There was a snow-capped peak just to the south of it and the pass, now apparently exactly west of the lake camp, seemed to the Jayhawkers easy to reach.

Their wills were strong enough and they were running over with determination and energy enough to carry them over any plain, no matter how dry or barren, or over any mountain no matter how rugged and steep.
Five days they traveled, without finding water, and small supply they took along had been consumed.

For lack of water they could not eat or sleep.

The oxen gathered round the little fire and seemed to beg for water, they had no cud to chew unless it was the cud of disappointment.
The range of mountains they had been aiming for still seemed far away and the possible show for reaching it seemed very poor indeed, and the prospect of any water hole between them and the mountains poorer yet.
Hope was pretty near gone.

Martins mess unyoked their oxen from the wagons, put some small packs on their own backs, and loaded some upon the backs of the oxen, and turned south toward the nearest snowy mountain they could see, the same one towards which the Bennett party steered from the lake camp.
The Doty party kept their courage longer and kept on straight ahead for another day, and then camped, almost without hope.