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Show between the second and third mentioned are These mesa. lakes with the val raising large very suitable for and sma I I ley livestock. We continued northwest through the val ley, entered a I I pine forest; in it a loaded mule strayed off and did not turn up unti I after sundown, so that we had to halt on broken brambly ground next to the three little bluffs mentioned, which we named La Santisima Trinidad, after havlfig traveled only two sma leagues northwest although we found near the broken is no water at this site, the east-southeast to arroyo Where we crossed it today, EI Rio de There from the river. a little ground. in an Chama runs from north to south, from a little before it faces EI Cerro del Pedernal west to east unti I it passes EI Pueblo de Abiquiu. Today five leagues. RESEARCH AND w. INTERPRETATION From Nutrias the trail takes to the north which would have a west impeded by northwest travel. Alan Minge to avoid hi lis course An old trail is clearly marked The trail descends to the Rio Chama about a mi Ie south through of La Puente and then follows up the east bank to the vi I lage where it most probably crosses. La Puente is a quiet Hispanic vii lage with farming and Escalante's 1776 ranching in the valley of the Chama which it overlooks. description sti I I fits this portion of the trail well. The meadows are sti I I there, groves of cottonwoods grow along the stream, flax bloom, and the this river bed for man or area. is fi I led with smal I stones and tanks which beast. provide a poor footing After crossing the river the trai I moves up the juniper-covered ridge to the northwest from which the Spaniards spotted the three mesas which were Between the fami liar to the guides and are obvious to the modern explorer. a val ley formed by Wi Ilow Creek ,which has now been is and the mesas ridge This is properly identified with Escalante's dammed to form Heron Lake. Val Ie de Santo just Domingo. Between the northernmost of the three mesas and the shoulder of 7he hil I When they had in front of it there is a pass toward which the trail leads. reached the foot of the northernmost mesa, the formed 'at the northern edge of a smal I seasonal what is now the bed of Heron Lake. party lake. camp at a meadow The camp was located made in RESEARCH METHODS researchers selected much of this route on the basis of natural They found the old land contours which pointed out the probable route. the and the correct meadow out to Chama identified trail which led directly the around La Puente and four The area river. three or along of a The Heron possible Lake the val Laguna. ley was Heron Lake alters much of looked at from all possible angles. some of the trail from Ruthenon to the Canada de la and obliterates -33- |
