They were successful beyond their highest expectations.

As they were to carry their furs for sale to Taos, which was on the west side of the mountains, they set out, laden with their goods, to cross the wide and rocky range.

It was slow work threading these defiles, and it required a journey of several days.
One afternoon having travelled for hours through a very dreary and barren ravine, in which they had found no game, they halted two hours before sunset.

Carson, while his two companions were arranging the camp, set off with his rifle in pursuit of supper.

He had wandered about a mile from the camp, when he came upon the fresh tracks of some elk.