Wednesday, 15th. Started very early, day was exceedingly warm, passed through a gap in a ridge of mountains, came into a high dry plain, traveled some distance into it, saw the form of a high mountain through the smoky atmosphere — reached it, having come about 15 miles — found plenty of water — our animals were nearly given out. We were obliged to go so much further in order to get along with the wagons. We concluded to leave them, and pack as many things as we could.

The high mountain to the west is 10,700-foot Pilot Peak. It lies within Nevada, close to the Utah-Nevada border. It could be seen from a great distance and so became a landmark and a guide to all emigrant parties moving west in this part of the country.