Page:Route Across the Rocky Mountains with a Description of Oregon and California.djvu/110

 few places, where the hills were sufficiently gradual, to allow us to descend to the water; and these places were frequently between perpendicular falls, which were so near, and the velocity of the water so great, as to render the crossing very dangerous, if not absolutely impossible. This was the character of the first place where we struck the River, which was on the trail of a small emigrating company, that came into California, the previous summer. We had been told, by a gentleman whom we had met a few days before, returning from the mountains, where he had gone to get some wagons, and other property, which he had been compelled to leave, in the Fall, on account of the lateness of the season, and the fear of being blocked up by the coming snows, that it would be impossible for us to cross the stream, and that it would be best for us to return. We, however, discovered a place, where we ascended the mountain, immediately above us; and having, with much difficulty, on account of the steepness of the ascent, gained the summit; we followed the ridge—our progress being somewhat impeded by the snow—for about eight miles; and descended into a small bottom of the River. Traveling up the bottom about two miles, we came to a high, rocky spur, making into the water, around which we were at first unable to pass. But after searching and examining, for a long time, we at length found a place, where, by cutting away the brush for a considerable distance with our hatchets, and plunging through the mire and snow, we could pass around the spur. Having accomplished this, and traveled up the narrow bottom about two miles further, we again came to where the mountain neared the river. The bottom land was miry and covered with brush, and the snow was about four feet deep. Our loose animals, which were in front, were crowded into the stream by the pack animals, before we were aware of the situation. We succeeded, with difficulty, in stopping the animals which were packed with our provisions, &c., and stripping off our baggage and saddles, in the snow, we drove in the rest of our animals. They all succeeded in gaining a small island, near the opposite shore, just large enough to contain them; where they stayed the whole night in the snow, without anything to eat. Having kindled a large fire, and arranged our camp, our next object was, to make a way, by which we could cross ourselves and baggage. For this purpose, we felled a tree, which not being long enough to reach, was carried down the stream: we then selected a large tall Fir, which we cut about half off, and left it until the next morning, when we finished cutting it down. In falling, it 104