The Diary of James Field continues:
Fri., 29.- Went about 12 miles to-day, over mountains to which those we had previously crossed were small hills, camping near a little spring in the mountains which affords sufficient water for the use of camp, but our cattle would have been obliged to do without any had it not been for a storm of rain which came on in the evening, the first storm for months. the mountains are covered with small, black, hard, nine-cornered stones, about the size of those used to macadamize a road, and our cattle cringe at every step.
Sat., 30.- Went about 12 miles to-day, over mountains as high as any yet met with, but some of them were grassy without rocks, whilst others were covered with the big round stones so nice to jounce a wagon over, spoken of back towards Fort Hall. We camped upon a small branch and found grass and water both plenty and good, which was what our cattle stood in much need of, as for several days we have had hard roads and bad camps, which has cut down stock lower than at any time. Three or four oxen have laid down in the road and given out every day for the past few days.
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| Yoke of Oxen https://www.gutenberg.org/files/29543/29543-h/29543-h.htm |
Sun., 31.- Went about five miles this morning and camped once more on Malheur river near a peak in the Blue Mountains called Fremont's peak, the highest point of land in this part of the country, and easily distinguished at a great distance by a large conical rock upon its summit, having one perpendicular side to it. Found an excellent encampment again here.
Mond., Sept. 1- Went about five miles, camping again on the Malheur. The road to-day for short turns, sideling places, hard pulls and jolting stones was rather ahead of anything we have yet had in the same distance, but the camping is first rate.
Tues., 2.- Traveled about 15 miles to-day, in a direction but little west of south, camping upon a small branch of the Malheur which puts into the South fork. About four miles of our road this morning rather exceeded anything we have passed over yet for rock, they being both large and sharp, lying in a narrow ravine where there was no shunning them. We got through, however, with only one broken axle-tree and two wagon-tongues, together with some other little fixings, which was really a favorable come-off.
Wed., 3.- Went only about six miles to-day, as we were obliged to put in a new axle-tree. Camped upon the South fork of Malheur again. It is now pretty evident that Meek, the pilot who is leading the company this route instead of the old one, does not intend to fall down to the Columbia via the John Day river at all as he told them on leaving Fort Boise, for we are evidently through the Blue Mountains, and still making a south-west course. It is now said that Meek's intention is to take us over onto the head of the Willamette if he can find a place along the Cascades which will admit of the passage of wagons through, and if not we go down the Deschutes river to the Columbia.
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| The Malheur in Harney County https://landingaday.wordpress.com/tag/juntura-oregon/ |
Thurs., 4.- Went about 18 miles, the latter part of the road being rough and rocky. Camped upon the head of a small branch of the South fork of Malheur. The mountains where we first struck them were naked and perfectly destitute of timber. Near Fremont's peak we began to see some timber upon them, and since passing that point the hills have all had more or less timber upon them, it being generally low cedar, and on reaching the top of the last hill before descending into this hollow, tall pines appeared to crown the hill-tops before us.
From “The Diary of James Field” Willamette Farmer (Portland, OR, Fridays: April 18 – August 1, 1879).
18 Jul 1879 (August 22-September 7)
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