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Show 52 RECONNAISSANCE IN THE UTE COUNTRY. a mile or two to the left of our route, there appeared to be springs breaking out in many places, much improving the desert appearance of the country over which we were traveling. Our road appeared to lead across an inclined plane running down from the foot of the mountain to the edge of this grassy plane, which is probably very boggy in places on account of the water which must run down into it, and for which there is no visible outlet on the surface of the ground. Four miles from camp crossed a stream called the Zapato Creek, which is lined with timber from the mountains out into the plain, a mile to the west of the road, where the water finally sinks in this spongy reservoir. A mile north of this creek the road became very sandy, and continued so for six or seven miles, when our course turned a little more to the east, bringing us nearer the mountains on a higher and less sandy country. Oft* to the north and west of us was a very peculiar line of sand- hills, two or three hundred feet high and from ten to fifteen miles long, and from six to eight miles in width. Their appearance would indicate the combined action of wind and water in forming them. At 2 o'clock p. tn. arrived at the Musca Creek, which flows out from the Musca Pass, running down to the foot of these sand- hills, where it unites with another small stream comiugout of the Sand- Hill Pass five or six miles north of the Musca Pass, and running around the eastern end of these sand- hills. Both sink in the sand at the foot of these sand- hills. Camped at the mouth of the Musca Pass, having made eleven miles; wood and water abundant, but grass very scarce. In company with the guide rode through the pass tbis evening, and concluded that it would be possible to get our wagons through by repairing the road in places; very cloudy this evening, which continued throughout the night. August 15.- Weather very cloudy and threatening. Broke camp at 7 o'clock a. m. and started through the pass. After hard labor on the part of all hands and the mules, we made about a mile, when the wagon upset. It being then about 2 o'clock p. m., and beginning to rain, pitched camp in the canon near the scene of our misfortune. Heavy showers fell soon after going into camp, which continued at intervals during the afternoon and night, preventing our obtaining azimuths. Had to send the mules up to the summit of the pass for grass, where there was abundance of it, about two miles from our camp; plenty of wood and water where we camped. August 16.- Morning broke tolerably fair, only a few clouds being visible; determined not to attempt moving camp, but have the line run through the pass on to the head of the Huerfano. The line was run seven miles over on to the head- waters of the Huerfano and tributaries of the Muddy Creek, and stopped at the head of a canon leading down to the valley of Muddy Creek, which empties into the Huerfano from the northwest about two miles above Badito, at Mr, Moore's ranch. Turkey Creek rises in the Greenhorn Mountain and empties into the Huerfano, on the same side, and five miles below the mouth of Muddy Creek. Muddy Creek rises near the divide between the Huerfano Park and Wet Mountain Valley. The Huerfano itself rises among the high peaks of the Sierra Blanco, north side. The country from the Musca Pass down into the valley of the Huerfano is very singular and very beautiful. It is a series of narrow, grassy slopes, with ravines containing small streams between them, extending from the mountain four or five miles, and then breaking down more or less abruptly a height of 300 or 400 feet on to the plateau covered with cedar and pinon pine and |
