ITINERARY OF THE ROUTE FROM FORT VANCOUVER TO FORT DALLES. 383 



September 24. Keep the Columbia valley. The trail passes through the grove 

 of pines ; ground much obstructed by fragments of granite 



Crosses a very dangerous spur ; the trail passes over low rocks ; is very narrow 

 and tortuous; high precipice on the right. Two mules here fell over and were 

 instantly killed ; two others were severely injured 1 



Pass over a lower terrace, at first stony, then smooth and unbroken. Camp in 

 a thin grove of pines ; grass good. The whole day occupied in making this distance 



of two miles 



2 



Sip/ember 25. The trail follows the river valley, over level ground ; crosses a 

 dangerous mountain side, impassable in high water. The trail is here very nar 

 row, and passes over a mass of angular stones, at a very steep inclination ; enters 

 the mouth of a ravine, down which runs a small stream 



Leaves the river valley; ascends the ravine with a steep inclination; reaches a 

 high ascending valley at right-angles with the river ; follows this valley and enters 

 that of Lake Chelann, into which it descends by a gradual inclination 3f 



Skirts the lake and crosses at its source the stream which issues from it 2J 



Passes over a high, rolling country, and descends a very steep hill into the 

 Columbia valley. 1 his descent is not rocky. Crosses a small stream. Camp in 

 a small sandy &quot;pocket ;&quot; grass good ; wood very scarce 3 



14 



September 26. Pass over the level bottom in which we camped. Ascend, in deep 



sand, without vegetation, to a very high plateau f 



Followed this plateau, covered with good bunch-grass ; pass one broad, deep, 



and rocky ravine; keep the prolongation of the same plateau, and descend by a 



steep, sandy slope to the Columbia bottom 2f 



Follow the Columbia bottom on the Methow river ; last mile among rocks 8J 



Good trail over a low terrace ; crossed small spring branch If 



Trail as before. Camped near an isolated point of rocks ; grass good ; wood 



scarce 2 



16 



September 27. To camp on Okinakane river. Trail passes over the high and 



rolling valley ; crosses one deep and dry ravine ; thence touches the Okinakane near 

 its mouth ; follows valley of that river ; crosses by a bad ford. Camp a quarter 



of a mile above the crossing ; grass and wood very scarce 5J 



September 28. Cross the. Okinakane at yesterday s crossing; trail passes over 

 very high, sandy hills, destitute of timber, and covered with bunch-grass ; descends 



into valley of a small creek 7J 



Ascend a high and steep hill f 



Pass over very high hills, covered with open pine woods; follow a high and 

 narrow valley. Camp on a small spring branch in the pine woods ; grass plenty, 

 but coarse and indifferent 4 



12 



September 29. To camp on the Twitsp. Trail continued in same valley ; crossed 



two small spring branches ; passed over a high spur and descended into the valley 



of Methow , 7| 



Followed the broad valley of the stream, keeping on a terrace about thirty feet 

 above the water, and covered with bunch-grass; passed one small creek; crossed 

 the main stream 2f 



Kept in the main valley, and crossed the Twitsp ; trail good l\ 



