These mountains give rise, not merely to the Wind or Bighorn River, but to several branches of the Yellowstone and the Missouri on the east, and of the Columbia and Colorado on the west; thus dividing the sources of these mighty streams.
For five succeeding days, Mr.Hunt and his party continued up the course of the Wind River, to the distance of about eighty miles, crossing and recrossing it, according to its windings, and the nature of its banks; sometimes passing through valleys, at other times scrambling over rocks and hills.

The country in general was destitute of trees, but they passed through groves of wormwood, eight and ten feet in height, which they used occasionally for fuel, and they met with large quantities of wild flax.
The mountains were destitute of game; they came in sight of two grizzly bears, but could not get near enough for a shot; provisions, therefore, began to be scanty.

They saw large flights of the kind of thrush commonly called the robin, and many smaller birds of migratory species; but the hills in general appeared lonely and with few signs of animal life.

On the evening of the 14th September, they encamped on the forks of the Wind or Bighorn River.

The largest of these forks came from the range of Wind River Mountains.
The hunters who served as guides to the party in this part of their route, had assured Mr.Hunt that, by following up Wind River, and crossing a single mountain ridge, he would come upon the head waters of the Columbia.