After a long and wearisome journey, attended by much suffering for
the lack of food, they came in sight of the Sierra Nevada Mountains,
which were seen to be covered with snow. The men were in a sorry
plight. The provisions were nearly gone; they could not turn back,
and there seemed but two alternatives before them: to push on through
the mountains or remain where they were and starve to death. Such
men were not the ones to fold their hands and lie down in helpless
despair. Accordingly, they made their preparations for the terrible
venture.

The snow was so deep that it was impossible to get forward without
the aid of snowshoes. Devoting themselves to the manufacture of these
indispensable articles, a few were sent ahead to learn how far it
was necessary to break a path for the animals. After a laborious
passage, it was found that nine miles would have to be prepared in
that fashion. Carson was with this advance and when they halted,
he saw in the distance the green Sacramento Valley. Although nearly
twenty years had passed since he visited that section, he recognized
it at once. Away beyond towered the white peaks of the Coast Range.
Carson was the only man in the party who really knew where they
were.

This passage of Fremont and his men through the Sierra Nevada
Mountains is one of the most extraordinary achievements in American
history. Carson himself took such a prominent part in it, that it
seems only just that Fremont's thrilling account should be quoted.

"The people were unusually silent; for every man knew that our
enterprise was hazardous, and the issue doubtful.