Narrative of the Exploring Expedition to the Rocky Mountains in the Year 1842, and to Oregon and North California in the Years 1843-44 |
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abundant afternoon animals appearance Arapahoes artemisia ascended barometer basin beautiful boat bottom broken buffalo bunch grass camp Carson Cascade range clear Columbia continued cotton-wood course covered creek crossed dark deep descended distance elevation emigrants encamped fire foot Fort Hall Fort Laramie frequently grass green Green river ground groves height hills horses hundred feet Indians journey Kansas river lake Laramie latitude left bank longitude miles morning moun mouth mules night observations obtained party pass peaks pines plain plants Platte river pleasant prairie Preuss principal Purshia tridentata rain ravine reached region remarkable ridge right bank road rock Rocky mountains salt sand sandstone sandy scattered seen shore side Sierra Sierra Nevada snow snowy soil South Pass spring stream summit sunrise sunset Sweet Water swift current thermometer timber to-day trail traveled trees valley village weather willow wind wood
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Page 73 - The barometer stood at 18.293, the attached thermometer at 44°; giving for the elevation of this summit 13,570 feet above the Gulf of Mexico, which may be called the highest flight of the bee. It is certainly the highest known flight of that insect.
Page 272 - The time, place, object, and numbers, considered, this expedition of Carson and Godey may be considered among the boldest and most disinterested which the annals of western adventure, so full of daring deeds, can present.
Page 72 - I had worn a pair of thick moccasins, with soles of parfleche ; but here I put on a light thin pair, which I had brought for the purpose, as now the use of our toes became necessary to a further advance. I availed myself of a sort of comb of the mountain, which stood against the wall like a buttress, and which the wind and the solar radiation, joined to the steepness of the smooth rock, had kept almost entirely free from snow. Up this I made my way rapidly. Our cautious method of advancing...
Page 237 - February 13. — We continued to labor on the road ; and in the course of the day had the satisfaction to see the people working down the face of the opposite hill, about three miles distant. During the morning we had the pleasure of a visit from Mr. Fitzpatrick, with the information that all was going on well. A party of Indians had passed on snow-shoes, who said they were going to the western side of the mountain after fish. This was an indication that the salmon were coming up the streams; and...
Page 271 - The scalps of the fallen were instantly stripped off; but in the process,' one of them, who had two balls through his body, sprung to his feet, the blood streaming from his skinned head, and uttering a hideous howl.
Page 235 - ... were evidently at a great height above the valley, and between us and the plains extended miles of snowy fields, and broken ridges of pine-covered mountains. It was late in the day when we turned towards the camp; and it grew rapidly cold as it drew towards night. One of the men became fatigued, and his feet began to freeze, and, building a fire in the trunk of a dry old, cedar, Mr. Fitzpatrick remained with him until his clothes could be dried, and he was in a condition to come on. After a day's...
Page 218 - The next morning the snow was rapidly melting under a warm sun. Part of the morning was occupied in bringing up the gun ; and, making only nine miles, we encamped on the shore, opposite a very remarkable rock in the lake, which had attracted our attention for many miles. It rose, according to our estimate, 600 feet above the water, and, from the point we viewed it, presented a pretty exact outline of the great pyramid of Cheops.
Page 234 - Two Indians joined our party here ; and one of them, an old man, immediately began to harangue us, saying that ourselves and animals would perish in the snow; and that if we would go back, he would show us another and a better way across the mountain.
Page 73 - It was a strange place, the icy rock and the highest peak of the Rocky mountains, for a lover of warm sunshine and flowers; and we pleased ourselves with the idea that he was the first...
Page 119 - We were now entering a region which for us possessed a strange and extraordinary interest. We were upon the waters of the famous lake which forms a salient point among the remarkable geographical features of the country and around which the vague and superstitious accounts of the trappers had thrown...