Oct.6-13 Travel along Humboldt. Paiute raiders wound or drive off many cattle. Charles Stanton returns from Sutter's Fort with seven mules packed with supplies, assisted by Luis and Salvador , two of Sutter's Indian vaqueros. His companion, William McCutchen, has fallen ill and remains at the fort. William Pike is accidentally shot and killed.
Snow begins to fall.
The other emigrants go on ahead to the lake. Reed's exhausting journey ends at Sutter's Fort. There he meets McCutchen, now recovered, and the two men begin preparations to go back for their families. There are various attempts to cross, but snow thwarts their efforts. They retreat to the eastern end of the lake, where there is level ground, timber, and one existing cabin.