaned the inner court of the fort.

About noon the Arikara invited us to Belhumeur’s room for lunch, or as they say here, for a feast. He had cooked buffalo cow meat. We sat around the fireplace. Three Arikara women and the strong Mandan were present. About noon, more wind; very cold; sky partly cloudy. At twelve o’clock, 1 1/2°F [−16.9°C]. Wind the same. The people worked all day long in the [central] yard of the fort to remove the deep snow [that had] blown in [and] frozen hard. At four o’clock Charbonneau returned with meat and some buffalo tongues. An engagé with a mule accompanied him. Wind all afternoon, and in the evening, severe and cold. In the evening, bright moonlight; strong, cold wind. The Arikara smoked a pipe at our place. The night was stormy.