, 1877-02-17
Chr alprthrn Star.
SATURDAY. FEBRUARY II, 1917.
Description Ofa Trip from Col
OratiO 10 Washington 'Ecr-
ritory via Southern Cali
IOrnii.

Mr.. T. v Nichols arrived here from
Lake City, Colorado, on Christmas night.
The route he came, and hls experiences
are enough different from those who
come by the usual travelled routes, to
Justify us in submitting his diary Of the
trip from Colorado to the sea to our
readers. 1t will probably rcmina many
old pioneers Of the way they came over
land before railroads were constructed
west of the Mississippi.
Lake City. Colorado, is situated in the
midst Of very rough, mountainous,
mining district, OF the San Juan noun
tains, a spur of the main range OF the
Rocky mountains, the main range beng
some fifteen miles distant. The place
being some three hundred miles south
west of Denver, Colorado.
The party consisted of T. V. and f.
Nichols, brothers, with their cousin,
Geo Nichols. Tley left Lake City Col.
the 2sth day of last September, intend
ing to go to Salt Lake City TO winter,
and come from there here this spring,
but failing to find work to suit in Utah
they came right through without stop
ping starting on foo: with two pack
animals, they made twenty-five miles
through good grazing country, down
to the Gunnison river the first day.
Sept. 2Sth. Made twenty five miles to
camp on Simaroon creek fine grazing
country, well watercd, grass good and
mountains covered with timber.
Sept. Goth. Made twenty miles,
crossing the divide between the Sima-
room creek and the Uncompogrie river {;
camping near the Ute Indian Agency /;
grass good :; cottonwood growing along
the streams.
Sept. 30th. Made twenty-five miles
down this river valley, striking the Gun
nison wagon road; intended following
1t through to the settlements in the Salt
Lake basin, but found rtho road worry
dim. Poor valley for grass, but plenty
of sage brush and cactus.
Oct. 1st, 1876. Made twenty miles
across divide to Gunnison river; bot.
toms covered with grass and cottonwood.
Here caught all the fish we wanted.
Oct. I'd. Crossed divide of twenty
miles, and camped on u small creek
country barren no water on the divide.
Oct. 3D.. Crossed divide cf fifteen
miles to Grand river crossed by good
ford. Good country along the river bot
tom desert on each side
Oct. 4th. Made twenty miles down
this river valley.
Oct. 9th. Made thirty miles around a
canyon and cnmped on the river. Coun
try very rough.
Oct 9th. Made fifteen miles and
campcd on the Grand caught plenty of
fish.
Oct 7h. Travelled ten miles and
struck the Grand again, then left it for
the last time, starting across the sixty
mile divide between the Grand and
Green rivers made thirty miles to the
first water after leaving the Grand, mlk
ing forty miles Travelled that day, reach
ing camp about 10 o'clock in the even
ing.
Oct. 9Th. Made only about ten miles
and camp; water very poor and feed
scarce.
Oct 9th. Made twenty miles across
desert to Green river, large river with
good grass for the animals and banks
lined with large cottonwoods
Oct. 10th. Made twenty miles over a
barren, sage brush, cactus country {;
alkali water.
Oct. llth. Made twenty-five miles
over a high ridge First view Of the
Wasatch mountains. First days rain
on the trip
Oct. 18th. Made ten miles through n
heavy rain and deep mud to Muddy
; creek guches all full of muddy water.
Oct. 18th. Left this creek and camp.
ed on the next stream, two miles distant,
mud bound.
r Oct. l4lh Made ten miles through
mud and rain clothes etc. wet through.
Oct. 18th. Rain hnd washed out all
trocps ,f rho tr,il ,,nrn cnu,nnlIo1 IN