104 EXPLORATIONS ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN OF UTAH. 



June 26, Camp No. 3, Carson Valley. — Elevation above the sea, 4,300 ; thermom- 

 eter at 5 a. m., 49°. Mosquitoes during the night terrible. Moved at 5 a. m. Continued 

 along an old road on south side of Carson River for 2 miles, where we join, opposite 

 Pleasant Grove, our old outward track, and continued on same 12.6 miles to east foot 

 of ugly hill referred to June 9, which we found we could not, as we hoped, evade by 

 passing between it and the river. Going east, however, the hill is not bad. The 

 difficulty, as before stated, is in the ascent from the east side. After attaining valley 

 on east side of hill, we left our outward track and old road, and turned to the left 

 down the valley to within a few hundred yards of Carson River, and then go over 

 another spur, and in about a mile get into valley of Carson River again, which we 

 follow down 2 miles, and at 1.15 o'clock encamp on the river -bank. Journey, 18.2 

 miles. Our experience shows that the road from Pleasant Grove on north side of 

 river better to Chinatown than that on south side. It is a characteristic of this valley 

 that the miry, rich soil prevents your approaching the stream except at a few points, 

 and these are the best camp grounds. Cottonwoods and willows line the banks. The 

 mules fattened up wonderfully at Genoa, and they are now in prime condition. One 

 of the guide's party came into camp this afternoon, to show us our route to-morrow. 



June 27, Camp No. 4, Carson River. — Elevation above the sea, 4,154 feet; ther- 

 mometer at 4.30 a, m., 52£°. Resumed march at 5. Continued down valley of Car- 

 son River eastwardly about 2 miles, when we leave it and strike for south end of 

 Carson Lake. Low mountains, perfectly destitute of timber, and of a brownish-red- 

 dish hue, range on either side and parallel to the river. Eight miles farther commence 

 ascending a sandy ravine of slight grade, and in 3 miles attain summit of a low range 

 4,460 feet above the sea, from which, looking back, Carson River can be seen, well 

 marked by the trees which line its banks. At intervals of 2.5 and 1.7 miles cross other 

 low ridges, the last tolerably steep on east side; and 7 J miles farther, at half past 5, 

 reach south end of Carson Lake, where we encamp. Journey, 25.1 miles. Road first 

 10 miles good, next 12 miles sandy and heavy, last 3 miles over margin of lake and 

 good. Fine grass and rushes where we are encamped. Fuel should be brought. 



June 28, Camp No. 5, south end of Carson Lake. — Elevation above the sea, 3,840 

 feet; night refreshingly cool; thermometer at 4.58 a. m., 55°. Moved at 5 minutes 

 after 5. Continue along shore of Carson Lake, at foot of point of low range or spur, 

 Ireing sometimes, on account of marsh, forced on first bench; and, after crossing an 

 alkali flat, 7.5 miles from last camp, join our outward route, which we follow along the 

 lake shore 4.5 miles farther and encamp. Journey, 12.2 miles. Road good. It was 

 my intention to proceed farther along the lake, but Wilson Lambert, of the guide's 

 party, meeting us here, and informing me that Mr. Reese had not, as was hoped, been 

 able to find a practicable route for wagons through the mountain-range immediately to 

 the east of the sink or more northern lake of Carson River, I am obliged to give up 

 the idea of shortening my route in that direction, and to strike eastwardly and cut off 

 the angle or cusp, caused on my outward route by the mistake of my guide, mentioned 

 in my journal of June 5. There is an Indian trail, it appears, east from the sink of 

 Carson, which is practicable for pack animals, but it would require considerable work 

 to make it so for wagons. The next camp-ground, according to guide, is 7 to 9 miles 



