This painting resulted from my trip approximating the path taken by the Nez Perce during their ordeal through present Yellowstone Park and to the crossing of the Yellowstone River after escaping the battle of the Big Hole.  It represents Joseph and his brother Ollokot as they plan the finer points of their desperate escape from the Army.  They had come looking for their friends, the Crow, but were spurned in their hopes for help.  It's difficult to imagine the passage of the hundreds of horses, people, and their baggage across and through the mountains East of Yellowstone Park.

In previous trips East into Western Montana and Wyoming, the Nez Perce had always kept North of the Yellowstone River.  There is some argument as to whether Colonel Sturgis should not have left his camp at Hart Mountain but instead should have stayed to try and cut off the Nez Perce.  But the Nez Perce entered the valley of Clark's Fork unseen not too far from Colonel Sturgis' campsite.  This was accomplished thru the deception of milling the entire horse herd across the open basin then heading North hoping to get to Canada.  From a ridge with a grassy crest and timbered slopes they slid down a steep and narrow chasm that had no visible outlet.  Such daring and desperation helped them to completely elude the Army and gain the Crossing of the Yellowstone River untouched.