This consisted of the carts with the bulk of the supplies and about half of the men.

The other part consisted of a mounted party with packhorses and the howitzer.

Fremont, of course, took charge of the latter party, for, traveling light as it did, he was able to make detours covering country he wished to explore, always, however, using the other train as a base of supplies.

The course of the other party was generally along the emigrant road to Oregon.
After crossing the Rocky Mountains, Fremont went south with his party to explore Great Salt Lake.

Thence he returned north again to the emigrant road, which then followed in a general way the Snake or Lewis River to the Columbia, with the exception of the great bend in northeastern Oregon which was traversed by a shorter route.