ITINERARY VII.
VII.--From Fort Bridger to the "City of Rocks."
From Captain HANDCOCK'S Journal.
Miles.
Fort Bridger to
9. Little Muddy Creek - Water brackish in pools along the
creek; tall bunch-grass; sage for fuel. Road runs
over a barren section, is rough, and passes one steep
hill.
12 1/2. Big Muddy Creek - The road, with the exception of two
or three bad gullies, is good for ten miles; it then
follows the Big Muddy bottom, which is flat and
boggy. The camp is three miles above the crossing.
Some grass; sage for fuel.
14 1/5. Small Branch of the Muddy Creek - Cross the river in
three miles at a bad ford. A mile above camp the
grass is good. Road generally good.
19 1/2. On Small Creek - Road continues up the Muddy 9 1/2
miles to its head. It then ascends to the divide
between Bear and Green Rivers, probably 800 feet, in
1 3/5 miles. The descent on the other side is about
the same. The road passes many fine springs. At one
and two miles back it passes points of hills, where
it is very rough. Good grass and sage at camp.
8 9/10. Bear River - Bad creek to cross near the camp; thence
to Bear River Valley the road is good. It then
follows down the river, crossing Willow Creek. Good
camp, with a large, fine spring.
17. Bear River - Good road along the river; plenty of wood,
water, and grass at all points.
Foot of Grant's Mountain - Road runs along Bear River;
at 2 1/2 miles strikes Smith's Fork, a rapid trout
stream. The road crosses the lower ford. A few
miles farther on is a bad slough, which can be
avoided by taking a round on the hills. Cross
Thomas's Fork on a bridge, also a slough near
it; toll $2.00 for each team and wagon. The road
then leaves Bear River Valley, and turns over a very
steep hill. Good grass, wood, and water.
12. Bear River - Road ascends Grant's Mountain 1200 feet in
1 1/2 miles-double teams-then descends again into
Bear River Valley at 4 4/5 miles. Good wood, water,
and grass.
17 2/5. Indian Creek - Road crosses eight fine spring branches;
camp is on a beautiful trout stream. Good wood,
water, and grass.
11. Spring near Bear River - Road is hilly, crossing two
spring branches. Good wood, water, and grass. The
camp is on the left and near the road.
11. Bear River - At 6 7/10 miles the road strikes a large
group of springs called "Soda Springs," and here
crosses Pine Creek, on the left bank of which is a
saleratus lake. Soon after it strikes the main
springs, and after crossing another creek the
"Steam-boat Spring" may be seen in the bed of the
river.
15. "Port Neuf," or Rock Creek - At 2 3/10 miles the road
leaves Bear River near where it runs through a canon
with high bluffs on each side. At this point the
California and Fort Hall roads separate. The
California road (called Hudspeth's Cut-off) then
crosses a valley between the Bear River and Port
Neuf River Mountains, 9 miles. No water from camp
to camp. Good camp.
15. Marsh Creek - About two miles above the main road the
creek can be forded; a road leads to it from the
descent into the valley. Road good; water and grass
plenty; no wood.
16 1/5. Paunack Creek - First part of the road is hilly; the
remainder good. Good camp.
7 1/5. Mallade River - At 7 1/5 miles the road crosses the
Mallade River. Good camp 140 miles from Salt Lake
City. Good road.
22 3/10. Small Creek - The road ascends a ridge through a canon,
and descends to a valley on the other side. From the
camp to the summit of the ridge is 6 1/5 miles. The
descent is 3 7/10 miles. It then crosses a valley 8
miles wide, and strikes a canon which leads to the
top of a hill over a rough road. Plenty of wood,
water, and grass at camp, but no water between
this and the last camp.
9 3/5. Small Creek - Road after five miles strikes a canon
with a long but gentle ascent. Two miles from the
entrance of this canon is a spring branch. There is
wood and some grass and water at this place.
11 1/5. Spring Branch - The road passes through a canon, and at
5 miles strikes the head of a spring branch, which it
follows down 2 1/2 miles to the junction with a
larger branch, which is bridged. At nine tenths of
a mile another fork enters. Grass very fine here.
Road follows down this across the main branch, and
the camp is 2 miles below. Good camp.
18 1/2. Decassure Creek, or Raft River - Road continues down
the creek 2 3/10 miles, and crosses, then ascends by
a steep hill to an elevated sage plain, leaving the
creek at 11 4/5 miles, and passes a slough with
water. Good camp.
17 9/10. Spring Branch - The road crosses the creek near the
last camp, and follows up a valley, crossing in five
miles several spring branches. At 2 9/10 miles it
crosses the creek again, and follows up the valley
two miles farther, then crosses a high sage plain 8
9/10 miles long, when it strikes a spring 150 yards
to the left of the road, where there is an excellent
camp in a beautiful valley.
10. Junction of Salt Lake City Road - Road passes several
small branches in 3 miles, then commences ascending
through a canon which, in 2 1/5 miles, leads to the
entrance to the "City of Rocks," and passes through
these for three miles. It then crosses a ridge,
leaving the City of Rocks, and at ten miles from last
camp intersects the road from " Salt Lake City." At
1 2/5 miles beyond this a road leads off to the right
to a spring branch, 3 miles, where there is a good
camp near the foot of Goose Creek Mountain. From
this point California travelers can refer to the
itinerary of the route from Salt Lake City to
Sacramento.
   
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