OCR Text |
Show 218 made for a gap in the Seaman Range (probably Seaman Wash) and emerged on the east side of the ridge back in the White River drainage. Wending their way down this dry wash on the location of present-day Nevada Highway 38, they descended 2,000 feet in elevation into the north end of Pahranagat Valley to the present location of Hiko, Nevada. Here the climate was markedly warmer. The Indian wheat was already heading out, while in the high valleys to the north, Dame was yet circumspect of planting due to the cold climate. As they entered the Pahranagat Valley from the north, the party was also struck by the drastic changes in the types of vegetation seen. The sage and greasewood of the north quickly gave way to creosote, cacti, and yucca varieties-joshua trees and Spanish bayonets. Johnson, no doubt, discovered Crystal Springs in the north end of the valley and Ash Springs five miles below. These were named Stewart's Springs and Grapevine Springs respectively. Obviously, William C. Stewart, of Cedar City, was a member of the exploring party. The grapevines apparently found at Ash Springs were another indication of the radical change in climate here. These springs revive the practically dry watercourse of the White River, creating a luxuriant meadow in the valley bottoms. The explorers reached the Pahranagat Lakes by taking a course similar to the present route of U.S. Highway 93» Johnson began his return to Desert Camp on May 18. Martineau1 s map in- 28 _ ., dicates that the party returned by the same route they went out on. Besides the positive report he brought back to camp, there was also a piece of disturbing news to tell. The Desert Swamp, so full of water just ten days ago, was now all but dry! The water from Desert Swamp Springs was sinking before it could reach the "swamp." In a country where the limited water resources fluxuated so rapidly, it would be difficult to assess the land for settlement purposes. Water in these ever-changing interior valleys might be abundant |