esdlich.] ITINERARY. 11 



firmed our own opinions as to its character, and we determined to follow 

 the railroad for a short distance before striking northward again. 



On June 20 we left Bed Desert and marched eastward to Wash-a-hie 

 Station. An addition was here made to our party by the acquisition of 

 a dog. Though an unimportant member in himself, he subsequently 

 showed such remarkable endurance in travelling and mountain climbing 

 that he is well worthy of being mentioned. 



FR03I THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD TO CAMP STAMBAUGrBI. 



Wash-a-kie Station is named after the venerable head chief of the 

 Shoshone Indians, who has always proved himself to be a staunch friend 

 of the white man. Past this station leads the trail utilized by the ^North- 

 ern Colorado Utes in making their annual visits to their friends and 

 allies, the Snakes. On June 21 Ave started upon this trail, travelling north - 

 ward. It led over several ridges until finally one main ridge was reached. 

 Tvliile the pack-train had disappeared from my sight, at a time that I was 

 about 3 mfles east of it, I had occasion to observe a very striking mirage 

 effect. "Where the train was at that time I did not know, having left it 

 a couple of hours before. Looking westward I saw the procession of 

 riders and pack-mules slowly filing along the summit of a high ridge 

 which gently sloped to the west. Wishing to satisfy myself as to the 

 truth of this appearance, I used my field-glass. Although the distance 

 at which the party appeared to be was about 3 miles from my point of 

 view, I coidd distinctly recognize each man. The forms seemed slightly 

 distorted, but not more so than might be expected at that distance on a 

 hot day. Finishing my examinations where I was, I, several hours later, 

 proceeded to find the trail and follow it. ISTo trail was to be seen on the 

 ridge, Xot until I had descended on its western slope about 800 feet 

 and ridden more than a mile, did I find the trail at a place Where it would 

 have been utterly impossible for me to see the men and animals some 

 hours before. 



On our march along the trail we passed a number of alkali-flats. Dur- 

 ing the wet season these are filled to a shallow depth with bad-tasting 

 water, but at the time we passed them they were perfectly dry and hard. 

 From a distance they may easily be mistaken for water. The hot air 

 ascending from them produces a reflection of light, which, in turn, raises 

 the level of the bed, so ihat, apparently, grass and other plants can be 

 seen as if growing above the water-level. This particular feature adds 

 very much to the deception of a mirage. Along the trail we found the 

 remains of lodge-poles, and at several places, where there had been 

 water early in the spring, were remnants of old camps. Ascending a 

 high divide, we saw, about 8 miles from us, a large sheet of water. So 

 far as we could determine, the trail headed directly toward it. So often, 

 however, had we been deceived that we scarcely hoped to find oni* ex- 

 pectations realized. About sundown we obtained a near view, however, 

 and saw a large lake, just beyond a belt of sand-hills. Upon reaching 

 it we found that Indians had camped there only a short time previous, 

 and we occupied the spot which they had abandoned. Antelopes and 

 wild water-fowl were very plentiful near the muddy-looking water. 

 Although it contained a considerable amount of alkali, and had to be 

 cooled before being fit to drink, citric acid rendered it quite palatable. 



For two days we remained encamped at this lake, making excursions 

 from there for the purposes of topographical and geological work. We 

 found that instead of a divide between the waters of the Atlantic and 

 Pacific Oceans, there was here a large tract of neutral ground. Tem- 



