Author Archives: nancyleek

Tuesday, 20th. Traveled about 18 miles in a circuitous direction, first west and then south. Country was extremely dry and dusty — no game seen but a few antelope — encamped on Big Sandy, having come about 18 miles. Or, … Continue reading →

Monday, 19th. 15 miles took us on to Big Sandy, which is likewise a branch of Green river — 2 buffalo were killed. They are roughly at the halfway point of their journey. They have been traveling three months, and … Continue reading →

Sunday, 18th. Left Sweet Water this morning, course SW. Crossed the divide which separates the water of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and after a travel of 20 miles reached Little Sandy, a branch of Green river — 1 buffalo … Continue reading →

Saturday, 17th. Traveled about 5 miles — still on Sweet Water. Not all days are exciting. Plenty of days on the trail were humdrum — travel a few miles, hunt for game, try to preserve some meat, take care of … Continue reading →

Friday, 16th. Traveled about 10 miles and encamped opposite the Wind River mountains where we were in full view of many lofty peaks glittering with eternal snow and frost under the blaze of a July sun. The trail may have … Continue reading →

Thursday, 15th. As many of the company had articles of traffic which they wished to dispose of at Green river, a subscription was raised to recompense any who would go and find the trappers. John Gray started in pursuit of … Continue reading →

Wednesday, 14th. Company engaged in hunting and curing meat. Another brief entry. Jimmy John reported in his journal that they killed ten buffalo. It sounds like they are accumulating plenty of jerky, but it won’t last them very long. They … Continue reading →

Since John Bidwell did not make a separate journal entry for this day, I will substitute an incident he related in his 1891 dictation. This happened somewhere along the journey — we don’t know just when or where. I remember … Continue reading →