WAHSATCH PASS. 
67 
ease as the ascent; and we thence followed a small ravine of dry grass, varying in width from 
one hundred to three hundred yards, from the summit to our camp. Salt creek issues from 
springs in this ravine, half a mile from the summit of the pass, and flows into the Sevier (Nicol¬ 
let) river. It derives its name from the crystallized salt found in the red-clay bluffs of the mount¬ 
ains, its waters being cool and fresh. A few grouse started up as we rode forward, and a large 
number of sand-hill cranes circled high above the mountains, uttering their peculiar note—pleas¬ 
ant sights to travellers over barren wastes, enlivened by animate nature only here and there, by a 
pigmy rabbit or a hungry raven. The hills, ravines, and peaks differ materially to the west or 
the summit from those to the east. Here, although vegetation is entirely withered by frost, it 
covers the whole face of the country and gives it a pleasant, cheerful aspect; whilst there it is 
dreary and desolate indeed, relieved only at intervals by scattered sage, the grass of the river 
bottoms, and more rarely of the hill-tops. A keen northwest wind whistled about us during the 
day, sharpened by a few drops of rain, icy cold; but our camp-fires to-night burn brightly and 
pleasantly, the wind having subsided, while our animals have, for the first time for days, entirely 
. ceased their disagreeable cry to feast on the abundant grass. 
The narrow sandstone ridge, passed just above our morning camp, can easily be cut for the 
passage of a railroad. Its summit is 129 feet above that camp, which is distant, in a direct line, 
sixty hundredths of a mile, which, however, can be considerably increased by taking advantage 
of the natural formation of the approach. On Akanaquint creek, one mile and eight hundredths 
above this point, we had ascended but 44 feet. In the next mile and sixty-six hundredths, the 
ascent is 232 feet, or 140 feet to the mile; and 253 feet in the following one and thirty-four hun¬ 
dredths miles, or 189 feet per mile, while it is 186 feet per mile for the next mile and seventy-four 
hundredths. From this point to the summit of the pass, it is twenty-two hundredths of a mile; 
the ascent being 49 feet, or 223 feet per mile. The altitude of this pass is 7,820 feet above the sea. 
From the summit, the descent westward is 218 feet per mile for the first mile and nine-tenths; 
and 137 feet per mile for the next mile and seven-tenths; and 202 feet per mile for the following 
ninety-seven hundredths of a mile to our camp. 
The defile character of this pass is such, that it.must be approached by the line we followed 
without material extension, by which, however, a heavy uniform grade of 125 feet per mile can 
be carried, by a side location on the steep, rocky approach, after reaching the Akanaquint creek, to 
within one-third of a mile of the summit, where a short tunnel, with deep approaches, will be 
required—the whole not exceeding three fourths of a mile in length—diminishing the elevation to 
be overcome by from 175 to 200 feet, and giving a grade of 131 feet per mile for 3.6 miles west 
of the summit, and thence to the vicinity of our camp, or even less than this, by keeping on the 
side of the ravine above Salt creek. Latitude, by noon observations, a few hundred yards east of 
the summit, 38° 45' 37". 
Salt creek, our Indian guide says, (as well as we can understand him, and the appearance of 
the mountains confirm his statement,) enters a large canon two miles below our camp, in a very 
direct course to the Sevier river. Through this canon, he says, there is a horse-trail, but that it is 
impossible for wagons to pass through it without removing the rocks. The stream, to where it 
enters this gorge, continues its easy descent. 
October 14.—Leaving the little valley of Salt creek, while a dense cloud enveloped the mount¬ 
ains, which, however, was soon dissipated by the sun, we passed over a small hill to the south, and 
almost immediately struck a fine little stream, which we ascended for half a mile, and then cross¬ 
ing another divide to the southwest, reached the Swam-bah, an ice-cold creek, two or three feet 
wide, falling over a rocky bed. This stream rises to the south in one of the highest ranges in the 
vicinity, on which are large banks of snow, and flows in a narrow ravine, in a nearly direct line 
for ten or fifteen miles, as seen from the summit of a high peak ascended during the day. It is 
densely lined, throughout its entire length, with willow-bushes, interspersed with aspens and a few 
spruce and pines. The Spanish trail, leading for a short distance up this creek, the guide repre- 
