August 28. Turned to the southwest, passed over a range of mountains; had bad road; traveled five miles and encamped on a small stream; found but little grass; wood plenty.
August 29. Traveled 12 miles over the mountain; had bad road; encamped at a good spring affording plenty water for camp use; none for stock; found tolerable good grass and a few willows.
August 30. Had a fine shower of rain last night. This morning the fog was so thick that we had great difficulty in collecting our cattle; made a start at nine o'clock; traveled 10 miles over huge mountains and encamped on Hill Fork, a beautiful little branch; found good grass and willows; a few rods from us was a warm spring bursting from the side of a lofty mountain—a little above blood heat.
August 31. Road tolerable good; made an advance of five miles and encamped on a stream affording the best of water; grass and timber in abundance.
September 1. Made a small move of five miles over bad road and encamped on the same stream opposite Fremont's Peak,[1] one of the loftiest points of the Blue Mountains; found good grass, and alder timber in abundance.
September 2. Made an early start over bad road for three miles; broke one axletree, which detained us about two hours; balance of the road tolerable good; traveled 12 miles and encamped on a small rivulet winding its way through a level valley, with its margin beautifully adorned with small willows.
September 3. Made a new axletree; started late; had good road; traveled seven miles and encamped on the South Fork of Malheur River; found good grass and willows.
September 4. Made an advance of 11 miles and encamped in a deep hollow out of which proceeded a number of fine springs, affording us as good water as ever run, with a few small willows.
September 5. As we advanced we gradually ascended a beautiful mountain; gained the top, upon which grew a number of pine and cedar trees; a few miles further a beautiful landscape appeared to sight; to the west a large valley, to the southwest the Cascade Mountains; to the northwest was the Columbia River. We gradually descended this lofty mountain, entered the valley, down which we proceeded five miles; came to a beautiful little rivulet with its banks shaded by a few small willows, where we encamped, having come 12 miles.[2]
September 6. Continued down this rich valley 14 miles and encamped on Crooked River,[3] a small murmuring stream running to the south, shaded on its banks by a few willows. As we advanced this morning the beautiful scenery increased. This
- ↑ There appears no mountain now known as Fremont's Peak, in this vicinity, but this being soon after Fremont's trip from the Columbia River to California, a prominence may have been known locally by this name.
- ↑ Ascending from the watershed of South Malheur River, to the now Crane prairie.
- ↑ A small stream from the north, toward the lake basin, and not the present Crooked River.
