214 JOHN C. FKEMONT. 



were already lying about the fires. Meantime, it 

 snowed steadily. The next day we made mauls v and, 

 beating a road or trench through the snow, crossed 

 the crest in defiance of the pouderie and encamped 

 immediately below in the edge of the timber. The 

 trail showed as if a defeated party had passed by, 

 pack-saddles and packs, scattered articles of clothing, 

 and dead mules strewed along. A continuance of 

 stormy weather paralyzed all movement. We were 

 encamped somewhere about twelve thousand feet 

 above the sea. Westward, the country was buried 

 in deep snow. It was impossible to advance, and 

 to turn back was equally impracticable. We were 

 overtaken by sudden and inevitable ruin. It so 

 happened that the only places where any grass could 

 be had were the extreme summit of the ridges, 

 where the sweeping winds kept the rocky ground 

 bare and the snow could not lie. Below these, ani- 

 mals could not get about, the snow being deep 

 enough to bury them. Here, therefore, in the full 

 violence of the storms, we were obliged to keep our 

 animals. They could not be moved either way. It 

 was instantly apparent that we should lose every 

 animal. 



"I determined to recross the mountain more 

 toward the open country, and haul or pack the 

 baggage (by men) down to the Del Korte. With 



