They all guessed it to be at least fifty miles to the base of the great snow mountain before them, and what there was between no one could tell, for there were hills and valleys between.

Leaving the little spring their course led first up a small canon, and when they reached the summit of the ridge a small valley covered with sage brush was before them, the most fertile spot they had seen for a long time.

The descent to this valley was through another canon which was filled with large boulders for much of the way, and over these it seemed almost impossible to get the cattle.

They had seen no water since leaving the little stream, and the plain they were now approaching seemed thirty miles wide, with no signs of streams or springs.

However just at the foot of the canon they found a small water hole, but the water was so salt that even the oxen refused to drink it.
They decided to make a push across the plain and endeavor to reach the other side in two days, and they knew there could be no water on its even expanse.