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Show 229 In the morning, before the brethren departed for their final destinations, Bean and Barney penned a letter to Brigham Young and gave it to Colonel Dame who was expected to run an express into the settlements after reaching Meadow Valley. They described tbe ramblings of their company since their last communication with the prophet when Bean was in Provo almost a month ago. They also told of their inability to locate the desired refuge: Southwest of White Mountains [Snake Range] we find but little water and grass a few springs generally in the mountains some in the vallies but not very good, alkali being present. Our N.W. and western most points of exploration are about 200 to 225 miles distant on a straight line from Cedar Springs [Golden] and Fillmore and this distance brings us into a dry country. Mountains low, no water, grass, nor wood for many days travel except we should keep N.W. along the rim of tbe Basin which here runs i- n 22 up to the south side of Ruby [_SteptoeJ Valley. Speaking for themselves and for Colonel Dame they declared, "we have thus far been agreeably disappointed in our expectations of finding hiding places as regards to the most necessary items, water, grass and wood but land suitable for cultivation is very scarce indeed and the climate is very cold, there being frost every night as yet." Dame's pack train, Barney and his men, and the Beaver City contingent commanded by George W. Bean began their trek together, by marching toward Patterson Pass in the Schell Creek Range southeast of their camp. Bean called the gap Pockage Pass. Hopkins's Iron County detachment was to follow later which would leave the White Mountain Camp in Cave Valley abandoned. The company reached the summit of Pockage (Patterson) Pass at noon, a distance of ten miles. The men dined at a spring on the mountain side a mile north of the pass. Afterward, President Dame, Martineau, Johnson, and Rogers ascended a "high and very steep |
