Henry Allyn, July 15, 1853

"...we commenced again to climb the everlasting hills, as the valley was too crooked. We traveled upwards about 3 ½ miles,, part of the way very steep and then were but half way to the summit, but the road took down a ravine toward the valley and was very rocky, sideling and many short pitches. While going down this defile we pass some of the most splendid springs I ever saw. The ravine that we started down soon became a large creek, being augmented by many springs. WE continued down this creek till the valley of Portesnith (Port Neuf) opened before us... ."

"Journal of Henry Allyn, 1853," Transactions of the Forty-ninth Annual Reunion of the Oregon Pioneer Association, Portland, June 16, 1921 (Portland, 1924), pp.372-435.

Amelia Hadley, 1851

"Saturday July 5 Traveled 25 miles to day. In the fore part of the day had some verry hilly road. Excellent spring of water by the road side ozeing from the mountains. There is an insect which I shall call a cricket but some resembles a grass hopper they are as large as your thumb, and everry bush & shrub is covered as full as it will hold, the coller of a black cricket The indians gather them and dry them and pulverize them to put in soups. They wanted us to buy some. Camp to night 11 miles east of fort hall, on a fine stream called Port neuf made up from fine springs, good water, willows for fuel, poor grass, being very dry."

Big Springs, 1999

John Ewing Howell, 1845

"Aug 7, Thursday. Trav. up creek and cross Mountains which divides Bear R waters from Lewis R and camped on the waters of the latter after passing groves of small cottonwood and pine and high mountains nearly or quite bald and some quite green and beautiful places covered with snow. plenty of good springs and running water."

View toward Ross Fork, 1999

Directions: One must obtain permission to visit the reservation. Contact Shoshone Bannock Tribes at P.O. Box 306 Fort Hall, Idaho 83203

Must see: Fort Hall Museum. Guided tours of the trail area on the reservation must be arranged; contact Shoshone Bannock Tribes at P.O. Box 306 Fort Hall, Idaho 83203

Current Observation/Journal Entry:

"We travel onto the reservation with Red, our guide. It is astonishing to see the pristine state of the flora and fauna in this area. We heard coyotes talking when we first met with Red. Now the vehicles—and drivers—are challenged by the rough, washed-out dirt road we take. At 10:25 a.m. it is 61 degrees and we are heading north. The bunchgrass or timothy grass is very abundant; Larry describes timothy grass as being like wild hay. There are many aspen groves; the wildflowers are knee high or better, and the understory is so incredibly thick! The skunk cabbage is everywhere and is very pungent— hence the name!"