124 ELDORADO 



CHAPTER XIH. 



TO THE MINES. 



The following day, after my arrival at Carsan, I 

 again packed my ever- faithful pony, now my only 

 companion, and journeyed some 15 miles up the valley 

 to a Mormon trading post, known as "Reese's station." 

 It was located at the base of the mountain near where 

 the trail leaves the valley to cross over to Hang- 

 town (now Placerville), 100 miles, hence to Sacra- 

 mento valley and city, 40 miles. Comparatively few 

 wagons reached this point, the trail being used chiefly 

 for pack trains. 



The emigration had so divided up that the Lassen, 

 Truckee and Georgetown routes had taken a large por- 

 tion of the travel. They were all in about the condition 

 that nature formed them, in many places very difiicult 

 of passage, being steep and rough. A few years later 

 the one over which I traveled was made a very passable 

 road for stage coaches and other vehicles. 



I camped a mile from "Reese's" by a mountain 

 stream of crystal water, and found a little grass for 

 my pony. After a feast of fried bacon and pancakes, 

 I spread my blankets and lay down to rest and sleep, 

 thinking of my mountain climb on the morrow. I made 

 an early start the following morning, feeling much 



