RE-CROSSING THE SIERRA NEVADA. 
45 
atmosphere too smoky to afford distinct views even at short distances. Completing our observa¬ 
tions in the vicinity of Fall river, we retraced our steps, and rejoined our companions at a 
late hour of the day. 
By referring to my journal from July 15th to July 21st, during which we ascended the 
Sacramento, from Fort Beading to the second canon, the line just traced to the latter point will 
he found continued to the open valley of the Sacramento, and my northern line of survey 
complete. 
June 30.—I had been so favorably impressed with the appearance of the broad opening in 
the Sierra Nevada, at the south end of Mud lake, as seen from several points, that I had deter¬ 
mined, on leaving them, to return to the eastern base of the mountains and examine it. With 
this object, we therefore followed the old wagon road, near which we had encamped, in a 
general direction for several miles to the south. It led from camp immediately over a high 
ridge, affording an extensive view of the mountain country around us, and of a few peaks of 
the Coast range, seen through low openings in the western ridge of the Sierra Nevada. But 
the smoky state of the atmosphere was such that no distinctive features or outlines could 
he traced in the distant scenery. Seven miles from camp, we entered a forest of majestic pines 
and cedars, through which we travelled for the remainder of the day, but with occasional 
open, grassy spots, on one of which we encamped after a march of 15 miles. After the high 
ridge noticed in the morning, the country was still hilly but easily traversed. 
July 1.—Following the road again, we ascended gradually for fifteen miles over broad plains, 
the pine and cedar forests receiving the addition of the majestic redwood. Many of these 
trees were five feet in diameter, and rising to the height of 125 and 140 feet. Before encamping, 
we descended for three miles by a steep, rough road, to a broad, grassy plain five miles in 
diameter, into which several small creeks were flowing, but we could nowhere discover a certain 
outlet. The hills and mountains, ten or fifteen hundred feet high, surrounding this plain, 
with open spaces between them, are heavily timbered, with the exception of one, which is so 
covered with stones that no space is left for trees. Several graves near camp marked the resting- 
place of unfortunate emigrants. Day’s march, 18.84 miles. 
July 2.—We passed out by the south side of the plain to a succeeding one of less size. It was 
here, as before, impossible to determine which way the water flows, if, indeed, it flows at 
all from these plains. We have crossed them in every direction, and as yet have not seen an 
outlet from one of them, and some of them we have been entirely around. From the second 
we passed to a third of these plains, of the size of the first, in which Pine creek, a fine 
little stream, flows towards its northeastern part, forming a marshy pond, which can only have 
an outlet to Eagle lake, if at all. In this plain we also came upon a wagon-road which had 
been recently used, and which we subsequently learned was the Noble’s Pass road, which 
descends to the east by the same line we were about to explore. We followed it, therefore, and 
leaving the plain without ascending more than a few feet, continued our course through a 
dense forest of pine and redwood, passing several grassy ponds, the largest of which we judged 
to be a mile in length. Many of the largest trees were eight feet in diameter and of great 
height. We descended a little before encamping, coming upon a small creek, to which 
emigrants have given the name of Summit, although there are points in the pass several hun¬ 
dred feet higher than this. In approaching camp through the woods, the road was very 
much obstructed by surface stones, which would have been avoided by following an open, 
level, grassy space leading directly from Pine to Summit creeks, a mile north of the general 
line of the road, which enters it, however, at our camp. It was 10.51 miles from our morning 
camp to Pine creek, and 9.61 thence to Summit creek. 
July 3.—The nights are cold in the mountains, but during the day the sun is hot, making 
the shade agreeable. Our path continued to-day through the same dense forest so oftened men¬ 
tioned. In leaving camp we began almost immediately to descend, and continued to do so 
until encamping at the eastern base of the Sierra Nevada, after a march of 19.11 miles, in 
