Those who had been good hunters and had thrown away their rifles as useless burdens, now began to look at hills before them and think that game might be found in them, as well as water.

There were only one or two guns in the whole party, They thought that this must surely be the edge of the great desert they had crossed, and only the snow range before them could be the obstacle that separated them from Los Angeles.
One day from here would bring them to the edge of the snow, and they debated as to the best course to pursue.

Some of them were fearful they could not cross the snow with the oxen, for it seemed to be quite deep.
The best place to cross seemed directly west of them.

South was a higher peak, and to the north it was surely impassible.

There seemed to be a faint sign of a trail from this point towards the lowest point in the snow mountains.