CHAPTER V. 
From the valley of Mud lake , via Roney lake and Noble's Pass , to Fort Reading , at the 
junction of Cow creek with the Sacramento river , California—July 5 to 12, 1854. 
From Mud to Honey and Pyramid lakes.—Honey Lake valley.—Noble’s road.—Boiling springs.—Northern limit of the sources 
of Feather river.—Reascending the Sierra Nevada via Susan river.—Plain from Summit to Pine creeks.—Character of the 
mountain from Susan river to Pine creek.—Grades.—Broad trunk of the mountain —From Pine creek to Black Butte creek. 
Grades.—Country directly west from camp on Black Butte creek; its impracticability for roads.—Ascending Black Butte 
cree k.—Lava field—Black Butte.—Distribution of sand.—Grades.—Hat creek.—Head of Canoe Creek valley.—Line west 
from Hat creek.—Crossing Wolf creek to the western summit of the Sierra Nevada.—Grades.—Western descent of the 
Si erra , —Battle creek.—Deer flats.—Hill’s rancho.—McCumber’s mill.—Shingletown.—Narrow ridge and steep descent.— 
Table of grades and altitudes.—Difficulties of the pass for a railroad.—Arrival at Fort Reading. 
July 5.—Messrs. Egloffstein and Snyder, escorted by Lieut. Baker and a detachment of rifle¬ 
men, continued the exploration eastward to-day, to connect the survey from our camp of last 
night with the line previously explored to the entrance of Smoky creek in the valley of Mud 
lake. From a mile east of camp, Honey lake trends to the southeast for ten miles, to its most 
eastern point, and four miles from camp the party came to the foot of a spur setting down 
from the northern chain of mountains, affording them a view of the country eastward. From 
the vicinity of this spur in the open valley of the lake, there is, extending for several miles, 
an old shore-line raised a few feet above the present level of the lake, hut to which it occasionally 
rises, perhaps, at stages of high water. To the eastward of this line the valley of Honey lake 
extends for 14 miles, and is generally of a dry, barren character. During rains and at the 
season of melting snows, small sheets of water stand at short intervals here and there upon it, 
and at present one is seen near the lowest passage to Pyramid lake. Beyond this plain, and 
forming its northeastern boundary, separating it from Mud lake, is a low mountain range, 
varying in height from 300 to 800 feet, with a general breadth of about nine miles. In this 
raDge several indications of favorable passages exist; but upon examination they proved to be 
worthless, and the party proceeded southward towards the main passage around this spur to 
Mud lake, at a point where Pyramid lake is also separated but slightly from the former, the 
three being united at very high stages of water, by a small stream flowing into Pyramid lake. 
This passage is open and level, and in its narrowest part about a mile in width; and from the 
valley of Honey lake to that of Mud lake, from eight to nine miles in length, the passage 
to Pyramid lake branching to the south from it. From the position from which it was seen, 
the passage to Pyramid lake appears to cut through an elevated rocky range, with high peaks 
rising on either side above the vertical canon walls. There was a line of green verdure in the 
canon, but no indications could be seen of a permanent stream flowing through it. Three 
small islands in Pyramid lake stand opposite the mouth of the canon, with Pyramid island 
in the distance. The water of this lake is remarkable for its deep-blue color, and contrasts 
strikingly with its yellow rocky islands. 
From our camp of June 14, on the west side of Mud lake, our present camp is approached by 
travelling south, and crossing Smoky creek four miles below its gorge, at the entrance of the 
Madelin Pass, and thence continuing to the southwest end of Mud lake, and following the 
open passage, already described, to Honey Lake valley, and thence by the north shore of that 
lake by a direct line. In the accompanying profile of this pass of the Sierra Nevada, which 
is known as Noble’s Pass, the line just indicated is followed. For three miles from the first 
