The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-09-30
FROM MINNESOTA TO OREGON.

Correspondence of the n Y. Commercial Advertiser.
DALLEs Cry, Oregon. June l6, 1859,
AS you learned from my last letter from
Faribault, Minnesota, l left that point for
Frazer River on the Goth OF July last. At
Fort Garry and Fort Edmonton | wrote
again, though there was no certainty that
you would receive the letters. Up to the
latter point, which is Hudson's Bay Fort,
the main post of the Company on the Sas-
katchewan River, we experienced no difficult
ty in our progress. At that place, however,
it became necessary to take a guide, both
on account of its being the last point before
entering the passes of the Rocky Mountains,
and because there was no trail any farther.
We had considerable difficulty in procuring
guide, as it was late in the season (OctO-
Der 49, but finally succeeded in hiring a
half breed named Rossette, to take US across
the Rocky Mountains by the Kotonais
Pass, (about 800 miles from Fort Edmon-
ton, in southwesterly direction,) to Hud-
sons Bay Company's post on the other side
of the mountains. For this we agreed to
pay him 94O-G2O down and the remain.
ing EGO when we reached the Fort on the
other side.
We were told by every one that it was
dangerous undertaking to cross the Rocky
Mountains at this season of the year, bat as
we learned, that if we did not cross this
season, we would be compelled to wait here
until the following August, we made up our
minds to attempt it. Three of our party
gave up the undertaking, and entered the
service of the Hudson Bay Company. The
rest of us-ten in number, started on the
10th of October. On the the 25th we came
in sight of the Rocky Mountains. They
were indeed formidable looking obstacles.
That evening our guide tried hard to make
us give up our purpose of crossing that sea-
son. He recounted the most dismal tales of
Indians and hunters being lost in the
passes of the mountains during the winter
months, and assured US that the probabilities
were strongly in favor of our all losing our
lives should, we persevere in our present rash
determination. All this however Though we
subsequently learned that he was only telling
the truth,) fell upon our deaf ears, and the
consequence was that the next morning, he
abandoned US on desolate prairie without
the semblance of a track, and full two
hundred miles from the nearest abode of
white men. This, however did not dlscour-
age US, and we took straight course for
the mountains.
On the 3lst of the month we encountered
some friendly Indians of the Assineboin
tribe, from whom we procured guide
who for gun, some blankets and various
other articles, agreed to take US through the
"Sinclair Pass near the entrance of
which we then were. The " Sinclair Pass
is about one hundred and twenty-five miles
to the north of the " kottonais Pass, the
one by which we had originally intehded to
cross.
On the End of November we entered the
mountains and for several days encountered
no snow. We then began to have very bad
weather, high peaks to cross and deep snow,
but we surmounted all difficulties, and on
the 9th of the month, came out, las we all
thought,) on the other side. The next day
the guide left us according to agreement,
having previously shown us trail which he
said.w ould lead US in three days to the noun
tain Fort of the Kottonais." We trav-
eled on, and the next day to our great dis
may, saw drove of Buffalo; by which we
knew that we were still on the Eastern side
of the montans. To add to our discomfort,
it commenced showing heavily and was soon
from one to two feet in depth. Three days
from the time he left US, to our great sur
prise, our guide came back to US. For this
/ have never been able to account 4; under
his guidance we pursued our travels, and on
the 10Th of the month re-entered the noun
tains at the " Kottonais Pass, our original
destination.
On the second day we ascend the first
peak, There are two peaks to be crossed in
this pass) and camped on the summit. The
cold was intense, and the snow from ten to
fifteen feet in depth. Wehad to keep guard
over the animals all night, to prevent them
from going back again to the valley we had
left, which was dreadful work. We could
only stand for about quarter of an hour
at time. Morning, however, came at last,
and with the earliest glimpse of daylight
we started. The wind was blowing ire
menduously, and the drifting snow nearly
blinded US. With great difficulty we man.
aged to reach the top of the peak by about
10 o'clock, when we commenced the descent
This was comparatively easy, though rather
headlong work, as it was terribly steep. The
the level valley below, when by contrast the
weather was like summer. We wandered
about this valley till the oath, when our
guide left US once more, and this time finally
We were now in pleasant predicament in
valley, surrounded on every side by noun
tains covered with snow without any track,
and about four feet of snow on the level. We
determined however to proceed, and the next
day commenced the ascent of mountain,
where we thought we had discovered signs
of an old pack trail
About four o'clock in the afternoon, we
arrived within about half mile of the sum-
NIT, and myself and two Others went on
ahead to see what were the prospects for the
descent. Never shall forget the mingled
sensations experienced, as the magnificent,
but to us heart sickening prospect, burst
upon our view We stood upon the edge
OF perpendicular precipice, hundreds Of
feet in depth, the snow on which we stood
being SO deep, that good sized pine trees
resembled brush, only their tops being
visible while in every direction, far as the
eve could reach, nothing was to be seen but
snow capped mountains with their interest
ing valleys running in every direction. The
only thing that seemed to hold out the
slightest hope was river in valley far,
far below. This we agreed must run out of
the mountains on the western side, and it