Page:Route Across the Rocky Mountains with a Description of Oregon and California.djvu/160



A small Creek, 8 A large 20 creek, North 5 Fork, The North 55 Fork, The 30 Crossing, Water, 16 Salt Sink, 10 681 701 706 761 791 807 817 water, without descending to the North Fork, which will be very difficult. At the Warm Springs, there is an abundance of wood, and there will be no difficulty in using the water; but the grass is sufficient only for a few small companies. They are a few hundred yards to the right of trail. These springs are at the entrance of the Black Hills, and the road beyond them, is, in many places, steep and rocky; but from the last waters of the Kanzas, thus far, it is certainly an excellent one. Wood. Grass abundant, on the hills. In the intermediate distance, there are several small streams which are dry in the latter part of Summer, but in the season in which emigrants pass, water will be found every few miles; an abundance of wood, and grass sufficient for camps. On the river at this place, there is plenty of wood and grass. Here there are two roads, one following the river, and the other leaving it to the right. That will be preferrable which has been least traveled, on account of grass. This is by the road which leaves the river. Through the Black Hills, there are, in the Spring season, numerous small streams which afford water, a great deal of wood, and grass sufficient for several companies. In this distance, the streams are never more than six miles apart. From the point where the two roads again unite, the trail follows the North Fork to the crossing, never leaving it far. In the bottoms of the stream, there is grass sufficient for camps, and an inexhaustable quantity of wood. The River here, at this season, can generally be forded. If it be high, recourse must be had to rafting, unless emigrants are otherwise provided. Timber is not wanting. Immediately after crossing the Platte, the trail leaves the river entirely, and bears to the right, over a high and uneven country, which affords very little of either wood, water, or grass; and until it reaches Sweet Water, a small river tributary to the North Fork, the most of the water is impregnated with some kind of salts, which render it worse than disagreeable. At this place, there is a spring, and a channel, in which the water sometimes flows. Water salt. Grass scarce. No wood. Here, immediately on the trail, the water is salt, and there is scarcely any grass; but green spots may be seen to the right among the hills, where there is excellent grass, and