242 VALLEY OP THE NORTH FORK OF THE PLATTE. 



feet of those who were dearest to our hearts. Often have I ex- 

 perienced the same feeling, when, in the dark and solemn forest, 

 I have sat by mj solitary camp-fire on the bank of some mm-mur- 

 ing stream. The waters seemed a connecting link with human 

 beings, however distant ; and as I thought whither they would flow, 

 I felt myself not so utterly alone. None but those who have ex- 

 perienced it, know how much companionship there is in the gentle 

 mm-mur of a flowing stream. Such were now our sensations as 

 with light hearts and buoyants spirits we galloped down the grassy 

 slope. 



Before us lay an undulating country, descending gently toward 

 the east; beyond, in the distance, frowned the Medicine-bow 

 Butte, at the foot of which flowed the waters of the Platte, while 

 to the southward of this famous headland stretched far away the 

 Park Mountains, whence issue so many tributaries to the Pacific. 

 From this important summit we commenced a scarcely perceptible 

 descent into a wide grassy hollow, forming the valley of a now (^ry 

 rivulet, which, in the spring, discharges its waters into Sage Creek, 

 an aflluent of the North Fork of the Platte. Two miles east of 

 the «' divide," we halted to take a noon observation for latitude, 

 which placed us in 41° 33' 22^'. 3, the computed longitude being 

 107° 30' 48". Grass and water were scarce, and the growth of 

 artemisia very thick, making it somewhat difficult to pass our 

 little wagon over it. Near the mouth of this little stream we 

 crossed over to another, heading near to it, and running parallel 

 with it, upon the banks of which we encamped, after a deeply in- 

 teresting march of nearly twenty-two miles. 



From what has been seen since crossing the summit, I am satis- 

 fied that it would have been better had we kept more to the south- 

 ward before crossing it. If, leaving the ridge forming the south- 

 ern boundary of the valley, we had followed either the stream 

 upon which we are now encamped, or even the valley of another, 

 some miles still farther south, we would not only have somewhat 

 shortened our route, but obtained a greater abundance of grass, 

 wood, and water, from a high ridge which bounds all these little 

 streams on the south. Observations gave for latitude of the 

 camp 41° 35' 41"; longitude 107° 21' 52". Distance from Fort 

 Bridger, two hundred and seven miles. 



With the exception of the rough ground near the head of 

 the Muddy, which ofi'ers no obstruction of consequence, a per- 

 fectly feasible, and indeed a most excellent route, whether for a 



