Three days from the time I left Virginia City I crossed the summit of the Rocky Mountains and it was snowing hard.  I thought it doubtful whether or not they would be able to cross the mountains this winter, but I went on, and met them between Fort Hall and Soda Springs.  I gave the wagon-boss a letter which Boon and Bivian had sent him, and after reading the letter he asked me if I thought they could cross the range this fall.  I told him that it was about one hundred and eighty miles from there to the summit, and if he could make that distance in ten days he would be able to get through, but if not, he could not cross the mountains this fall.  He said it would be impossible to make it in that length of time, as the cattle were all getting very poor and weak and the teams very heavily loaded.  The next morning I struck out, taking another man with me, to try and find if possible, another ford on Snake river some thirty or forty miles above the old crossing, knowing if I could do that it Would save us two or three days’ travel, and might be the means of our getting across the mountains that fall.  I told the wagon-boss that I would meet him at Fort Hall, so in company with one other man, I struck straight across the country for Snake river.  The second day about noon we reached the river, and that afternoon we succeeded in finding a good ford, which we called the Island ford, there being a little island just above.

We camped on Snake river bottom that night, and the next morning about daybreak we were on our journey for Fort Hall, reaching the fort one day ahead of the train.  Here we waited until the train arrived.  From Fort Hall we struck out for Snake river.  This was all an open country, with the exception of sagebrush.  The first night after leaving the fort snow fell four inches deep on the valley, and I felt satisfied then that we would not be able to cross the mountains that winter.  The next day the snow all melted in the valley, but hung low at the foot of the mountains.

The third day after leaving Fort Hall we reached Snake river, and were successful in getting across without any mishap whatever.  This new ford is near where Pocatello, Idaho, now stands.  The first night after crossing the river we camped on a little stream, which I gave the name of Rock creek, and I am told that it is still known by that name.  That night the snow fell one foot deep.  I told the wagon-boss the next morning that he was at his journey’s end for the present fill.  We unloaded one wagon and he took one wagon to haul his camping outfit and provisions for the winter, and returned to the river bottom for the purpose of wintering his stock there.  Another man and myself went to work to make two pairs of snow shoes, for which we had to use the side-boards of a wagon, there being no timber suitable in reach for that purpose.  We were three days preparing for this trip, by which time the snow had settled.