TO YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. al 
Bottler’s Ranch was reached at 5 p. m., and very good meals and lodging obtained. We 
observed a small herd of cattle near by, with which three young buffalo were 
apparently entirely domesticated. 
I was informed that the gold washings at Emigrant Gulch, adjoining the peak of the same 
name, were this year paying well; the owners taking out $10 to $25 per man, and Washings at Emi- 
the net profit on each laborer being $5 to $15 per day. grant Gulch. . 
August 28.—Started at 7 a.m. The heavy rains had cleared up in a hard white frost. The 
Bottlers have about 90 acres under cultivation, irrigating from the mountains. 
Under the bright sky, Emigrant Peak looked exceedingly handsome: the upper 2,000 feet covered 
with a broad mantle of new-fallen snow, and the air washed clean of all impurities, brought out with 
exceeding clearness the noble outlines and rich coloring. The road out of the Yellowstone Valley 
up Trail Creek needs additional work upon it, side-cutting and bridging. That down Coal and 
Rocky Cafion Creek is capable still of great improvement. Ellis was reached at 
2.30 p. m. 
August 29.—Rain fell all day. The Gallatin valley was a Sea of mud. 
August 30.—Rain continued throughout the day. At 2p. m., Lieutenant Thompson, with the 
party and pack-train, arrived. 
August 31.— Weather showed no signs of improving. The necessary transportation could not 
be procured at the post, and it became necessary to hire a citizen’s team in Bozeman. 
September 1.—Still raining. This prolonged continuance of wet was pro- 
nounced to be unparalleled in the valley. 
September 2.—Still raining. Despairing of any cessation of bad weather, I determined to make 
a start and try to get over the ground if only a few miles a day. Accordingly pulled out of Ellis 
in the afternoon with a train consisting of a four-mule ambulance, a six-mule team, Transportation out 
and a citizen’s team, consisting of six mules and a wheel-team of two broncos or % Fils 
Montana ponies, the eight hauling a wagon and atrail-wagon. This is the ordinary freight-wagon of 
the Territory. The trail is attached to the lead-wagon by a broad, short tongue, at the extremity 
of which an iron eye fits upon the pintle or trail-hook, projecting from the rear of the rear axle. 
Both wagons are provided with powerful brakes, which are set in descending hills. The two wagons 
can together carry over fair roads from 6,000 to 8,000 pounds. The escort consisted of two ser- 
geants and eight men of the cavalry. 
By 9 p. m., the train, with the greatest difficulty, had made about six miles only, and camp was 
pitched in Bridger Creek Valley. The trail-wagon had to be left for the night some two or three 
miles back. Unfortunately, this wagon contained the greater part of our bedding and personal 
belongings, and, as the temperature was very low, water freezing in the buckets, the night was 
anything but a comfortable one. 
September 3.—Sent back and brought up the trail, after which, with almost infinite labor, we 
made four miles and camped. Mauch of the difficulty of hauling over this Bridger 
Pass could be obviated by cutting and rough-bridging, with the labor of troops. 
Three of the party came into camp late. They had been hunting in the pass; had seen a num- 
ber of elk on Bridger Mountain, and killed two or three. 
September 4.—Broke camp at 7, with the sun shining, and pulled up the long hill, the descent 
from which reaches Brackett’s Creek. This hill is a plain illustration of the slight trouble required 
to avoid excessive labor. A road around this hill, nearly on a level grade, might easily be made. 
In fact, the road is there, except that in one place, for a hundred yards, the slope is so steep as to 
imperil the equilibrium of a heavily-loaded wagon. A half-day’s work with fifty men would make 
it entirely practicable. From Brackett’s Creek there is a road leading down it for a short distance; 
then north, up the valley of Shield’s River, past the Three Peaks, to the headwater of the South 
Fork of Musselsbell. It was represented, however, that this road was marshy in places, and, -with 
the immense amount of rain which had fallen, would probably be impassable. I concluded, there- 
fore, to take, in preference, the more hilly route over which we had come from Baker. About dark, 
after ten miles of very laborious pulling, camp was made on the north side of the mountains, at 
the intersection of two small streams flowing out of the pass. 
September 5.—Pulled out at 6.30, and, after great difficulty, and with continual doubling of 
Bottler'’s Ranch. 
Arrive at Ellis, 
Heavy rain. 
Bridger Pass. 
