Hanington’s Cache, January 28th, 1875.
My Dear Edward, —
On the 27th Alec and Johnny, with two trains of dogs, left to bring up the sled I had cached at the mouth of the river. It snowed nearly all day and camp was most miserable in consequence. This morning we had a consultation and concluded that the Stewart Lake trains would fail to appear, so as we are bound to get through this pass, we set to work to make a toboggan to be drawn by ourselves. We had it in a good state about 5 P. M. when in came Alec and Johnny with trains, and with them three trains from Stewart's Lake. A very agreeable surprise to us, I can tell you, trains loaded with salmon and drawn by good looking dogs. The drivers are Hassiack, Ahkho, and Tsayass, smart looking fellows. So we are now in good trim and high spirits. We had letter from Bovil, who reports that the pugilistic Indian came to him and asked to be forgiven, so they are now friends and happy. Alec met the trains at the mouth of the river arid they made good time up here; I am delighted at the arrival, as I never was fond of hauling a toboggan through four or five feet of snow. Jarvis looks happy and relieved in mind.
I'll turn in now and finish the night thus.
Yours,
C. F. H.
The Fork, Camp No. 9, 30th Jan., 1875.
My Dear Edward, —
We spent the 29th in packing the sleds and getting everything ready for a start. We have now 5 trains of 19 dogs. Tiger was shot on the 29th, as his lameness prevented him from doing anything but eat grub. We had about one month’s grub when we came to examine it; that is one month’s full rations for men and dogs, but we won’t use lull rations, so it must last longer. We started bright and early this morning, and found the track, for the most part, drifted full, sometimes it would be visible and then we made good time, the new dogs doing very well.
We had to leave some bacon and beans in my cache, the dogs not being able to take all of it. We did 18 miles to-day, and our camp is at the Forks to-night. If this be the place meant by Quaw when he said 3 days’ journey to the Forks, we must have walked very slowly. I believe though that he knows nothing about the country. The North and South branches are here about the same width, 200 feet. Our camp is between the two.
Camp No. 12, Feb. 3rd, 1875.
Dear Edward, —
We followed Quaw’s instructions, and took the North Branch. On the 31st we had a blinding snowstorm, which filled the track completely and didn't surprise us by doing so. The weather has been pretty cold and the travelling bad now. Took an observation at noon on 1st and made Lat. 54 degees 26’ North. On that day Sam’s shoulders were so much galled that the beast couldn't work and was turned out to run; on the 2nd we came to the conclusion that this sort of work will kill the clogs completely, so Jarvis started off with one train and throe men, while Alec, Johnny and I spent the day waiting for a track to be made. In this country a track made in the coldest weather will with one night’s frost harden so that it will boar dogs and loaded sleds easily; hence the two parties. I enjoyed the rest very much and did some mending on trowsers and shirts, duplicates of which I have none. This morning I had the camp up long before day and we had to wait for light to show us the dogs. We made good time over a capital track, but it wasn't much use, 9 miles up we found Jarvis making a portage around "falls as high as a tree," so this afternoon we all were at that and got through about 5. The portage is 3 miles long and after passing the falls we have some very bad canon to go through. The river is open for the most part, and we have only a narrow ledge of ice and snow to make a track on. On the right rises perpendicular rook 400 or 500 feet high, on our left is the river roaring and rushing 20 feet below. This ledge was formed when the water was high and when the river subsided it was left. High water mark is here some 60 feet above our heads and it must be a grand looking place at high water.
To-night we are all in camp here, where we returned from portage building.
We begin to believe that Quaw is not a liar, sure this fall is as "high as a tree" but his days must have been short.
Yours, C. F. H.
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