{No Turning Back -part XIII}
July 14th, 1847 Pacific Springs
Pa rode up to me today and said, "Well, Callie Jo, we crossed it!"
"Crossed what?" I asked. I had no idea what he was talking about.
"The divide." he said, "From here on all waters move west into the Pacific."
"But when, Pa?" I figured you'd be able to tell, like we'd cross a mountain or somethin'.
"Just crossed it a coupla minutes ago." Pa said, then explained," 'Member how we climbed Rocky Ridge the other day?"
I nodded.
"Well, since then, we been slowly climbin' uphill, to where you never knew we'd crossed the divide. But here we are."
Seems odd to me how a pass can just kinda sneak up like that.
We camped tonight at Pacific Springs. Pa says this is the last good water for about ten miles. We spent time tonight filling up buckets, kegs, and canteens.
July 15th, 1847
The ground is all sandy now, and even though I know it'll probably cause quicksand, we need rain bad.
We passed water today and I asked Pa about it saying I thought there wasn't gonna be any water. "There ain't." he said, "None fit to drink, anyhow. That's alkali water, Callie, and 'less you want cholera again, you stay clear of it."
July 16th, 1847
Today we passed the Parting of the Ways. This is where a trail breaks off to the right and crosses a rough patch. They call it the Sublette Cutoff. It is shorter, but Pa says the trail is worse, and it isn't fast-moving. Plus the main trail, which we're taking, leads to Fort Bridger.
July 18th, 1847
Rained for a little in the night. Still feel dry and parched.
Pa rode up to me today and said, "Well, Callie Jo, we crossed it!"
"Crossed what?" I asked. I had no idea what he was talking about.
"The divide." he said, "From here on all waters move west into the Pacific."
"But when, Pa?" I figured you'd be able to tell, like we'd cross a mountain or somethin'.
"Just crossed it a coupla minutes ago." Pa said, then explained," 'Member how we climbed Rocky Ridge the other day?"
I nodded.
"Well, since then, we been slowly climbin' uphill, to where you never knew we'd crossed the divide. But here we are."
Seems odd to me how a pass can just kinda sneak up like that.
We camped tonight at Pacific Springs. Pa says this is the last good water for about ten miles. We spent time tonight filling up buckets, kegs, and canteens.
July 15th, 1847
The ground is all sandy now, and even though I know it'll probably cause quicksand, we need rain bad.
We passed water today and I asked Pa about it saying I thought there wasn't gonna be any water. "There ain't." he said, "None fit to drink, anyhow. That's alkali water, Callie, and 'less you want cholera again, you stay clear of it."
July 16th, 1847
Today we passed the Parting of the Ways. This is where a trail breaks off to the right and crosses a rough patch. They call it the Sublette Cutoff. It is shorter, but Pa says the trail is worse, and it isn't fast-moving. Plus the main trail, which we're taking, leads to Fort Bridger.
July 18th, 1847
Rained for a little in the night. Still feel dry and parched.
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