FROM FORT HALL TO HEAD OF HELL GATE RIVER. 
339 
east lay a high ridge of timbered mountains, from which flow the waters of the Stinking, and also 
the waters of the Snake river; while to the north lay other ridges and ranges, from which flow 
the waters of the Missouri. From the top of this mountain we had truly a grand view—high, 
snow-clad mountains on every side of us. To the south lay prairies and valleys covered with 
snow, through which we have been travelling for several days; while to the east lay beautiful 
prairie meadows, free from snow, through which meandered the numerous mountain streams, all 
pouring their tribute to the great river Missouri. Here, then, we were to leave the vicinity of 
snow behind us, and we truly congratulated ourselves at the change—a time we had been looking 
forward to with much interest. Descending this ridge or divide by a very excellent road, we 
fell upon the headwaters of a second tributary of the Jefferson fork of the Missouri, called by 
the Indians “Hooked Man creek.” Wagons cross the divide already referred to, but, in order 
to pass without difficulty, must go more to the south, where the mountains are much less steep, 
giving a very excellent road. Following down the valley of the Hooked Man creek for ten 
miles, we encamped on its left bank, finding here good grass, water, and wood, the latter being 
the quaking asp. Game was very abundant, large bands of deer and antelope crossing our trail 
during the whole day; many white hare were also seen through the valley of the Hooked Man 
creek. This vicinity is a noted place among the Indians for game. In the mountains on each 
side of the valley are to be found in abundance bears, moose, and elk; while, in the valley below, 
deer and antelope are never absent. It is also noted as being a place where the Blackfeet ren¬ 
dezvous, during the spring and summer seasons, and waylay the traveller on his way to the hunt 
or emigrant road. This valley is about two miles wide, lined on each side by a high range of 
timbered mountains, and covered with a rich and beautiful growth of bunch-grass. The day 
has been exceedingly mild and pleasant, the thermometer at noon being 53°. Unfortunately, 
to-day my horse fell, breaking the only thermometer left, which will account for the temperature 
of each day not being given hereafter. The night was very mild and pleasant; we scarcely felt 
the need of a fire. The ground was perfectly free from snow; the Hooked Man creek was free 
from ice; and everything indicated that we had entered a milder and warmer region. This 
stream is timbered *by willow bushes, save at one or two places small clumps of the quaking 
asp were to be seen. 
December 28, 1853.—Commences cloudy, with a strong wind from the southwest. Being out 
of meat, Gabriel, the guide, left the camp early this morning in search of game, having pointed 
out first the direction to be followed, which was down the valley of the Hooked Man creek, 
which for three miles had a width of from three to five miles, when it opened into a beautiful 
prairie plain about fifteen miles wide, extending to the main stream of the Jefferson river, and 
bounded on every side by high mountains; the base of the range, to the north, being washed by 
the Jefferson fork of the Missouri, which could be traced for many miles by the dark line of 
cotton-wood that bordered its bank. This range of mountains separates the Big Hole prairie 
from the Jefferson river. The Hooked Man creek near its mouth is fined with the cotton-wood. 
The willow, however, is the principal wood on its banks. Its valley throughout is well grassed, 
and at present, being perfectly free from snow, looks not unlike a large field of yellow grain. 
This valley bore north 70° west magnetic. To our left to-day was seen the high rocky range of 
bluffs or cliffs known as the “Rattle Snake cliffs,” a name given them by Messrs. Lewis and 
Clark. To our front and right lay also a prominent point of a prairie bluff called “Beaver 
Head,” a name given it from the supposed resemblance to the head of that animal. We looked 
intently, and examined with care, to see if we could discover the resemblance, but in our opinion 
it resembled aught else than the beaver’s head. Game to-day was exceedingly abundant, large 
bands of antelope and deer being seen in the valley—the latter being the white and black-tailed. 
Travelling a distance of sixteen and a half miles, we reached the Jefferson fork of the Missouri, 
which we found frozen along the margin on each side with ice three inches thick, while its 
channel was open, with a rapid current. Its bed we found rocky and pebbly; its bank, as far 
