"The snow deepened rapidly, and it soon became necessary to break
a road. For this service, a party of ten was formed, mounted on
the strongest horses; each man in succession opening the road on
foot, or on horseback, until himself and his horse became fatigued,
when he stepped aside; and, the remaining number passing ahead, he
took his station in the rear.

"The camp had been all the day occupied in endeavoring to ascend
the hill, but only the best horses had succeeded; the animals,
generally, not having sufficient strength to bring themselves
up without the packs; and all the line of road between this and
the springs was strewed with camp stores and equipage, and horses
floundering in snow. I therefore immediately encamped on the ground
with my own mess, which was in advance, and directed Mr. Fitzpatrick
to encamp at the springs, and send all the animals, in charge of
Tabeau, with a strong guard, back to the place where they had been
pastured the night before. Here was a small spot of level ground,
protected on one side by the mountain, and on the other sheltered
by a little ridge of rock. It was an open grove of pines, which
assimilated in size to the grandeur of the mountain, being frequently
six feet in diameter.

"Tonight we had no shelter, but we made a large fire around the
trunk of one of the huge pines; and covering the snow with small
boughs, on which we spread our blankets, soon made ourselves
comfortable. The night was very bright and clear, though the
thermometer was only at 10 degrees. A strong wind which sprang up
at sundown, made it intensely cold; and this was one of the bitterest
nights during the journey.