Westward Whoa: In the Wake of Lewis and Clark

As a child, Carter, a freelance writer, was intrigued by the story of Lewis and Clark. In August 1992, he and his friend Preston Maybank set out to follow the famed pair's historic trail from St. Louis to the mouth of the Columbia River at Astoria, Oreg. This lighthearted chronicle may lead readers to suspect a delayed adolescence on the part of the modern adventurers. Just getting under way in the 1212-foot rubber raft was an achievement. En route, Carter collected animal scats and Maybank studied the stars. Frequently running out of gas, they lost their way in a maze of canals and had their tent torn down by a tornado. In Montana, Carter attempted a vision quest without success. Crossing the Great Divide on horseback, the duo retrieved the raft at Orofino, Idaho, and embarked on a 600-mile float down the Columbia River system. As they approached Astoria, the engine quit and the raft sank--a fitting end to a wacky journey. Photos. (July)