"the day warm [ ] went on 2 1/2 miles when we stopped on account of Bro. Brigham's health as he had got worse and could not travel"
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It is said that Jim Bridger gave Echo Canyon its name. Just before he retired for bed he would shout, "Time to get up, Jim!" By dawn the echo would have bounced its way up and back down the canyon just in time to wake him up.
(The Mormon Trail: Yesterday and Today by William E. Hill)
That's as good a story as any probably. It is true that when the pioneers were coming through there, the cattle would sound and then they would hear their echo coming off the walls. William Clayton said, "All the cattle and mules in camp seem very uneasy and continue lowing and braying all the morning. I suppose it is in consequence of the echoes, they no doubt thinking they are (being) answered by others over the mountains."
Brigham again is quite sick today and cannot be persuaded to travel. About 10:00 they finally did get moving but stopped again. Howard Egan wrote, "The reason for our stopping so soon was in consequence of President Young being suddenly taken quite ill and he could not endure any further travel today."
Worry was going through the camp and later on in the day that several men ... "went into the mountaintops to pray for the president and those that are sick." (William Clayton)
The advance scout party have reached the East Canyon Creek. They are about 20 miles ahead.
Orson Pratt up ahead on this day:
"July 17th [ ] a severe frost during the night [ ] early this morning I started out alone and on foot to examine the country back to see if there was not a more practicable route for the companies in the rear than the one we had come [ ] I was soon satisfied that we had taken the best and only practicable route [ ] met a large grey wolf about 4 rods from me [ ] I returned to camp and counseled the company not to go any further until they had spent several hours labour on the road over which we passed yesterday afternoon and all who were able to work laboured about two-thirds of the day upon the same and leaving orders for the camp towards night to move on Mr. Brown and myself rode on to explore [ ] about 3 1/8 miles brought us down upon the right bank of the creek [ ] which was about 20 feet [ ] wide swift current [ ] this creek passes through a kanyon about 40 rods below where it is for a few rods shut up by perpendicular and overhanging walls being a break in a mountain which rises several hundred feet upon each side [ ] the creek plunges underneath a large rock which lays in its bed near the foot of the kanyon blockading the same and making it wholly impassable for wagons or teams [ ] we followed the dimly traced wagon tracks up this stream for 8 miles crossing the same 13 times [ ] the bottoms of this creek are thickly covered with willows from 5 to 15 rods wide making an immense labour in cutting a road through for the emigrants last season [ ] we still found the road almost impassable and requiring much labour [ ] the mountains upon each side rise abruptly from 600 to 3000 feet above the bed of the stream [ ] leaving our horses at the foot we ascended to the summit of one which appeared to be about 2000 feet high [ ] we had a prospect limited in most directions by still higher peaks [ ] the country exhibited a broken succession of hills piled on hills, and mountains on mountains in every direction [ ] we returned and met our camp about 4 3/4 miles from where they were encamped in the morning [ ] they were encamped about 2 miles above the kanyon on the left bank of Kanyon Creek [ ] at this place there is a small rivulet which runs down from the mountains [ ] the water pure and cold"
Thomas Bullock back at Brigham's camp:
"July Saturday 17 [ ] the blacksmiths repaired Solomon Chamberlain's Axle Tree [ ] which he had broken last night [ ] when gathered up teams started at 20 to 10 in about one mile turned round a high bold rock to the right following the course of the "Weber River" & camped on the East bank [ ] travelled 2½ miles [ ] the banks are covered with thin tall Cotton Wood and other Trees & Shrubs [ ] in some places scarce possible for men to creep thro' [ ] the Water is very Clear & has some fine speckled trout in it. the brethren caught some fine ones during the afternoon. Warm [ ] clear day [ ] Prest. Young A.P. Rockwood & several others very sick [ ] mosquitoes plenty [ ] about 2 P M H C Kimball W. Richards E T Benson G A Smith John Pack H Egan Dr Richards T Bullock E Snow, & Lorenzo Young & A Carrington ascended a very high & steep hill & prayed to God for the Sick to be healed the Camps to be prospered the Saints to be blessed &c &c [ ] they amused themselves by rolling large rocks down the hills [ ] afterwards Elders Kimball Smith & Egan visit the Kanyon & did not return until 10 at night which caused some uneasiness to the Camp"
