With the earliest spring he again directed his footsteps to the country of the Utahs in the remote north.

He was successful in trapping, and as the heat of summer came, he again turned his steps, with well laden mules, to Fort Robidoux.

Here he found, to his disappointment, that beaver fur had greatly deteriorated in value.

His skins would scarcely bring him enough to pay for the trouble of taking them.

This was caused mainly by the use of silk instead of fur, throughout Europe and America, in the manufacture of hats.
Kit Carson saw at a glance, that his favorite occupation was gone; that he and the other trappers would be compelled to seek some other employment.
In company with five men of a decidedly higher order than the common run of trappers, he struck for the head waters of Arkansas river.