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Show 22 of good water here; the road for 150 n1iles _now follows the Platte. From Ash Hollow the road 1s sandy ; the wheel3 will sink in places from 6 to 10 inches; you will soon get over it. Springs are plenty, yet in many places you have to depend on the river for water •. CASTLE BLUFFS are 7 mile! from the Hollo':. Timber is scarce for some distance onward ; your ma1n dependence for fuel will be on "Bois de Vache,?' or ~u~ .. falo chips ; wild sage is frequently used for_ fuel ; 1t IS plenty. N a thing of note occurs until you arr1ve at the COURT HOUSE or CHURCH. It is a rDck, presentingan imposing ~nd symmetrical architectural shap~; distance from C. Bluffs, 53 miles; 12 miles further, will bring you to the ~~2=~~ CHIMNEY ROCI{. An elevated mass of rock, hav-ing a tall column-like projection near its centre resembling a chimney; it is about 250 feet high. SCOTT'S BLUFFS,--Are next in sight, distance 19 miles. The trail here leaves the river, and passes through the gap in the rear of the bluffs, over a plain for about 8 miles, you then begin to ascend toward the summit ; when near the top, you find a beautiful spring of cold water ; from the extreme right of the ridge, a fine ·view can be had of the Peak! of the Rocky Mountains. Laramie's Peak is about 150 miles west. Descending from the ridge, the road passes on to HORSE CREEK over a sandy and barren country.If the chance for camping is not good, you will find it a ' little better, 6 miles further, when the road passes near the river. From this point to Fort Laramie, there is no prominent object by which to reming the traveller of the distance he had travelled, excepting FORT BERNARD, 8 miles from Fort Laramie, it is a small rudely constructed building of lo~s. ,. • .. 23 FOR1, LARAMIE and FORT JOHN are about one mile apart and west of the river. You now begin to cross the Black Hills, and will find some pretty rough roads, the ridges are high, and country barren. There is no difficulty in finding good camping places however; some travellers take the. road that follows the river, and avoid the Black Hills,-it is said to be better travelling when the fords are good; the road crosses the river three times. At a distance of seven miles from the Fort, you find a steep hill to descend; it is a long hill, and requires great care. Four miles and a half further, you find a steep hill to ascend and descend ; the road is rough, rocky and crooked-half way over, there is a sudden turn in the road that is dangerous, if great care is not used. You leave the river at the fort, and do not touch it again for 80 miles. Two miles travel brings you to the W ARl\1: SPRINGS, ~nd shortly after yon come to a very steep bluff, the vicinity. of this place is disagreeable on acceurlt of cobble stones in the road. By travelling 13 miles onward, passing timber and several creeks, you come to a creek on the south side of the road; it is a good place to camp. 13 miles further, brings you to HEllER SPRING, near the timber on the right si~e of the road. There is a creek a few rods north from this spring. 2 1-2 miles travel brings you to a long steep bluff; you may have to double teams to get over this place. 15 miles ahead you find LA BONTE RIVER, a fine camping place, grass, timber and water, plenty; the river is about. 30 feet wide. A branch of the I~a Bonte, crosses 5 1niles onward; the banks are steep. In the next 13 miles the chances for camping are poor; the road is but tole~ably good. The curious may here look out for toads w1th horns. ·After crossing a few small creeks, you come to · • ~ ;,.1 ~ |
