The nimíipuu crossed Lolo Pass.

Howard’s column pursued.

In Montana, the Bitterroot settlers and the army post at Fort Missoula attempted to block the route — in what became known derisively as Fort Fizzle, a log barricade that the nimíipuu simply bypassed.

The Montana settlers in the Bitterroot Valley largely allowed the nimíipuu to pass through in peace, apparently satisfied with assurances that the people were not seeking to harm them.

The flight was still in its early stage, and the council still hoped to find a peaceful resolution somewhere to the east or north.