The Prairie Traveler Part 19

26. Santa Barbara.-Town.

45-3/4. San Yenness River.-At the Mission.

78-7/8. Santa Margareta.-Old Mission.

28-3/8. San Miguel.-Old Mission.

24-3/4. San Antonio River.

26-3/4. Rio del Monterey.

15-5/8. Solida Mission.-At the ford of Rio del Monterey.

37-1/2. San Juan Mission.

33. San Jose Pueblo.

75. San Francisco.

VII.-From Fort Bridger to the "City of Rocks." From Captain Handc.o.c.k's Journal.

Miles. Fort Bridger to 9. Little Muddy Creek.-Water brackish in pools along the creek; tall bunch-gra.s.s; sage for fuel. Road runs over a barren section, is rough, and pa.s.ses one steep hill.

12-1/3. Big Muddy Creek.-The road, with the exception of two or three bad gullies, is good for ten miles; it then follows the Big Muddy bottom, which is flat and boggy. The camp is three miles above the crossing. Some gra.s.s; sage for fuel.

14-1/5. Small Branch of the Muddy Creek.-Cross the river in three miles at a bad ford. A mile above camp the gra.s.s is good. Road generally good.

19-1/2. On Small Creek.-Road continues up the Muddy 9-1/2 miles to its head. It then ascends to the divide between Bear and Green Rivers, probably 800 feet, in 1-3/5 miles. The descent on the other side is about the same. The road pa.s.ses many fine springs. At one and two miles back it pa.s.ses points of hills, where it is very rough. Good gra.s.s and sage at camp.

8-9/10. Bear River.-Bad creek to cross near the camp; thence to Bear River Valley the road is good. It then follows down the river, crossing Willow Creek. Good camp, with a large, fine spring.

17. Bear River.-Good road along the river; plenty of wood, water, and gra.s.s at all points.

Foot of Grant's Mountain.-Road runs along Bear River; at 2-1/2 miles strikes Smith's Fork, a rapid trout stream. The road crosses the lower ford. A few miles farther on is a bad slough, which can be avoided by taking a round on the hills. Cross Thomas's Fork on a bridge, also a slough near it; toll $2.00 for each team and wagon. The road then leaves Bear River Valley, and turns over a very steep hill. Good gra.s.s, wood, and water.

12. Bear River.-Road ascends Grant's Mountain 1200 feet in 1-1/2 miles-double teams-then descends again into Bear River Valley at 4-4/5 miles. Good wood, water, and gra.s.s.

17-2/5. Indian Creek.-Road crosses eight fine spring branches; camp is on a beautiful trout stream. Good wood, water, and gra.s.s.

11. Spring near Bear River.-Road is hilly, crossing two spring branches. Good wood, water, and gra.s.s. The camp is on the left and near the road.

11. Bear River.-At 6-7/10 miles the road strikes a large group of springs called "Soda Springs," and here crosses Pine Creek, on the left bank of which is a saleratus lake. Soon after it strikes the main springs, and after crossing another creek the "Steam-boat Spring" may be seen in the bed of the river.

15. "Port Neuf," or Rock Creek.-At 2-3/10 miles the road leaves Bear River near where it runs through a canon with high bluffs on each side. At this point the California and Fort Hall roads separate. The California road (called Hudspeth's Cut-off) then crosses a valley between the Bear River and Port Neuf River Mountains, 9 miles. No water from camp to camp. Good camp.

15. Marsh Creek.-About two miles above the main road the creek can be forded; a road leads to it from the descent into the valley. Road good; water and gra.s.s plenty; no wood.

16-1/5. Paunack Creek.-First part of the road is hilly; the remainder good. Good camp.

7-1/5. Mallade River.-At 7-1/5 miles the road crosses the Mallade River. Good camp 140 miles from Salt Lake City. Good road.

22-3/10. Small Creek.-The road ascends a ridge through a canon, and descends to a valley on the other side. From the camp to the summit of the ridge is 6-1/5 miles. The descent is 3-7/10 miles. It then crosses a valley 8 miles wide, and strikes a canon which leads to the top of a hill over a rough road. Plenty of wood, water, and gra.s.s at camp, but no water between this and the last camp.

9-3/5. Small Creek.-Road after five miles strikes a canon with a long but gentle ascent. Two miles from the entrance of this canon is a spring branch. There is wood and some gra.s.s and water at this place.

11-1/5. Spring Branch.-The road pa.s.ses through a canon, and at 5 miles strikes the head of a spring branch, which it follows down 2-1/2 miles to the junction with a larger branch, which is bridged. At nine tenths of a mile another fork enters. Gra.s.s very fine here. Road follows down this across the main branch, and the camp is 2 miles below. Good camp.

18-1/2. Deca.s.sure Creek, or Raft River.-Road continues down the creek 2-3/10 miles, and crosses, then ascends by a steep hill to an elevated sage plain, leaving the creek at 11-4/5 miles, and pa.s.ses a slough with water. Good camp.

17-9/10. Spring Branch.-The road crosses the creek near the last camp, and follows up a valley, crossing in five miles several spring branches. At 2-9/10 miles it crosses the creek again, and follows up the valley two miles farther, then crosses a high sage plain 8-9/10 miles long, when it strikes a spring 150 yards to the left of the road, where there is an excellent camp in a beautiful valley.

10. Junction of Salt Lake City Road.-Road pa.s.ses several small branches in 3 miles, then commences ascending through a canon which, in 2-1/5 miles, leads to the entrance to the "City of Rocks," and pa.s.ses through these for three miles. It then crosses a ridge, leaving the City of Rocks, and at ten miles from last camp intersects the road from "Salt Lake City." At 1-2/5 miles beyond this a road leads off to the right to a spring branch, 3 miles, where there is a good camp near the foot of Goose Creek Mountain. From this point California travelers can refer to the itinerary of the route from Salt Lake City to Sacramento.

VIII.-From Soda Springs to the City of Rocks, known as Hudspeth'sCut-off.

Miles. Soda Springs to 20. Bear River.-The road runs down Bear River, crossing some small streams. Good camp.

10. Portner Creek.-Camp at the head of the creek. Good wood, water, and gra.s.s.

12. Fork of Portner Creek.-Good camp.

15. Pauack Creek.-Road crosses a summit. Good road and camp.

12. Snake Spring.-Good camp.

12. Utha Spring.-Good camp.

15. Deca.s.sure Creek.-Road crosses a small stream; rather bad crossing. Good camp.

18. City of Rocks.-Junction of Salt Lake road. Good camp.

IX.-Sublets Cut-off, from the junction of the Salt Lake and FortHall Roads.

Miles. Junction to 7. Big Sandy.

44. Green River.-From the Big Sandy to Green River (upper road) there is an abundance of gra.s.s in places along the road, but no water.

6. Small Creek.-The road runs up the creek. Good gra.s.s.

4. On the Creek.-Good gra.s.s and water.

12. Small Spring.-The spring is on the left of the road. Good gra.s.s.

9. Ham's Fork.-Good wood, water, and gra.s.s.

6. Spring.-On the summit of a mountain. Good gra.s.s.

6. Muddy Creek.-Wood, water, and gra.s.s.

10. Spring.-In Bear River Valley. Good wood, water, and gra.s.s.

6. Smith's Fork.-In Bear, River Valley. Good wood, water; and gra.s.s.

10. Tomaus' Fork.-Road runs down Bear River. Good wood, water, and gra.s.s.

7. Spring Creek.-Wood, water, and gra.s.s.

7. Smith's Ford.-Road crosses over a spur of the mountain; long and gradual ascent; descent rather abrupt. Good wood, water, and gra.s.s.

8. Telleck's Fork.-Road runs down Bear River. Good camp.

4. Small Creek.-Good camp.

4. Small Creek.-Good camp.

7. Small Creek.-Good camp.

12. Soda Springs.-Left side of the road, among some cedars, is a good camp.

Here take the left-hand road to California, called Hudspeth's Cut-off.

X.-From Lawson's Meadows, on the Humboldt River, to Fort Reading, via Rogue River Valley, Fort Lane, Oregon Territory, Yreka, and Fort Jones.

Miles. Lawson's Meadows to 18-1/2. Mountain Spring.-Road leaves the Humboldt, and takes a northwesterly course 12 miles to a spring of good water. Good bunch-gra.s.s to the left of the road, and a small spring at the camp. The road is plain on leaving the river, but after a few days it becomes faint. Road from this point pa.s.ses over a desert country for about 60 miles, without good water or much gra.s.s.

38-1/2. Black Rock Spring.-Road level and hard, with little vegetation. In 14 miles pa.s.s springs, but the water is not good. In 16 miles the road pa.s.ses a slough which is difficult to cross; water not good, but can be given to cattle in small quant.i.ties. In five miles from this the road pa.s.ses Black Rock, mentioned by Colonel Fremont in his trip from Columbia River in 1843-4. Three miles farther pa.s.s boiling springs, very hot, but good cooled. Gra.s.s pretty good.

20-1/4. Mountain Rill.-Water good; bunch-gra.s.s in the vicinity. In eight miles' travel the road pa.s.ses a beautiful creek of pure water, with good gra.s.s.

5-3/4. Lake (Marshy).

10-1/2. High Rock Canon.-This canon is 25 miles long, with wild and curious scenery. Road crosses the creek frequently, and the mud is bad. In the autumn the road is good.

14-3/4. High Rock Canon.

Small Creek.-Beautiful country, with the greatest abundance of water and gra.s.s; also fuel.

25-1/4. Pine Grove Creek.-Road pa.s.ses over an interesting country, well supplied with wood, water, and gra.s.s, and pa.s.ses around the south end of a salt lake.

18-1/2. West Slope of Sierra.-Road pa.s.ses over the mountain, which is steep but not rocky, then descends to a small creek of good water which runs into Goose Lake. Good gra.s.s and fuel. Look out for the Indians, as they are warlike and treacherous here.

7-3/4. East sh.o.r.e of Goose Lake.-Excellent camp.

16-1/4. West sh.o.r.e of Goose Lake.-This is a beautiful sheet of fresh water; great quant.i.ties of water-fowl resort to this lake.

16-1/4. Slough Springs.-The road pa.s.ses over a very rocky divide, covered with loose volcanic debris, very hard for animals, and wearing to their feet. They should be well shod before attempting the pa.s.sage.

18-1/2. Marshy Lake.-Road difficult for wagons.

15. Clear Lake.-Beautiful lake of pure water, with good gra.s.s around its sh.o.r.e.

25-1/4. East sh.o.r.e of Rhett's Lake.-Road tolerable over a rolling, rocky country, between lakes. The road crosses Lost River over a natural bridge, on a solid, smooth ledge of rock.

19. West sh.o.r.e of Rhett's Lake.-Plenty of wood, water, and gra.s.s along this road.

21. Klamath River.-Road leaves Rhett's Lake, and enters the forest and mountains; tolerably good. Good camp.

15-1/4. Cascade Mountains.-The road pa.s.ses over high mountains, through lofty pine-trees. Camp is at Summit Meadows. Good water and gra.s.s, also fuel.

14-1/4. Western slope of Cascade Mountains.-Rough roads.

19-1/4. Rogue River Valley.-Road descends into the settlements in six miles, where there is a lovely fertile valley, well settled with farmers.

23-3/4. Fort Lane.-Near "Table Rock," on Rogue River, eight miles from Jacksonville. Dragoon post.

22-3/4. Rogue River Valley.-Good camp.

18. Siskiyou Mountains.-Road crosses the Siskiyou Mountains, and is difficult for wagons.

18. Yreka.-Flouris.h.i.+ng mining city.

18. Fort Jones.-Infantry post, in Scott's Valley.

20. Scott's Mountain.-Good camp at the foot of the mountain. Road pa.s.ses over the mountains, but is impa.s.sable for wagons.

90. Shasta City.-Good gra.s.s, wood, and water.

180. Sacramento City.

XI.-From Soda Springs to Fort Wallah Wallah and Oregon City, Oregon, via Fort Hall.

Miles. Soda Springs to 25. Portner Creek.-Good camp. Take the right-hand road.

10. Ross's Creek.-Good camp.

10. Fort Hall Valley.-Good camp. Road runs down the creek.

8. Snake River.-Good camp. Road crosses the river bottom.