Mountain. A fairly low pass in the Cascade Mountains enabled the party to reach the headwaters of Cow Creek, which they followed through the foothills to reach the Sacramento River.
The great valley of California formed by the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers in the early years of the nineteenth century was a no man's land traversed by wandering parties of Russians, British, and Americans who trapped the furs of its streams. Glimpses of these early explorers, who included French Canadian employees of the northern fur companies, flash across the pages of the journal in which John Work kept a daily record. From these sparks can be caught brief pictures of the fierce competition engaged in by the various groups in their desire to be first to trap the streams for their rich harvest of beaver and otter pelts.
Entries in Work's journal concerning the American, Ewing Young, are a hitherto unknown source of information on this hardy frontiersman. Work enlarges on exploits already known and contributes additional material on Young's route of 1832-33. Comments upon mission padres, the Russian governor of Fort Ross, Indian chieftains, early English and American residents of California, the attendance of Catholic French Canadians at mass on Easter Sunday, 1833, and a battle with Indians on the San Joaquin add dramatic interest to the daily record.
From Cow Creek the trappers traveled south along the banks of the Sacramento River to the Sutter Buttes where there was a campsite already well known from previous visits to the region. From the Buttes the men attempted to proceed farther south along the slopes of the Sierra foothills to the eastward but were prevented by torrential rains and high water. An excursion to the American River resulted in Work's determination to spend the winter at the Buttes. Here he was joined by another band of Hudson's Bay men who had come south along the Oregon and California coastline by the trail of Jedediah Smith. Michel LaFramboise headed this party of sixty-five people, many of whom were Oregon Indians. They left Fort Vancouver in April 1832 and penetrated the great valley of California as far as French Camp, near what is now Stockton. John Work, as was fitting his rank as gentleman of the company, became leader of the joint party.
When spring approached, the trappers followed the Sacramento River north to a crossing that had been discovered by Ewing Young. They crossed safely to the west bank and proceeded south along the foothills of the Coast Range to the Bay of San Francisco. After visiting Sonoma Mission and Fort Ross they searched the coast line to the north for furs but found none. Prevented from proceeding farther by mountain barriers south of Cape Mendocino, the brigade turned inland and returned to the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, where the party spent the summer of 1833. The southernmost point reached by the trappers was the Stanislaus River.
Disappointments marked the stay of the trappers in the valley. Furs were scarce and the Indians were belligerent, stealing horses at every opportunity. To add to the distress, mosquitoes were almost unbearable, and sickness followed their visitation. Work, completely discouraged, determined to return
