382 
ITINERARY OF THE ROUTE FROM FORT VANCOUVER TO FORT DALLES. 
Cross the divide between Kahchess and the Yahinse, and re-enter the valley of 
Yahinse. The trail steep in places, and very much obstructed by fallen timber 
and brush. Cross the Yahinse. 8* 
Follow the valley; pass by the lower end of Lake Kitchelus, ascend gradually 
for a few miles, and then the trail passes over the steepest mountain we encoun¬ 
tered, follows its summit, and descends to the little plain called Aiyutas. Grass 
indifferent at camp; none on the trail from camp to camp; water from a small 
spring. 7f 
September 8.—Returned to camp of 6th. 
September 9.—To camp Kahchess; trail as on the 6th to the first crossing of the 
river. Follow valley of Kahchess; pass through pine woods with dense under¬ 
brush ; cross the Kahchess twice by steep ascents and descents. Encamp in a 
small, boggy prairie, near Lake Kahchess. Grass not very good. 
September 10.—To camp Kleallum; turned back on same trail as far as first 
crossing of Kahchess. 2f 
Follow the heavily timbered but level valley; brush thick. . 2* 
Thence over a mountain ridge heavily timbered, crossing three spring branches 
to valley of Samahma. Descent into this valley very long and steep. 4 
Follow the valley to foot of Kleallum : open pine woods and bunch-grass; cross 
Samahma where it issues from the lake. If 
September 11.—To camp Tsai-ih. Descend the high and undulating valley of 
the Samahma to its mouth, crossing the stream twice; reach our trail of the 5th.. 5* 
Follow our old trail to camp..... 5 
September 12.—To Depot camp at Ketetas; return by our trail of the 4th. 
September 19.—To camp Nahnum. Move to the northern edge of Ketetas val¬ 
ley; trail good, sometimes stony; grass good in places; crossed the Nahnum twice. 
Encamped where it issues from the hills; grass not very good. 
September 20.—To camp Skilkantin. Pass over divide between Yakima and 
Columbia, crossing the Nahnum at camp; the ascent generally gradual, but very 
long; cross two spring branches; trail stony in places; summit of divide flat; tim¬ 
ber small and dense near the summit, open and large below; descent towards the 
Columbia very steep ; during the latter part of the march good bunch-grass on the 
mountain side, but no timber. Camp in a deep and narrow valley; good water 
and bunch-grass ; wood scarce... 
September 21.—To camp on Pisquouse. Crossed Skilkantin creek half a mile 
below camp; follow the rapidly-descending valley, and cross a steep spur, and 
descend into valley of Columbia; followed valley of Columbia. 1 
Crossed one creek four miles below Pisquouse; trail good; crossed Pisquouse 
half a mile above its mouth. Camped on it just above crossing; grass scanty. — 7 
September 23.—Follow Columbia valley; trail keeps to a level terrace. 3 
Crosses a difficult and rocky spur of hornblende rock and granite. Beyond it a 
small stream; then a level terrace, broken occasionally by less difficult spurs than 
the last; crosses a second spur much like the first, and reach the En-ti-at-kwu— 8 
Follow a high, sandy terrace, and encamp in a thin grove of pitch-pines. Ground 
stony; grass abundant a short distance from camp. 1* 
19 
19 
H 
11 * 
101 
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