Following Alexander MacKenzie's overland Voyage to the Pacific Ocean via the Peace River. (Day 18)
“The weather was clear and sharp, and between three and four in the morning we renewed our voyage, our first course being West by South three miles and a half, when the men complained of the cold in their fingers, as they were obliged to push on the canoe with the poles.”
This is the first complaint of the cold, even though they have been paddling and poling on the river since May 9th.
“Though the sun had shone on us throughout the day, the air was so cold that the men, though actively employed, could not resist it without the aid of their blanket coats.”
No thinsulate or Gore-tex in the 18th century; just “blanket coats”.
”Our next course was South-West two miles, when we encountered a rapid, and saw an encampment of the Knisteneaux.”
The explorers of the day used this term for various tribes they encountered North and West of Lake Superior; (s. wikipedia), what I have read suggests that MacKenzie here refers to the Cree, First Nation. Since reaching the Rockies, he seems to be avoiding contact with them. 
Picture 1. This photo was taken in 1929 by the Swannell survey team and shows some of the river they would have battled this day. All under Lake Williston now.
“Here a river poured in on the left, which was the most considerable that we had seen since we passed the mountain. At seven in the evening we landed and encamped.”
To-day’s encampment 227 years ago was at, or near to, the mouth of Carbon Creek.
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