32 EXPLORATIONS FROM A. D. 1832 To A. D. 1844. 
caches, in the Green River valley. Having made his arrangements for the year, he visited the 
Great Salt lake, and saw its northern portions. ‘‘To have this lake properly explored and s 
its secrets revealed was the grand scheme of the captain for the present year. * * i 
This momentous undertaking he confided to Mr. Walker, in whose experience and ability he had 
great confidence." ‘‘He instructed him to keep along the shores of the lake, and trap in all 
the streams on his route. He was also to keep a journal and minutely to record the events of 
his journey and everything curious or interesting, and make maps or charts of his route and of 
the surrounding country." No pains nor expense were spared in fitting out this party, which 
was composed of forty men. "They had complete supplies for a year, and were to meet Captain 
Bonneville in the ensuing summer in the valley of Bear river, the largest tributary of Salt lake. 
This party endeavored to proceed south over the great barren salt plain lying to the west 
of the lake, but their sufferings became so great, and the danger of perishing so imminent, 
that they abandoned the proposed route, and struck to the northwest for some snowy 
mountains in the distance. Thus they came upon Ogden's (Humboldt) river, and followed 
down it to the ''sinks," or place where it loses itself in the sand. Continuing on, they 
crossed the Sierra Nevada, in which they were entangled for 23 days, suffering very much from 
hunger, and finally reached the waters of the Sacramento; thence turning south they stopped 
at the Mission of Monterey. After a considerable sojourn the party started to return. Instead 
of retracing their steps through the Sierra Nevada, they passed round its southern extremity, 
and crossing a range of low hills, found themselves in the sandy plains south of Ogden's river, 
where they again suffered grievously from want of water. On this journey they encountered 
some Mexicans, two of whom accompanied them to the rendezvous appointed by Captain 
Bonneville. The return route of this party probably was nearly that taken by Captain 
Frémont in 1842, and known as the Santa Fé trail to California. They thus travelled quite 
around the Great Basin system. 
While this expedition was in progress, Captain Bonneville made an excursion to the head- 
waters of the Yellowstone. Leaving Green river he moved east to the sources of the Sweet- 
water, so as to turn the Wind River mountains at their southeast extremity; thence, striking 
the head of the Popo Agie, he passed down it to Wind river, which he followed through the 
gap of the Little Horn mountains, and through the Big Horn range. Below these mountains 
the river becomes navigable for canoes, and takes the name of the Big Horn river. From this 
point he returned to Wind river and attempted to cross the Wind River mountains direct to his 
caches on Green river. In this he was foiled by the chasms and precipices and compelled to 
take his former route around their southeastern extremity. From the depot he went up to the 
sources of Green river, crossed the mountains between its source and that of Wind river, and 
again returned to Green river by the Sweetwater. He then passed over the mountains to the 
Bear River valley, and thence to the Port Neuf river, where he established his winter quarters. 
During the winter he started to visit the Columbia, passing down the Snake River valley, 
through the Grand Ronde and over the Blue mountains, to Walla-Walla. He returned to Bear 
river in the succeeding June. On the 3d of July, 1834, he made a second visit to the Columbia, 
and returned to spend the winter on Bear river. In 1835 he returned home* by way of the 
Platte river. 
# Captain Bonneville's long-continued absence se the expiration of his leave, during which time no news was received 
from him at the War Department, led to hi dropped from the Army Register. He was, however, restored, and 
now holds the commission of colonel of the third abun. 
