Pioneer Day Countdown: July 20, 1847 (Tuesday)

All three parts of the Pioneer Company (the Advance, Main, and Brigham's parties) were now officially traveling through the Wasatch Mountains.

The Main body started late today because of major wagon repairs from yesterday's journey down Hogsback. The Saint's made a coal pit for the Blacksmith, Burr Frost, so he could fix the wheels of George A. Smith's wagon.

If we walked to East Canyon Reservoir today (with paved roads), it would take 8 hours: 29 minutes.
This also gives you an idea of how close they were. Our present-roads follow their trail closely.

While making the morning preparations, men from Orson Pratt's Advance group rode into camp looking for stray cattle. "They said the road is very rough from here," William Clayton wrote.

The main body moved out (the trail they followed is beneath the East Canyon Reservoir), but they left behind Henry G. Sherwood, Benjamin Franklin Dewey, and James Case. They had all come down sick with mountain fever. The Saints couldn't delay any longer, for need to plant crops. It was already late in the season, so they had to leave the wagons behind until they got better.

While the wagons struggled through the canyon, Clayton went ahead on foot nearly four miles "and picked many gooseberries, nearly ripe. They are very plentiful on this bottom."

Despite the work of the Advance Party, travel was still laborious and slow.
"The road over which we have traveled is through an uneven gap between high mountains and is exceedingly rough and crooked," Clayton wrote. The Saints had a difficult time finding a place to rest, because the canyon was full of willow groves, inhibiting any open spaces.

The willow trees were a real obstacle. Over twenty-feet high, and tangled with surrounding trees, the willows were relentless. "Although there has been a road cut through (by Pratt's group), it is scarcely possible to travel without tearing the wagon covers."

The route was the most crooked they had ever seen. Even where the willows had been cut down, their stumps continued to make it "very severe on the wagons." Bullock agreed  it "was a crooked and rough day's journey." To add to the difficulty, they were forced to cross a river 11 times.

There were many springs in the canyon, but the Saints were doubtful about the water quality. The canyon also had many swamps, which the Saints attempted to cover with Willow logs.

"We have got along today without much damage, which is somewhat favorable, for the road is awful...truly a wild looking place," Clayton said.

The Main body travelled 7 miles that day, and camped near the foot of Big Mountain.

The Advance Party:

The Advance Party, led by Orson Pratt, climbed Big Mountain today, about 9 miles ahead of the Main company. They were moving very slowly, because the road became very difficult. Their job was to smooth it out, and make it easier. Tomorrow, two scouts of their group will enter the Valley.

From Big Mountain to the Valley. A little less than 6 hours walking on paved roads.

Brigham's Party:

They broke camp early in the morning (around 5:30 a.m.) so as "to travel in the cool of the morning," Howard Egan wrote. Brigham Young's health continually improved, allowing endurance and making travel easier.

Heber C. Kimball scouted ahead for a campsite, and met the three sick wagons left behind by the main body. The rear party joined these wagons, having travelled 12 miles that day, and camped for the night.