There was no water to be had; our camp kettle had been left at the fort, and through my stupidity the cup had become useless, therefore we were obliged to eat the icy snow or endure the thirst.

No new snow had yet fallen in this high altitude although it was now nearing the end of October.

These mountains were then heavily covered with pine and fir but the timber was not large.

In some places where the snow had melted away, short green grass was found quite close to great banks of snow.
At about twelve o'clock we reached the summit of the great Uinta range, and I, being a little in advance of my still mute companion, halted to take a survey of the field before me.

The top of the range here is bare of timber and there was no snow.