Snake river is one of the tributaries of Green river, or rather flowing from the western declivities of the Rocky mountains, it first enters Bear river, then Green river, then the Colorado river, down whose current it flows a distance of more than a thousand miles into the gulf of California.
The encampment at Snake river was five or six hundred miles almost due north from Taos.

West of the Rocky mountains the climate is much more mild than in the same latitudes east of those gigantic ridges.

Though it was mid-winter, and though many snow-storms were to be encountered, Mr.Lee decided to set out immediately on that journey, doubting not that he could readily dispose of his remaining goods to Messrs.

Fitzpatrick and Bridger.
The execution of this enterprise would require a very laborious march; but still one not fraught with much danger from the severity of the cold.
Though there were often treeless prairies, whose bleak expanse they must traverse, all the streams, even the smallest, were fringed with forests.
Suitable precaution would enable them every night to obtain the shelter of some one of these groves.

They were almost certain during the day to obtain all the game they would need.