[ERMATINGER] YORK FACTORY EXPRESS JOURNAL 119 
the Grand Cote where we encamp at 2 p.m. We met with a few patches 
of snow to-day, but have not yet had occasion to put on snow shoes. 
The traverses to-day were deep and the eurrent strong which obliged 
us to ford hand in hand for personal safety. 
Saturday, 3rd.—Fine weather. Start at 4 past 4 a.m. Find little 
snow till we get half way up the Hill. We are then obliged to put on 
the snow shoes—take breakfast on the top of the Hill between 9 and 10— 
resume at noon and proceed to within 4 miles of the Height of Land 
and encamp at $ past 3 p.m. Send Pierre ahead to advise Cardinalle of 
our approach. 
Sunday, 4th.—Rained and snowed during the whole of last night— 
day fine but cold. Start at half past 4a.m. Pass the height of land at 
6. Proceed on deep snow near to Campment de fusil—take breakfast. 
Afterwards snow diminishes fast. Meet Cardinalle on the Grand 
batture! at 1 p.m. with 14 horses relieve our people of their loads and 
continue our route to the Campment d’OrignalË and encamp. 
5th.—Cold with snow in morning—day fine. Start at } past 4 a.m. 
Breakfast at the trou%at 8. Proceed at 10 and arrive at the canoes by 
5 p.m. People immediately set about repairing the canoes—One of 
which has got much broken thro’ the timbers not having been suffi- 
ciently loosened last fall. 
6th.—Fine weather. Having patched up the 2 canoes by 10 
o’elock we embark. Sent four men by the horses, the water in the River 
being too low to admit of embarking the whole—get over many shoals 
with difficulty. Arrive at Jasper’st at 6 p.m. 
7th.—Fine weather. Remain this day repairing our canoes. 
Thursday, Sth.—Fine weather. Start with 3 canoes at 4 a.m. 
Having on board 9 packs Furs, &c. with Mr. Klyne besides our own 
baggage. Two of the canoes have each 6 men and the other 5. River 
very shoal—ground in many places—delay nearly 1 hour gumming 
one of the canoes. Encamp nearly at Baptiste’s River after 7 p.m. 
9th.—Fine weather. Embark at } past 3 a.m. Remain 2 hours 
gumming a Boat which was left on the banks of the River 2 years ago 
and place in it 3 men, one out of each canoe, to take it down to Assini- 
boine. Encamp above the Big Island—t} before 8 p.m. 

'The Grand batture is fourteen miles east of the summit of Athabaska pass. 
2A “few miles’? beyond the Grand batture. 
8 Trou, literally, “hole.” A French-Canadian name applied to a deep place in 
a stream. The stream he descended is now called Whirlpool river, and was formerly 
called Trou or Hole river. The place called the ‘Hole’ (trou) is at the confluence of 
Whirlpool and Athabaska rivers. Ross says it was so called “from the depth of 
the water at the edge of the bank, the Athabaska being unfathomable there.” 
*See ante’. 
