TRIP THROUGH NACHES PASS, 1841 



The 27th was employed by Lieutenant Johnson in 

 determining the positions of this prairie, which proved 

 to be in latitude 47 05' 51" N., and longitude 120 

 13' W. 1 The variation was 19 39' easterly. At 

 sunset, messengers arrived from Mr. Waldron, who had 

 reached the summit at noon, and was to proceed down 

 to the snow-line to encamp. The snow was found to 

 be about ten feet deep, and the party crossing sank 

 about ankle-deep, for which reason opinions varied as 

 to the possibility of getting the horses over ; but it was 

 determined to make the trial. Lieutenant Johnson, 

 therefore, set out, leaving a supply of food with an 

 old Indian and a horse, both of whom were worn out, 

 and unable to proceed. 



By eleven o'clock, they were met by Pierre Charles 

 and the Indians, who gave some slight hopes of accom- 

 plishing the task of getting all over. Lieutenant 

 Johnson determined to take only the strongest horses to 

 the edge of the snow. At half-past 5 P.M., they reached 

 the best practicable encampment, being a mile beyond 

 the place where Mr. Waldron had encamped two days 

 before. The snow having melted so rapidly, Lieutenant 

 Johnson, taking all things into consideration, determined, 

 notwithstanding the forebodings of failure held out by 

 the party that had gone before, to make the attempt. It 

 now became necessary to push on with as much haste as 

 possible, on account of the state of their provisions ; for 

 what with the loss sustained in fording the river, and in 

 consumption, they were obliged to adopt an allowance. 



On the 29th, they departed, at early dawn, in order 

 to take advantage of the firmness of the snow, occa- 

 sioned by the last night's frost. They ascended rapidly, 

 and passed over the worst of the way, the horses sinking 

 no deeper than their fetlocks. They first passed over a 

 narrow ridge, and then a succession of small cones, until 

 they reached the summit. 



1 This is an error and should read 121 25' W. as Naches Pass is known to be 

 121 21 ' and Lieutenant Johnson's "Little Prairie" was a little west of the Pass. 



