112 EXPLOKATIONS ACROSS THE GEEAT BASIN OF UTAH. 



on account of the color of the water, I call Clay Creek. The water exists in holes, 

 but is pronounced constant by the Indians. There is a great deal of grass on different 

 portions of it. Train got into camp at half past 2. Ko-bah Valley, such as described 

 in outward route. Journey 16.1 miles. Road good. 



Showers nil around us to-day, with thunder and lightning', and this evening the 

 rain fell in torrents, and the lightning and thunder were severe. Another beautiful 

 rainbow just before sundown, the third I have seen in the past week. Mr. Reese 

 informs me that these rains at this season are a great anomaly. The ordinary rainy 

 season in Carson Valley is from the last of October to some time in May; and some- 

 times they have a little rain in June. Mr. Lowry says that in California thunder and 

 lightning are scarcely known. I call the isolated mount just to the west of north of 

 our camp after this last-mentioned gentleman. 



As we have probably left our westward route, not to join it again until near Camp 

 Floyd, it is proper here to note that up to the last junction of the two routes, 7.4 miles 

 back from our present camp, we have shortened our outward route, by the short cuts 

 we have made, 21.X miles; and if the short cut across Ko-bah Valley, noted by the 

 dotted line, which is practicable, is taken, the outward route has been shortened fully 

 30 miles. 



July 10, Camp No. 15, Clay Creek Ko-bah Valley.— Longitude 116° 05' 45"; lat- 

 itude 39° 33' 24"; elevation above the sea, 5,998 feet; thermometer, at 5.20 a. m., 

 51 .. First clear, sunny morning we have had for several days. Intending to travel 

 only about 5 miles to reach a better camp-ground, we did not move till half past 6. 

 The rain of last evening, copious as it was, has made but little impression on the soil, 

 so porous and absorbent is it. Immediately at camp, cross Clay Creek by an excellent 



our right about 2 miles, in 5.2 miles reach some line springs (three or four in number), 

 which I call after Mr. William Lee, one of my assistants. These springs are in a nar- 

 row grassy outshoot of Ko-bah Valley, and the pasture in the vicinity being abundant, 



At these springs we found Wilson Lambert and Stevenson, two of the guide party, 

 encamped, drying their clothes. They report that they have been 45 miles ahead, and 

 in consequence of their mules giving out, were not able to join us yesterday. The 

 prospect ahead, according to them, is unfavorable. There is water about 10 miles 

 ahead, and thence about 9 miles beyond, but they both represent the We-a-bah range 

 of mountains, over which the route would lie, impracticable for wagons. Ute Pete, 

 they say, left their party three days since to go to the mail-station on our outward 



water before, and has not since been heard from. Here there is apparently a baulk. 

 The guides persist in representing the mountain range ahead impracticable, and it 

 would seem that I am after all forced to join mv old route^and go through Cho-kup's 

 Pass, which, on account of its steepness, is.not so 4jood as I could like. To strike off 

 from these springs would make the turn in the road too abrupt. I have, therefore, 

 ordered the party to return immediately to our old camp ground of last night, on Clay 

 Creek, so as to make the divergence to old road as slight as possible. Train reached 



