Even after growing up in the Pacific Northwest and living near a campsite of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, it wasn't till I moved to Montana that I got a much bigger picture of the Corp of Discovery.
Turns out that the Expedition was expecting to cross the Rocky Mountains through only one pass to reach the Pacific Ocean. Not realizing that the Rockies are not one mountain range but a series of short, but extremely  dangerous ranges, each with it's own degree of difficulty.
Upon reaching the Bitterroot Valley, the Corp was so disappointed at yet another range to cross, this one seemingly unpassable, THEY ALMOST TURNED AROUND AND WENT HOME!
Now that was never in my history books in school.
If not for the local Native's showing them the pass through the Lolo Hot Springs, Lewis & Clark would have never found the Columbia River, never set up camp outside my home town of Washougal WA. and never made it to the ocean.
I think my history teachers owe me an apology for that one!