Warren A. Ferris worked for the American Fur Company and made 5 trips West trapping Beaver in the Rocky Mountains............Buffalo, Elk, Antelope, Wolves and Griz are all in abundance in the Greater Yellowstone System 1830-35.............once again another Montain Man in touch with his surroundings and being extremely descriptive of flora and fauna composition of the Rockies...............We need the folks who continue to put forth that wolves, cougars and Griz were not part of the historical Yellowstone and full Rocky Mountain spine system see the light...............The circle of predator and prey was finely represented across what became the USA , Canada and Mexico...............where there were animals eating plants......there were Carnivores eating the plant eaters................enjoy the great read below

LIFE IN THE

ROCKY MOUNTAINS

A Diary of Wanderings on the sources of

the Rivers Missouri, Columbia, and Colorado

from February, 1830, to November, 1835

By W. A. FERRIS

then in the employ of the

American Fur Company

We set out on the 2d and reached the head of Pierre's Hole on the 3d.  On the 4th we crossed the mountain, and descended into a large prairie valley, called Jackson's Big Hole.  It lies due east of the Trois Tetons, and is watered by Lewis River, which leaves the valley through a deep cut in the mountains, impassable for pack horses; hence trappers have to cross the mountains to Pierre's Hole, in order to avoid greater obstacles, which present themselves at any other pass.  The waters of this river, in the head of the Hole, expand into a lake of considerable magnitude, which I believe is identical with one attached to the Big Horn River, on the maps of the United States, for I have never heard of any lake on the sources of that river, although our trappers have explored every spring source of it.  This lake is called the Teton Lake, from the mountain that overlooks it.  The river flows through the valley in a southwest direction, and near the lower end of the hole, a large branch from the southeast falls into it.  Those streams are bordered by aspen and cottonwood trees, and groves of cedars, in some parts of the valley.  The Hole is surrounded by lofty mountains, and receives its name from one of the firm of Smith, Sublett and Jackson.

We crossed Lewis River at a well known ford, where its waters are separated by several Islands, and are expanded to the distance of several hundred yards; but are fordable at this season for pack horses, if led carefully over, following the bars or shallow places.  In the evening we halted on a spring, four miles east of Lewis River, after marching twenty‑two miles.  On the 5th we passed six or eight miles southeast, and halted on the margin of the stream, flowing from that direction.  During our march, some of the hunters saw the bones of two men, supposed to be those killed from a party of seven, in the latter part of July.  On the sixth we entered a dark defile, and followed a zig‑zag trail along the almost perpendicular side of the mountain, scarcely leaving space in many places for the feet of our horses; we all dismounted, and led our animals over the most dangerous places, but notwithstanding this precaution, three of them lost their footing, and were precipitated sixty or seventy feet into the river below; two were but slightly injured, having fortunately fallen upon their loads, which preserved them from death; but the other was instantly killed.  At length we came out into an open valley after a march of fifteen miles, and halted in its eastern extremity.  This small valley is called Jackson's Little Hole, in contradistinction to its neighbor, which we left yesterday.  It was covered with herds of buffalo, numbers of which fell before our rifles, and supplied us with fresh meat, an article we had not possessed since we came into Pierre's Hole.

On the 7th we ascended a high abrupt hill, covered with dense groves of aspen trees, and came in view of a vast plain, gently descending eastward to Green River, which flows through it southeastward.  The plain was literally covered with buffalo, numbers of which we killed, and halted at a spring on the summit of the hill.

On the 16th we reached the head of Pierre's Hole, and found the bones of several Indians, who were supposed to have been killed during the battle in July last; and were transported here by their relations, though several miles from the battle field.  Three days after we reached Henrie's Fork amid clouds of dust which rose from our horses' feet, and filled our eyes.  The plains were covered with buffalo, in all directions, far as we could discern them.

On the 20th I departed with two others, with orders to seek the Flatheads, and induce them to meet the company in Horse prairie, if possible, in eight days from this time.  Our leaders intended to cache their goods at that place, and wished to meet the Indians, for the purpose of trading with them.  Our company continued onward a north course, whilst we passed north of the sand mountain, and bore a trifle south of west, in the direction of Cota's defile.  We reached Kamas creek at sunset, after a march of forty‑five miles, during which we suffered extremely, owing to want of water, on the route; but allayed our parching thirst when we arrived; ate a hearty supper of dry meat, hobbled our fatigued horses, and slept in a thicket until sunrise.  Next day proceeded on thirty‑five miles, to Cota's creek, and halted until dark.  During our march we saw traces of horsemen, who had passed by recently.  At dusk we passed two miles up the defile, and halted in the logs, near the margin of the creek.  On the 22nd we mounted our horses, at day break, and passed the narrows into a rolling plain, where we found several encampments made by the Flat heads twenty days since.  At noon, we halted to bait our horses, and demolished a few pounds of dried meat, ourselves.  At the expiration of two hours, we again departed; and proceeded down the plain, until near midnight, halting at length near the margin of a small stream.  During the night our slumbers were disturbed by the bellowing of a herd of bulls, near us; and by the howling of a multitude of wolves, prowling about the buffalo.  We were approached, by a formidable grizzly bear, who slowly walked off, however, after we had made some bustle about our beds.  We made during the day and night, about fifty miles.

On the 23d we arose in the morning, and found ourselves in the valley of the east fork of Salmon river.  There were large herds of buffalo slowly moving up the valley, which led us to believe, that the Indians were not far below us.  One of their encampments appeared to have been evacuated, but five or six days since; and was at this time a rendezvous for wolves, ravens, and magpies.  We likewise saw numbers of salmon, forcing their way up the small streams, in this valley - many had so worn out their fins, that they could with difficulty avoid us when we endeavored to catch them, in our hands.  With clubs and stones, we killed several of them, with which we regaled ourselves at noon, and my companions, amused themselves, whilst our horses were feeding, by adding to the numberless carcasses scattered along the shore, that had been taken and thrown away by the Indians.  We passed through this valley, and halted some time after dark at the mouth of a stream from the south, after travelling forty miles.

On the 24th we passed between two high rocky points jutting into the river, and came out into an open plain two miles wide.  Near the entrance, is a bed of stone, which is frequently used as a substitute for soap.  It is but little harder than chalk, of the same color, and when manufactured into pipes, and burnt, becomes a fine glossy jet color, and equally hard as stoneware.  In this plain we discovered an encampment that appeared to have been made so recently, that we were confident of finding the Indians before night; however, we followed the trail to the forks of Salmon River, passing several other encampments, which were now occupied by bears, wolves, ravens and magpies, which were preying upon the yet undevoured particles of dried meat, and fragments of skins scattered around them.  At dark we halted near one of these encampments in the forks of Salmon River, after riding about forty miles.  In the night we were serenaded by the growling of bears and wolves, quarelling for the half‑picked bones about them.

On the 25th we continued down Salmon River to a high abrupt plain, jutting down on the east side, which leaves a narrow trail along the brink  During  this jaunt, we killed a grey wolf which was fat, and made us a tolerable supper; we likewise wounded a grizly bear, but in his rage, he broke down bushes and saplings with such ease, that we concluded that it would be imprudent to meddle with him any more.

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