18 January: In the morning, slightly cloudy sky, calm, cold. At seven thirty, −11°F [−23.9°C]. Wind northwest hora 8. Despite our large fire, [there were] frozen, wet sheets ten paces from it. Snow about eight o’clock. The Missouri had been frozen solid for a few days. [There was] a solid white expanse of snow across [river] on which the Indians and our woodcutters had [made] trails and paths. The whole area is monotonously covered with snow for four to five months, [forming] a wildly winterlike scene. It snowed, [but] only for half an hour: it was too cold. There was neither human nor animal to be seen; only a few Indians came walking across the ice from their forest. At noon, cold. At twelve thirty, −5 1/2°F [−20.8°C]. Wind as in the morning.

Today Belhumeur sold salt to the Indian women from an old ham barrel and unexpectedly found three hams still in it. [They] were extremely salty but despite that [were] an important discovery, since at the time [we] lacked meat. Today all the inhabitants of Mih-Tutta-Hangkusch went buffalo hunting on horseback. Mató-Tópe, who stayed here for [his portrait work, was] not able to accompany them. Charbonneau came about evening and brought some fresh meat. It had snowed slightly in the afternoon. In the evening, much snow with strong wind. The old Hidatsa chief, Road Maker (Addíh-Hiddísch), told us the history of his people, [and] I wrote it down.