the United States. California

you are: the United States

As winter of 1848 got demobilise by this time from army Fremont has acted in the fourth expedition. Overall objective Fremonta was to reach California where it has bought to itself(himself) the earth and where intended to lodge. At the same time he achieved railway construction on the West and hoped to find for it convenient pass in mountains from verhovev the Rio-grandee-del-norte - approximately at 37th parallel. To get acquainted with conditions in the worst season, it, contrary to all advisers, has made expedition in the winter. Leaving Pueblo, it through pass Robidu has passed mountains Sangre-de-Kristo and left to sources of Rio Grande. Behind them mountains San Juans which seemed impassable rose. Fremont has got to very dangerous position which it has very figuratively described in one of letters to the wife, soon after that the written:

' We tried to climb up ridge top, but snow all became deeper and deeper; in four or five days we left on those naked ranges that rise over bezlesnoj district and form a watershed between Atlantic and Silent oceans. On these naked rocks almost storms and furious winds all the winter long storm. At the first attempt to pass through a range we were driven away by snowstorm [clouds of dry snow pouderie-driven by a furious wind], and we had to recede, and ten or twelve persons have freezed to themselves who the person, who hands, who feet. Our conductor [Bill William] has not frozen nearly to death, and round fires the fallen mules laid many. Snow all continued to go. Next day we have done to ourselves wooden tools and, having punched a trench in snow, have crossed a range, despite snowstorm, and at once on an edge of the nearest wood have set up camp. Our trace reminded a way of the receding and broken army: saddles and vjuki, clothes and the fallen mules everywhere rolled. The proceeding blizzard has absolutely paralysed us and has suspended any further advancement. We were at height approximately 12 000 foots above sea level. All district in the west has been filled up by deep snow, we could not promote on a step forward, but return would be not smaller madness ' back.