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Show 20 469! 13 16 OVERLAND- ROlJTE GOOD CAMP GROUND near the river. The road is now quite sandy for twenty miles. From last point it is sixteen miles to TI l\iB ER. Road runs near to river for some miles, varying from one qua!ter to one mile and a half distant. From timber it is five miles to a 5 CREEK, and from here twelve miles to the 12 RIVER OPPOSITE FORT LARRAMIE. T he Fort is a mile and a half wost of the river, on Laramie Fork, a beautiful and clear stream that Jiows into the north fork of the Platte, from the south-west. The Platte is here sometimes fordable, but more often otherwise, and owing to the great rapidity of its current, it is unsafe to ford, except in very low stages of water. The route we fol- . lowed from this point was still upon the north side of the river, which route was then (June, 1850) untraveled and unknown. We, however, encountered no serious obstacle, and gained two 515i TO 'CAL·IFORNIA .. 21 :Jl5! days in time upon those who here cr~ssed to the south side, as nearly aU of the emigration did. By this route we avoided twice eros~ing the Platte, and also the dread-ed Black liills of the south side. It must be added, ho'\vever, that in v~ry wet seasons, this route would be impracticable, on ae ·count of d~ep ,cr.e.eks, \Vhich 've found dry. But in any O'rdinary season, _as lat~ as June · 15th, I believe it to Incomparably better than via the Bl~c}J Hills of tho south sido. Four m1les from the Fort is a 4 DRY CREEK and short steep ascent. The road the above distance runs noar to river. It now leaves it for fourteen miles. Four miles and u half fr.om " Dry C reek ," 1. s 4~ EN'I'RANCF~ TO PASS between mountains. The road to this point is, in many places, sidling and stony. 2~ GOOD .COLD SPRINGS on the right of road, near to some young Cotton-wood trees. 7 ROAD JOINS RIVER. The last 533! |
