The Prairie Traveler Part 18

22-1/2. Goose Creek Mountains.-Gra.s.s, wood, and water abundant; rough and mountainous country. Road from Fort Bridger comes in here via Soda Springs.

17-3/4. On Goose Creek.-Rough, broken country, with a good road, which runs along the creek for several miles.

28-1/2. Head of 1000 Spring Valley.-Road runs over a rolling, barren section, with but little water except on the river far to the right.

25-3/4. 1000 Spring Valley.-Meadow gra.s.s; good fuel scarce. Camps can be found at short intervals along the road.

14. Head of Humboldt River.-Fine camping-places, and road generally good, running over a rolling country.

23. Slough of the Humboldt.-Extensive bottoms of good gra.s.s.

20. Humboldt River.-Along the entire course of the Humboldt good gra.s.s is found in the bottoms. The road, which follows the bottom, is hard and smooth, but can not be traveled in seasons of very high water, as the bottom overflows. It is then necessary to take the road on the bluffs, where the gra.s.s is scarce. The river, when not above a fording stage, can be forded at almost any point, and good camps can be found at short intervals. There are spots along the river bottom where alkaline ponds are frequent. These are poisonous to cattle, and should be avoided by travelers. It is well along this river not to allow animals to drink any water except from the river where it is running.

20. Humboldt River.-The foregoing remarks apply for every camp on the Humboldt River.

22. Humboldt River.-Good camps along the Humboldt Valley.

23. Humboldt River.

13-1/2. Humboldt River.

16-1/2. Humboldt River.

25. Humboldt River.

13-3/4. Humboldt River.

24. Humboldt River.

24-1/2. Humboldt River.

20-1/4. Humboldt River.

18-3/4. Humboldt River.

13-1/2. Humboldt River.

18-1/4. Lawson's Meadows.-The road here forks, the left going by the Carson Valley and Sacramento route, and the right via Goose, Clear, and Rhett lakes, Applegate's Pa.s.s of the Cascade Mountains, into Rogue River Valley, Fort Law, Oregon Territory, Yreka, Fort Jones, Fort Reading, and Sacramento River.

33-1/2. On Humboldt River.-Gra.s.s and water poor all the distance to the Sink of the Humboldt.

19-1/2. Sink of Humboldt River.-The water at the Sink is strongly impregnated with alkali; the road generally is good. Travelers should not allow their stock to drink too freely of this water.

26. Head Sink of Humboldt.-Road good.

45. Carson River.-Road crosses the desert, where there is no water for stock, but there is a well where travelers can purchase water for drinking. This part of the road should be traveled in the cool of the day and at night. Gra.s.s good, also the water.

2. Carson River.-Good bunch-gra.s.s near the road.

30. Carson River.-26 miles of desert; poor gra.s.s.

14. Eagle Ranch.-Good gra.s.s and water.

13. Reese's Ranch.-Good gra.s.s and water.

12. Williams' Ranch.-Very good water and gra.s.s.

15. Hope Valley.-Road rough and rocky.

3. Near Sierra.-Good camp, with water and gra.s.s.

7. First Summit.-Road rough and rocky; good water; gra.s.s scarce.

2. Second Summit.-Road mountainous and very steep; snow nearly all the year.

10. Lakes.-Good camp.

12. Leek Springs.-Good gra.s.s near the road.

10. Trader's Creek.-Gra.s.s and fuel scarce.

12. Sly Park.-Gra.s.s and fuel near the road.

Forty Mile House.-Water plenty; gra.s.s scarce.

Sacramento Valley.-Water plenty; purchase forage.

Sacramento City.-Water plenty; purchase forage.

Total distance from Salt Lake City to Benicia, 973 miles.

At the Big Meadows, 23 miles from the Sink of the Humboldt, travelers should make a halt of a day or two to rest and recruit their animals and to cut gra.s.s for crossing the desert, as this is the last good camping-place until reaching Carson River. The ground near this place is boggy, and animals should be watered with buckets. The camping-ground here is on the right bank of the river, and about half a mile to the left of the main road. The water is in a slough, near its head, where will be found some springs which run off a short distance, but soon sink.

The road across the desert is very sandy, especially toward the western extremity. Twenty miles from the Sink of the Humboldt there are four wells. About half a mile east of the mail station the road leading to the wells turns to the right, where water can be purchased for from one to two s.h.i.+llings for each man and beast.

At 9-1/2 miles beyond the mail station, on the desert, a road turns off from the main trace toward a very high sandy ridge, and directly upon the top of this ridge is the crater of an extinct volcano, at the bottom of which is a salt lake. Upon the extreme north end of this lake will be found a large spring of fresh water, sufficient for 1000 animals. From thence to "Ragtown," on Carson River, is three miles.

I would advise travelers, when their animals become exhausted before reaching this water, to take them out of harness and drive them to this place to recruit. There is some gra.s.s around the lake.

This desert has always been the most difficult part of the journey to California, and more animals have probably been lost here than at any other place. The parts of wagons that are continually met with here shows this most incontestably.

VI.-From Great Salt Lake City to Los Angeles and San Francisco, California.

Miles. Salt Lake City to 20-5/8. Willow Creek.-Good gra.s.s.

14. American Creek.-Good gra.s.s.

11-1/2. Provo City.-Town.

7-1/4. Hobble Creek.-Good camp.

6. Spanish Fork.-Good camp.

5. Peteetneet.-Good camp.

25. Salt Creek.-Several small streams between. Good camp.

18-5/8. Toola Creek.-Ford. No wood; gra.s.s good.

6-1/4. Sevier River.-Road is sandy, pa.s.sing over a high ridge. Good camp.

25-1/2. Cedar Creek.-Road rather mountainous and sandy. Good gra.s.s and wood.

17-1/2. Creek.-This is the fourth stream south of Sevier River. Road crosses two streams. Good camp.

3-5/8. Willow Flats.-The water sinks a little east of the road.

25. Spring.-Good gra.s.s and water.

22-1/4. Sage Creek.-Gra.s.s poor; wood and water.

5-1/8. Beaver Creek.-Good wood, water, and gra.s.s.

27-1/4. North Canon Creek.-In Little Salt Lake Valley. Good gra.s.s; no wood. The road is rough and steep for six miles.

5-3/8. Creek.-Good wood, water, and gra.s.s.

6-3/4. Creek.-Good wood, water, and gra.s.s.

12-7/8. Cottonwood Creek.-Good gra.s.s and water.

9. Cedar Springs.-Good camp.

23. Pynte Creek.-Good gra.s.s one mile up the canon.

9. Road Springs.-Road is rough; good camp.

16. Santa Clara.-Road descending and rough; poor gra.s.s. From this point to Cahoon Pa.s.s look out for Indians.

17-1/8. Camp Springs.-Two miles before reaching the springs the road leaves the Santa Clara. Good gra.s.s.

22-1/8. Rio Virgin.-Road crosses over the summit of a mountain. Good road; gra.s.s poor.

39-5/8. Rio Virgin.-Road runs down the Rio Virgin, crossing it ten times. Gra.s.s good down the river.

19-5/8. Muddy Creek.-Road for half a mile is very steep and sandy. Good camp.

52-5/8. Las Vegas.-Water is sometimes found 2-1/2 miles west of the road in holes 23 miles from the Muddy, and some gra.s.s about a mile from the road. Good camp.

5. On Vegas.-Road runs up the river. Good gra.s.s.

17. Cottonwood Spring.-Poor gra.s.s.

29-3/4. Cottonwood Grove.-No gra.s.s. Water and gra.s.s can be found four miles west by following the old Spanish trail to a ravine, and thence to the left in the ravine one mile.

21-3/4. Resting Springs.-Good gra.s.s and water. Animals should be rested here before entering the desert.

7. Spring.-The spring is on the left of the road, and flows into Saleratus Creek. Animals must not be allowed to drink the Saleratus water.

14-1/8. Salt Springs.-Poor gra.s.s and no fresh water.

38-3/4. Bitter Springs.-Good road; poor gra.s.s.

30-3/4. Mohave River.-Good road and good gra.s.s.

51-1/2. On the Mohave.-Last ford. Good gra.s.s all the way up the Mohave.

17. Cahoon Pa.s.s.-At the summit.

10. Camp.-Road bad down the canon.

11-1/2. Coco Mongo Ranch.

10. Del Chino Ranch.-Williams.

19-3/8. San Gabriel River.

6. San Gabriel Mission.

8-1/4. Pueblo de los Angeles.

65-3/4. Santa Clara River.-On the Coast Route. Good camps to San Jose.

7-1/2. Buena Ventura Mission and River.-Road here strikes the Pacific sh.o.r.e.