ページの画像
PDF
ePub
[graphic]
[ocr errors]

Pl.

VIII

COOCHATOPE PASS.

"The Gate of Buffaloes, in Sahwatch Mts

[graphic]

COOCHATOPE PASS.

was evident that many had visited the pass quite recently. The abundant pasturage and great shelter found here, even in the severest winters, render them a favorite resort at that season for game of every description. Coochatope Pass is travelled at all seasons, and some of our men had repeatedly gone through it in the middle of winter without meeting any serious obstruction from snow. Many Utahs winter in the valleys lying within the Sahwatch mountains, where Mexican traders meet them to barter for buckskins and buffalo robes.

Our Delaware, in commemoration of our arrival at this point, killed a mountain sheep, and soon a dozen sticks were around the fire, on which were roasting pieces of this far-famed meat; but this was a bad specimen, being both old and tough. Day's travel, 22 miles; total distance, 808 miles.

We resumed our journey at 5.30 A. M., and, having travelled two miles, reached the forks of the Coochumpah, taking the west fork up the valley, which here commenced to ascend at an easy grade. The mountain sides were clothed with fine timber, among which were pines, firs, and aspens, and the valley with the most luxuriant grass and clover, this being the first clover we had seen. Around us were scattered numerous elk-horns and buffalo skulls. Eight miles brought us to a remarkable cliff, about one hundred feet in height, which beetled over the trail on our left; nine miles from the "Gate," we saw the last water flowing east to the Atlantic; in five minutes we were on the culminating point of the pass, and in ten more crossed the first stream flowing west to the Pacific. It was almost as if we were standing with one foot in waters which found their way to the Gulf of Mexico, and the other in those losing themselves in the Gulf of California.

In our eagerness to explore this pass to its western outlet, Mr. Beale and I rode far ahead of the remainder of the party. The scenery was grand and beautiful beyond description. Lofty mountains, their summits covered with eternal snows, lifted their heads to the clouds, whilst in our immediate vicinity were softly rounded hills clothed with grass, flowers, and rich meadows, through which numerous rills trickled to join their waters to Coochatope Creek.

At noon we encamped on this stream, where it had already swollen to a considerable size. It is a tributary of Grand River,

« 前へ次へ »