General Johnston's Pass into Skull \ alley (altitude, 4,Sol> loet^nove tne sea n mm 

 thence southwestwardly, in a somewhat tortuous direction to avoid a low mountain, to 



is on the base and north side of some mountains, which 1 call alter Captain Stephen 

 Champlin, of the United States Navy. 

 Journey, 16.2 miles. Road good. 



northern portion of the Great Salt Lake, a distance of ever 100 miles. The whole 

 scene is that of a somber, dreary waste, where neither man nor beast can live forwanl 

 of the necessary food ami water, and over which a bird is scarcely ever seen to fly. 

 The surface is singularly Hat, a very slight downward grade, however, being obsen- 

 able northwardly toward the lake. The soil is argillo-ealeareo-areiiaceous, ami pro- 

 Lake the ground becomes more level and low, and the valley presents the appearance 

 of a mud-flat, which, in some localities, is covered with an incrustation of common salt, 



j i- t ■+ „™l,l lio W/<]vdous for wm-ons to cross. Captain Stansbuiy, in his 



and over which it would be hazardous ior wagons w cruoo. v.au / » 



report of March 10, 1852, very justly remarks that "these plains are but little elevated 



above the present level of the lake, and have, bey-d 



part of it." Indeed, the water lines indicate, as in 1 



whole desert has at one time been submerged, and cui.m»u IC u « r «.. i; ~ ^ 



Lake. Captain Beckwith, in his report of November 2o, Is, I, ^^^ ^ ^ ^ 



of the desert over which he passed, to the northward ot our route, says: ^^j^ 



from Granite Mountain we left the dry soil on which we | mim ^j" J^y"^' \ n ^ } 



evening, and passing over a narrow ridge ol sand, entere< ^ upon a < mi o 



as level as a sheet of water, which we found gnat diluYulty m erossmg with our ^'-^j 



.for 17.66 miles. For this entire distance there is not a sign oi given veg ^ t l°"'^^ f e 



only here and there a dry stalk of artemisia, where it has been fcranspo e > ie 



wind. The lightest sheet of effloresced salt covered the moist earth at intervals, and 



the track of a single antelope or wolf could be seen crossing the desert tor miles, D> 



Z Hue of dark mud thrown up by its feet, so level, soft, and white was the , J and 



the whole scene was as barren, desolate, and dreary as can be nnagmed. \ 



., , ..._ „r^„ ^ 1T ,wwl lw Cm.tain leckwith passed, I would re. 



Cedar Yalle 



was the character of the country where Captain Beekwith passe 



; the southern portion of the desert, i 



here our route lay, the plain or valley is suffi- 



ciently hisrh to be dry and affords a good road. 



,ienuy ni^n to o ^ J^^ ^ ^ foot of wMch we are encampe d, are composed 



The Champlin Mountains, at 



