46 
gunnison’s pass. 
level, the aneroid barometrical record is 22.26, thermometer 81° Fahrenheit; and at 2.40 p. m. 
22.23, thermometer 73°; the mean of which referred to our camp of August 27th, 28th, and 29th, 
the altitude of which is well determined, gives for the altitude of this pass above the sea 8,603 
feet. Six miles west from the summit, at 4.30 p. m., the aneroid record is 22.50, thermometer 
72°; giving an average descent of fifty-six feet per mile for six miles. Three miles west from 
this point, at 9 p. m. August 30th, and 6 a. m. August 31st, the records are 22.70, thermometer 
50°, and 22.60, thermometer 37°, respectively; giving an average descent of between sixty-seven 
and sixty-eight feet per mile for three miles, to the centre of Homans’ park, from which a railroad 
can be carried in any direction over the valley of San Luis. 
The eastern descent for three-fuurths of a mile, was by a steeper path than that by which the 
party had ascended to the summit, to a spring branch of the Puncha creek, an affluent of the 
Arkansas, where they encamped, in latitude, by astronomical observation, 38° 25' 04". Being 
without tents, the party found their limited supply of blankets too cool, and rose early, the grass 
being covered with a white frost—the thermometer standing at 32°, aneroid 22.23 ; and at f 0 
o’clock a. m. at this point, thermometer 80°, aneroid 22.35 ; giving a descent from the summit 
of the pass of 85 feet, or 113 feet to the mile. One mile and a half from camp Captain Gun¬ 
nison came to the south branch of the Puncha creek, which is a bold mountain stream; aneroid 
at 7 a. m. at this point reading 22.50, thermometer 42° ; and at 12 m. at the same point 22.64, 
thermometer 83° ; giving an average descent of over 228 feet per mile. But notwithstanding 
this, the character of the ground is such—broad, open and rolling—that it was deemed practi¬ 
cable by Captain Gunnison to so extend the distance in descending, as to bring the grade within 
that upon which railroads operate successfully. He descended without difficulty from this point 
through a canon four miles in length to the beautiful plains of the Arkansas, ten miles in width, 
which lie above its canon, bearing N. 61 £ £., magnetic. The aneroid record at this point at 9 a. 
m., August 30th, is 23.17, thermometer 66°, giving for the four miles an average descent of 185 J 
feet per mile. Half a mile below this canon, the north or main branch of the Puncha, descending 
from high, snowy peaks to the north and west, is joined by that of his path, and thence gradually 
approaches the Arkansas. Heavy Indian trails attest the frequent use they make of this pass in 
going to the South Park, and to the Wet Mountain valley, and Hardscrabble, now deserted, and 
back to the Rio del Norte and Coochetopa regions. And Captain Gunnison gives it as his opinion 
upon the ground, before any computations were made for grades, that “it affords an excellent 
wagon and railroad route ; the former by Hardscrabble creek, passing around the canon, or up 
the Huerfano river; and the latter following the Arkansas river through its canon.” As a testi¬ 
monial of respect to the memory of the officer who explored it, I have given his name to this 
pass. On the night of the 30th of August the party returned and slept in Homans’ park, and 
rejoined the main body of the party late this evening, during a slight fall of rain. 
September 1.—On the crest of the mountains at day-light—some six or eight hundred feet above 
us—were a fine band of mountain sheep, some of them large, majestic fellows; but they did not 
tempt the spirit of the sportsmen among us. We continued on the southern course, on which we 
encamped last evening, for about two miles, and then turned west, following the Sahwatch creek 
for six miles, where we crossed it for the last time, and left the main Indian trail which still fol¬ 
lows that creek, which rises considerably to the south. This main trail is said to lead through 
thick forests of timber, through which it would require much labor to open a wagon road to Car- 
nero Pass, equal if not superior to that of our route. We pursued for three miles a fine branch of 
the Sahwatch, coming in from the north, when we left it, and, turning west, followed a branch of 
this creek, and after a march of fifteen miles, encamped where a low opening in the mountains 
afforded a small supply of grass, and enabled us to enter and encamp with our train. The 
valley of the Sahwatch to-day continued narrow, as at our camp last evening, and the trav¬ 
elling in it very fine, at this dry season. The valley of the next branch was still narrower, 
varying from 130 yards to 150 feet, and the travelling equally fine; and in the succeeding valley, 
