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Show ROUTE OVER THE WAHSATCH MOUNTAINS. 221 Bear River, up that stream to its source, or at least to a point where a crossing could be obtained over to the heads of the Weber, thence down that stream into the Camass Prairie, and thence, crossing the prairie, down the Timpanogas to the Utah Valley, offers, I think, the most feasible mode of crossing the formidable obstruction presented by the Wahsatch range of mountains. Fording the Weber at the north- west end of the prairie, we followed down its right bank, recrossed, and struck once more into the beaten track, which we followed in pursuit of the train. The weather had been very threatening during the afternoon, and the lurid clouds and muttering thunder gave token of the approach of a heavy storm. About dark the tempest burst upon us. Bain fell in torrents, intermingled with hail; and, as it increased in violence, was accompanied by a darkness so profound that it became impossible to distinguish the road, or even the horses upon which we were riding. The lightning blazed with such intense brightness around us that we became completely blinded, and the storm driving furiously in our faces, it was with the greatest difficulty we could keep the track for a few yards at a time. We were ten miles from camp, and felt ourselves in a rather uncomfortable situation. The guide, who had preceded us, and had arrived at the encampment before the storm began, surmising what must be our condition, with commendable foresight despatched a couple of men to meet us with a lantern, by the aid of which we succeeded in reaching the tents about ten o'clock, thoroughly drenched, cold, and exhausted, having been in the saddle, without food, for more than fifteen hours. A basin of hot soup and a cup of strong coffee soon revived us, and, wrapped in our blankets, we slept soundly, regardless of the tempest, which flashed and raged around us the whole night. It may be remarked here, that the Camass Prairie consists of most excellent land, and can be irrigated over its whole extent with comparatively little labour. Water for stock is abundant, and timber for ordinary farming purposes is plentiful and convenient. The broad- leafed dock of the eastern prairies abounds here, and it is the only spot where I have observed it since leaving the Missouri. A species of geranium was very abundant, and also a great variety of asters. The surrounding hills are full of rolled stones or very, coarse gravel, principally of sandstone, much stained by iron. After leaving the prairie, and crossing the Weber, several Yei- |