Reports of explorations and surveys, to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean: Vol. 1, Pt. 2

ITINERARY OF THE ROUTE FROM FORT VANCOUVER TO FORT DALLES.
October 15.-Trail and country like those of yesterday-not quite so good;
crossed the river twice; camp on a high bank; grass pretty good -..
October 16.-The valley being very narrow and'thickly wooded to-day, the trail
is worse. It passes over several high and stony spurs; follows the bIed of the
stream in places; crosses the river four times; camp in a low bottom surrounded
by mountains; grass poor; trail bad.............
October 17.-Camp opposite Colville. Trail passes over one high, steep ridge,
then over a high, rolling, and timbered country, to the Columbia; cross the Nehoialpitkwu once; trail better than yesterday; scarcely any grass to be found.
October 1S.-Crossed the Columbia with all our animals and baggage in perfect
safety; camped on a level plateau half a mile above the crossing; good grass and
wood.......
October 22.-To camp Schlowskan. Left Columbia valley behind Fort Colville;
ascended the valley of Mill creek; followed that valley; crossed the main creek
twice, by deep fords; crossed and camped upon a large branch; camp in the open
woods, with fair grass; trail excellent.........-.
October 23. To camp Kitsemawhep. Keep to the valley; the trail crosses
some low spurs, and is in places rather boggy; on the whole, it is good. Crossed
one very bad branch about a mile before reaching camp; repaired an old bridge
for the pack-animals; camped on the main stream, which is narrow and swimming;
crossed the packs in a canoe; "swam" the animals.....
October 24.-To camp Loichin. Heavy snow-storm during the last night and
this day; kept the open, boggy valley for one and a half mile, then entered the open
pine woods, and passed over rolling country; camped on the edge of a small open
valley; animals suffered for want of grass, it being covered with snow; no water;
used melted snow..-.-.. —
October 25.-To Chunakane Mission. Passed through a rolling country, covered
with open pines, for nine miles; then entered the open and level valley of the Chunakane, and followed it down to the Old Mission; trail excellent. Animals here
picked a little grass. Crossed several small streams to-day
October 26.-To camp Helse-de-lite. Passed through rolling country, covered
with open pine woods; crossed the Spokane river by a good but winding ford....
Ascended from the valley by a ravine, and came out upon the Spokane plain;
first two miles through open pine-the rest over an open, rolling country; passed
one small lake, on left of trail; camp in a deep and narrow valley, with good
grass on the plateau........................
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October 30.-To Sul-ilt-kwu. Ascended from the valley of our camp to the
plateau. Pass over a high rolling country, with occasional ravines and narrow
strips of pine timber. Cross a very deep andboggy stream...............
Travel over perfectly open and slightly rolling country; pass over a rocky ridge
near camp; camp on a small running stream, with good grass and poor wood....
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November 1.-To camp Sin-sic-hon-iltn. Passing over an undulating country,
covered with good grass, and broken by long, swelling ridges. In places the
ground is covered with lava; and mnany small, circular ponds occur. Pass by a
long lake..........................................................
Country as before, without the ponds; camp on a small stream; good grass in
the vicinity; good fire-wood; trail very excellent...
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