"traveled down through a narrow defile in the mountains and camped in the sight of Bear River [ ] distance 16 1/4 miles [ ] the day cool and pleasant traveling"
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The photo is in Echo Canyon, and the internet says that it was taken about 1861. Don't you wish photography had been available for the 1847 pioneers?
The "narrow defile in the mountains" he was referring to is Echo Canyon. William Clayton said as they crawled further into the canyon...."the mountains seem to increase in height and come so near together as to barely leave room for a crooked road." They were finding all kinds of plant life...berries and wild wheat and they were less likely to believe Jim Bridger when he said they wouldn't be able to grow corn there.
The Salt Lake Tribune is interesting of today's journey. Brigham and Albert Rockwood are still sick even though they have the 'soft' ride in Wilford's carriage, it is still very bumpy and uncomfortable. The advance party with Orson Pratt is about 20 miles ahead.
Heber C. Kimball:
"Friday 16 [ ] this morning we had two pleasant showers accompanied by pretty loud thunder [ ] at ¼ to 9 we proceeded again the sick being still some better [ ] we passed through a narrow defill between very high mountains and after travelling 1¾ miles crossed a deep ravine where many of the teams wanted help to get over and ½ a mile further crossed the creek [ ] we found this crossing place very bad, one of the wagons broke down and we made a new place to cross which detained us about an hour.
After crossing this creek the mountains are higher and nearer together leaving but a narrow pass for the creek and a road [ ] at half past 12 we halted to feed having travelled 6¾ miles [ ] during the halt O P Rockwell came back from Er Pratts company and reported that it is about 25 or 30 miles from here to the Kanion [ ]they have found the mountain road avoiding the Kanion and expect to reach the summit of the ridge today noon.
At 20 minutes past 2 we were on the way again [ ] we found the space between the mountains very narrow and had to cross the creek a number of times [ ] in several places we found the crossing bad [ ] after proceeding a few miles we passed through some groves of Oak shrubbery [ ] in the same region there are also many wild gooseberries Hop vines Elder bushes and black brick [ ] in some places the road runs close to the foot of high perpendicular red mountains of rock supposed to be from 600 to 1000 feet high [ ]at a quarter to 7 we formed our encampment having travelled this afternoon 9½ miles and during the day 11¼ [ ]we are enclosed by high mountains on each side and this is about the only good camping ground we have seen since noon not for lack of grass or water but not being sufficient room to place our wagons [ ] the grass on the creek at this place is as much as 8 or 10 feet high and plentiful [ ] Prest. Young is quite fatigued with the days journey and feel so well"
I'll never be able to ride through Echo Canyon again without thinking of what these wonderful pioneers went through.
