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Journal of Western Travel
by John McTurk Gibson
edited by Weldon Hoppe
June 16th, 1859 -- Still among the Black Hills, trying to get past Laramie's Peak, now 35 miles south. Saw some pretty little vales environed by mountains, and fringed with fir and dwarf cedar, as well as small growths of a species of timber indigenous to the locality, we have also seen some splendid springs, how delicious the cool water tastes, after being nearly suffocated with the heat and dust. The creeks too roll over beautiful gravelly beds, and small groves of timber, mostly fir, dot the mountains far and near. We have got ahead of a large train of provision wagons bound for Salt Lake. There is still another about two miles ahead, and I must now conclude as there is considerable of a thunder storm brewing over us.Powell
Travelled eighteen miles. We have had some hilly roads. We crossed little Cotton Wood Creek this morning and Horse Shoe Creek this afternoon. It is about two rods wide and ten inches in depth. We have been travelling all week in sight of Laramie Peak. We are about opposite it at this time. It is thirty five miles south of the road. We can see snow on it quite plane. We are in camp by a fine pine grove on a little noll and plenty of good water. This day has been quite warm. The rocks here are almost a blood red. Kactus or prickly pears grow on this river from Kearney up in great abundance. This part of the country is very much broken with a sand soil. Pines are scattered over the country, save on the bottoms. Other kinds grow there but little timber grows on these bottoms.