Page:Route Across the Rocky Mountains with a Description of Oregon and California.djvu/38



fall; in the other two, there is about ten feet. Below these Falls, for many miles, the spurs of the Mountains, on the South side, run down to the river, and the road over them, is, in many places, steep and rocky. We crossed a number of small creeks, which run down from these Mountains to the River; the water of which, is cool and clear. — Many of the hills, over which we passed, were covered with a dwarfish growth of cedar; and the Mountains on the South, with Pine. The River, below the Falls, runs through a deep and narrow Canion; between black and rugged basaltic walls, and is little else than a succession of Falls and Rapids. The valley through which Snake River flows, is very wide, elevated from one to three hundred feet above the stream; and bounded, on the North and South, by parallel ranges of high Mountains. Its surface is broken, and cut by deep ravines. It is very sandy and barren, producing nothing but wild sage, and a few scattering blades of short grass. In traveling through this valley, it is necessary to obtain some directions, from those who are acquainted with the way, since grass is seldom found, except on the small streams. A few days after our departure from Fort Hall, we left our camp one morning, when, according to our bill of the route, we had a long stretch ahead, before we would come to wood and water: the clouds were floating heavily along the sides of the distant Mountains; and the wind blowing in fitful gusts, made us fearful of an approaching storm. But our scanty supply of provisions induced us to proceed. We had not gone far, before the Heavens were completely obscured by the clouds. The cold increased to severity, and the mingled rain and snow, began to fall very fast. The dim trail, which led us over a high barren plain, became more and more indistinct, from the accumulating snow. the distant Mountains, already as white as the flakes that filled the air, gradually faded in the storm; and the extent of vision lessened, as it increased. We were drenched with the rain and snow, and chilled and pinced with the cold; and in vain did we attempt to excite warmth by walking: for, loaded down with wet garments, and being accustomed to remain mostly on horseback, we were soon fatigued with traveling, at a rapid rate, over the wet dust and sand, and began to fall behind. We went on for some hours, the storm still continuing; and the same gloomy prospect was still around us. We were ignorant how long we should have to endure the cold and fatigue, before we could reach some poor shelter; or whether we might not entirely loose