140 NARRATIVE OF 1853. 
The timber (yellow pine) commences in the valley, about eighteen miles from its mouth; for 
some distance it is open, and with the undergrowth only thick in places. The nearer the 
divide is approached the thicker the growth becomes, the underbrush and logs more trouble- 
some, and the yellow pine gradually gives place to the white spruce, balsam, fir, &c., until 
near the summit it disappears. Іп all the openings of the valley the grass is good, and some 
fifteen miles east of the summit there is a chain of small marshy prairies, with excellent grass, 
while upon the mountains immediately south of the pass are some five or six prairies of larger 
size and similar nature, through which the trail passes. 
The largest fork of the stream joins that up which the trail passes, about twenty-five miles 
from the summit, and heads directly in Mount Rainier—its valley is more difficult than that 
of the trail. | 
The elevation of the lowest point of the divide is 4,890 feet above Vancouver, and the 
ascent in the last seven miles of the valley is 229 feet per mile. 
Proceeding westward the trail soon descends, by a very precipitous route, into the valley of 
Green river, follows that as far as its junction with the White river, together forming the 
S’kamish, and keeps to the S’kamish almost ten miles further. To the point where the trail 
leaves this valley the country passed over is all of the same nature. The descent for the first 
twenty miles is very abrupt, the valley very narrow, much like that of the Nachess, except 
that it is much more heavily timbered, the mountains approaching the stream so often that 
frequent crossings are necessary. 
Portions of the S’kamish valley are very boggy; grass is almost entirely wanting for a 
distance of at least fifty miles from the summit. From the S’kamish to the Puyallup the 
country is a high plateau, much broken up by ridges and mountains. It is densely timbered 
with fir, but interspersed with prairies, the soil of some of which is good. It then enters upon 
the nearly level plateau bordering the sound. 
On the 31st he received a note from Lieutenant Hodges, stating that in five days he had 
reached within twenty-five miles of Steilacoom, but that grass was very scarce, and his horses 
having been for three days in the dense forest without any, sixteen of them had given out; he 
had also learned that no mules could be procured, and that it would be impossible to obtain 
transportation for the provisions required. Captain McClellan at once determined to reduce 
the party to the minimum by sending in the escort and others, also directing Lieutenant 
Hodges to discharge some of his men. Lieutenant Mowry was, therefore, sent to the Dalles, 
with fifteen men to be discharged, then to return with two only, taking, also, everything that 
could be dispensed with. Lieutenant Duncan returned on the 31st from the Upper Yakima, 
having explored it to its source in the mountain lakes, and on the same day Mr. Gibbs returned 
from the mouth of the river. The observations made by them are embraced in the general 
description of those tracts derived from subsequent explorations. The safe journeys of these 
small parties showed that, fortunately, a reduction of the force could be made without danger. 
On the third of September the main camp was moved to the Yakima valley, where another 
depot was made, while Captain McClellan, with Messrs. Gibbs, Minter, and six men went to 
examine the passes at the head of the river, and Lieutenant Duncan left in charge to examine 
as much as possible of the neighboring country. 
` Here the first traces of gold were discovered, and though not sufficiently abundant to pay 
for working, it caused considerable excitement in the camp. А large band of Indians, under 
