Rocky Mountains and Oregon. 193 
—the lowest depression of the mountains and the present route 
to Oregon—and an ascent to the summit of Frémont’s peak in 
the Wind river chain, believed to be the highest elevation in the 
Rocky Mountain range. In the second, by a different route, he 
reached the same pass, and thence proceeded to the Great Salt 
lake and Fort Vancouver; he next went south just to the east 
of the Cascade range, over an unexplored region, to latitude 
38° 44’, where he crossed the snowy heights, and finally after 
severe trials, arrived at San Francisco. From this place he went 
south, ascending the fine valley of the Joachim, and in latitude 
343° turned northeast across the California semi-desert, to Utah 
lake. A complete circuit was thus made in eight months, which 
cost them 3500 miles of travelling; and during this time they 
were never out of sight of snow. 
_ Captain Frémont’s Journal is written in a graphic style, bear- 
ing evidence of literal accuracy in all its statements, and yet in 
many parts reading like a romance. With deep interest we fol- 
low the adventurous traveller threading his pathless way over lof- 
ty ridges, through dense forests, and up the icy heights, till at 
last he stands perched on a pinnacle of the Wind river moun- 
tains. Our readers may have. often perused the account, yet will 
find renewed interest in the following description of the last day 
we had many a rough and steep slippery place to cross before reaching 
the end. Th this Stabe the met taal shone ; snow lay along the bor- 
der of the small stream which flowed through it, and occasional icy 
Passages made the footing of the mules very insecure, and the rocks 
and ground were moist with the trickling waters in this spring of migh- 
ty rivérs. We soon had the satisfaction to find ourselves riding along 
the huge wall which forms the central summits of the chain. There at 
H 
Were three small lakes of a green color, each perhaps a thousand 
yards in diameter, and apparently very deep. These lay in a kind of 
Sreconp Series, Vol. III, No. 8.—March, 1847. 25 
