Lain had been with Ribera and was therefore official guide.

They went from Sante Fe by way of Abiquiu and the Chama River to the San Juan about where it first meets the north line of New Mexico, and thence across the several tributaries to the head of the Dolores River, which they descended for eleven days.

I am at a loss to exactly follow the route, not having been able to consult either the copy or the original of Escalante's diary.

The party made its way across Grand River, the Book Plateau, White River, and finally to the Green, called the San Buenaventura, which was forded, apparently near the foot of Split-Mountain Canyon.

Here they killed one of the bisons which were numerous in the valley.