PART ONE- WITH THE HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY 1784-1797

* David Thompson was born in 1770

David Thompson  has spent 13 years in the fur trade
 
 

Part Two  David Thompson with Northwest Company
1797-1812

1797-98 Lengthy travels in Red Rver and Assiniboine area then to Mandan Indians on Missouri River
                          from there to headwaters of the Mississippi River, and thence to Lake Superior, surveying shoreline
                  from Fond du Lac House to Sault Ste. Marie and the north shore from there to Grand portage.

 Summer 1798
-From Grand Portage via Cumberland House and Churchill River to Isle a la Crosse ( detour
to North Saskatxhewan close to Buckingham House) and then to build house at Lac la Biche
    Winter 1798-99
                At Lac La Biche and then Thompson travels to Fort Augustus ( Edmonton)  and then to Isla a la Crosse
where he marries Charlotte Small
Summer 1799
To Grand Portage  and then to Fort George on the North Saskatchewan River
        Winter 1799-1800
At Fort George and in late fall to Rocky Mountain House
Summer 1800
At Grand portage and then travelled back to Rocky Mountain House
Winter 1800-01
At Rocky Mountain House, but makes two exploratory trips
  (1) to Red Deer River (2) to Bow River,
while McGillivray makes trip to headwaters on   Brazeau River
Summer 1801
                            At Rocky Mountain House but makes unsuccessful trip with Hughes up North Saskatchewan
                       River to the mountains in June and then later in summer travels to Fort Augustus and back
Winter 1801-02
At Rocky mountain House ( first child born here)
Summer 1802
At Fort William and then to Lesser Slave Lake
Winter 1802-03
At house at Peace River Forks
Summer 1803
At house at Peace River Forks
Winter 1803-04
At Peace River Forks with
(1) trip to Lesser Slave Lake and back
          (2) trip to Rocky Mountain House and back and then on to Horse Shoe House
Summer 1804
From Horse Shoe House to Fort William and to " Muskrat Country",
to Musquawegen ( Bear's Backbone) Post
Winter 1804-05
at Musquawegen ( Bear's Backbone) Post
Summer 1805
At Cumberland House, then to Reindeer Lake and back to Cumberland House
Winter 1805-06
To Reed Lake for winter
Summer 1806
To Cumberland House, then to Fort William and then westward to Rocky Mountain House
Winter 1806-07
At Rocky Mountain House

**  Summer 1807**
Crosses Rocky Mountains via Howse Pass
and builds Kootenay House on Columbia River

     Winter 1807-08
at  Kootenay House
Summer 1808
Thompson goes south on Kootenay River and back to Kootenay House,across
Howse Pass and on to Rainy Lake House and then
Winter 1808-09
up North saskatchewan River, ascross Howse Pass to Kootenay House ( F.McDonald
biulds Kootenay Fort)
Summer 1809
Across Howse Pass to Fort Augustus and then back to the Columbia River
Winter 1809-10
Thompson builds Kullyspel House at Pend d'Oreille Lake, further exploration
and then builds Flathead House in fall . making  short trips in late winter
Summer 1810
to Kullyspell House , then via Howse Pass to Rainy Lake , returning westward
but with Howse Pass now blocked by the Peigan heads northward

**Winter 1810-11**
Crosses Rocky Mountains via Athabaska Pass and winters in cabin
at mouth of Canoe River at the Columbia

Summer 1811
Ascends Columbia River and then descends Kootenay River, travelling
by land to Flathead House and then by canoe again and then horse to
Spokane House ( F. McDonald ) and by horse to Kettle Falls on the
Columbia, leaving there by canoe on  July 3rd and reaching Fort Astoria
and the Pacific Ocean on July 15th, but after brief stay begins ascent of
Columbia River , travelling by horse and canoe, and finally  reaching Canoe River

Winter 1811-12
Crosses Atahabaska Pass to Henry House ( Near Jasper) and then back to
                  Canoe River and from there to Spokane House and on to Flathead House for
the winter. Thompson makes short trips in winter and then on to
Spokane House and to Ilthkoyape Falls to build canoes, leaving there on
April 22nd 1812 for eastward trip to Fort William

Summer  1812
David Thompson crosses Athabaska Pass and the Rocky Mountains for the last time
and travels to Isle a la Crosse ( Charlotte Small's home) then to the Churchill River,
and Cumberland House. Arrives with his family ( Charlotte and five children) at Fort
William  and then leaves to resurvey the north shore of Lake Superior to Sault Ste. Marie
and then along north shore of Lake Huron, up French River and down Ottawa River to Terrebonne.

David Thompson was now 42 years old and he was never
        again to travel west to the great rivers and the Rocky Mountains.