<P> The expedition sighted the Pacific Ocean for the first time on November 7 , 1805 , arriving two weeks later . The expedition faced its second bitter winter camped on the north side of the Columbia River , in a storm - wracked area . Lack of food was a major factor . The elk , the party 's main source of food , had retreated from their usual haunts into the mountains , and the party was now too poor to purchase enough food from neighboring tribes . On November 24 , 1805 , the party voted to move their camp to the south side of the Columbia River near modern Astoria , Oregon . Sacagawea , and Clark 's slave York , were both allowed to participate in the vote , so this may have been the first time in American history where a woman and a slave were allowed to vote . </P>
<P> The expedition sighted the Pacific Ocean for the first time on November 7 , 1805 , arriving two weeks later . The expedition faced its second bitter winter camped on the north side of the Columbia River , in a storm - wracked area . Lack of food was a major factor . The elk , the party 's main source of food , had retreated from their usual haunts into the mountains , and the party was now too poor to purchase enough food from neighboring tribes . On November 24 , 1805 , the party voted to move their camp to the south side of the Columbia River near modern Astoria , Oregon . Sacagawea , and Clark 's slave York , were both allowed to participate in the vote , so this may have been the first time in American history where a woman and a slave were allowed to vote . </P>
where did lewis and clark reach the pacific
where did lewis and clark reach the pacific
near modern Astoria , Oregon
near modern Astoria , Oregon