[William Clayton Journal] Morning cloudy and cool. We pursued our journey at a quarter past 7. At 1 1/4 miles rose a very steep low hill narrow but very steep on both sides. 1/2 a mile farther crossed the Bear River a very rapid stream about 6 rods wide and 2 feet deep, bottom full of large cobblestones, water clear banks lined with willows and a little timber, good grass, many strawberry vines and the soil looks pretty good. About 1/2 mile beyond the ford proceed over another ridge again, descended into and travelled up a beautiful narrow bottom covered with grass and fertile but no timber. 4 3/4 miles beyond Bear River passed a small spring of good clear cold water. At ten minutes before 12, halted for noon in the same narrow bottom near a ridge of high rough rocks to the right having travelled 9 3/4 miles. There is scarcely any wagon track too be seen only a few wagons of Hastings company having come this route. The balance went the other road and many of them perished in the snow it being late in the season and much time was lost quarreling who would improve the roads &c . . .
[source: George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://amzn.to/william-clayton]
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