Tuesday, 15th. There was so sudden a change from cool to cold that we were not comfortable in our best apparel. I do not remember that I ever have experienced weather so cold at this season of the year — traveled about 16 miles.

I imagine a Midwesterner would say, “Welcome to the Great Plains, John, where the weather extremes mean that there is never a dull day.” Temperatures can go from oppressively hot to bone-chilling cold in a matter of hours.

By “best apparel” I think Bidwell means not, “our fanciest duds,” but their warmest clothes.