 Natives descending the river told them of scarcity in provisions (food sources) east of the Cascades.So the handsome prairie in present-day Washougal turned into a provisioning camp which became their second longest campsite in present-day Washington State.So within a 13-year period Washougal would have famous travelers visit its banks from both the east and west—again in 1811 another famed explorer (David Thompson) would camp near the same "handsome prairie" on his famous journey to chart the entire length of the Columbia River.