Pioneer Day Countdown: July 16, 1847 (Friday)

Two days ago, on July 14th, the Advance Party (which broke away from the Main Company to prepare a route for the Saints) had travelled through Echo Canyon.  Today, the Main Company reached Echo Canyon as well, two days behind the Advance Party.

Travel became exceedingly difficult as the Saints progressed through the mountain region. The company entered a narrow ravine (Echo Canyon).  Some attempted to travel along the bottom, but that turned out to be very difficult.

Echo Canyon

This is what William Clayton wrote down about Echo Canyon:

"There was a very singular echo in this ravine, the rattling of wagons resembled carpenters hammering at board inside the highest rocks. The report of a rifle resembled a sharp crack of thunder and echoes from rock to rock for some time. The lowing of cattle and braying of mules seemed to be answered beyond the mountains. Music, especially brass instruments, had a very pleasing effect and resembled a person standing inside the rock imitating every note. The echo, the high rocks on the north, high mountains on the south, with the narrow ravine for a road, formed a scenery at once romantic and more interesting than I have ever witnessed."

A wagon owned by Harvey Pierce becomes damaged trying to cross a creek.  Pierce's wagon had to be unloaded and repaired. Solomon Chamberlain's, became unusable when its front axle broke; another wagon was given to him that night (what luck). However, poor guy was still stick with mountain fever.

As the Saints went further into the canyon, William Clayton commented, "the mountains seem to increase in height and come so near together as to barely leave room for a crooked road."

Porter Rockwell, who had been a part of the Advance Party, came back to report they had found the trail of the Donner Party, and expected to reach the top of the mountains that day. The advance party was more than 20 miles ahead.

Afternoon:

Soon, the bottom of the canyon became so narrow, the Saints disbelieved "that a road could ever have been made through."
Many flowers, currant, and elder berries decorated the landscape. Plants becomes so thick and abundant, that Thomas Bullock observed "in some places the pioneers couldn't see two wagons ahead."
The abundance of plants comforted the pioneers about the potential for their new home.

Evening:

The Main Company had travelled 16 miles through the canyon, and "were yet enclosed by high mountains on every side." They set up camp at the first flat area they could find, where grass grew 6-10 feet high.

Brigham Young was worn out from the trip, still recovering from his sickness. Despite Young riding in Woodruff's comfy, mattress laden carriage, the road "was a bad road for the sick to travel."
Wilford Woodruff went fishing at the creek that night, to feed something tasty to the Prophet.

After camp was set, Clayton climbed the mountain slope using both hands and feet. At the top he could see the Weber river (about a mile away), "but in every direction, nothing but ranges of mountains, much higher than the one I was one. It was wild and melancholy," he said.




Source: Knight and Kimball. 111 Days to Zion. Deseret News. Salt Lake City, 1978