ROUTE OVER THE WAHSATCH MOUNTAINS. 221 



Bear River, up that stream to its source, or at least to a point 

 where a crossing could be obtained over to the heads of the Weber, 

 thence down that stream into the Camass Prairie, and thence, cross- 

 ing the prairie, down the Timpanogas to the Utah Valley, offers, I 

 think, the most feasible mode of crossing the formidable obstruc- 

 tion presented by the Wahsatch range of mountains. 



Fording the Weber at the north-west end of the prairie, we fol- 

 lowed down its right bank, recrossed, and struck once more into 

 the beaten track, which we followed in pursuit of the train. 



The weather had been very threatening during the afternoon, 

 and the lurid clouds and muttering thunder gave token of the ap- 

 proach of a heavy storm. About dark the tempest burst upon us. 

 Rain fell in torrents, intermingled with hail ; and, as it increased 

 in violence, was accompanied by a darkness so profound that it 

 became impossible to distinguish the road, or even the horses upon 

 which we were riding. The lightning blazed with such intense 

 brightness around us that we became completely blinded, and the 

 storm driving furiously in our faces, it was with the greatest diffi- 

 culty we could keep the track for a few yards at a time. We were 

 ten miles from camp, and felt ourselves in a rather uncomfortable 

 situation. The guide, who had preceded us, and had arrived at 

 the encampment before the storm began, surmising what must be 

 our condition, with commendable foresight despatched a couple 

 of men to meet us with a lantern, by the aid of which we succeeded 

 in reaching the tents about ten o'clock, thoroughly drenched, cold, 

 and exhausted, having been in the saddle, without food, for more 

 than fifteen hours. A basin of hot soup and a cup of strong coffee^ 

 soon revived us, and, wrapped in our blankets, we slept soundly, 

 regardless of the tempest, which flashed and raged around us the 

 whole night. 



It may be remarked here, that the Camass Prairie consists of 

 most excellent land, and can be irrigated over its whole extent 

 with comparatively little labour. Water for stock is abundant, 

 and timber for ordinary farming purposes is plentiful and con- 

 venient. The broad-leafed dock of the eastern prairies abounds 

 here, and it is the only spot where I have observed it since leaving 

 the Missouri. A species of geranium was very abundant, and also 

 a great variety of asters. The surrounding hills are full of rolled 

 stones or very coarse gravel, principally of sandstone, much 

 stained by iron. 



After leaving the prairie, and crossing the Weber, several vei- 



