A tale from the trek west

In honour of Pioneer Day today, I thought I would share a snippet from an account along the trail west.

This account is from the Diary of Elijah Larkin - summer of 1863. Hannah Webb was only 17 years of age and traveled with the Larkins.  Her aunt Sarah and maternal grandparents had all previously tried to make the journey and had died enroute. Her other aunt Martha had also followed but had lost her husband before setting out with the ill-fated journey of the Willie handcart company. Hannah's journey was a successful crossing and Elijah includes many accounts of the beauty of the scene.  

I find his writing so descriptive - including painting a picture of the scene, sharing details of clothing, food, landscape and the animals and plant life along the way. He is also careful to document when there are events such as illness or death in the company along with the weather reports and hunting parties. His trade was originally as a baker but in later years he became a policeman in England and I imagine he wrote up careful reports in his profession. 

Ruth, Hannah[,] my Son Geo. W & self climbed the highest Bluff & had a Splendid view of Laramie & the country around presenting the most beautifull Picture we ever beheld. the Bluffs were covered with the most beautfull & varied colleurd [colored] Stones some of which I broke & preserved small portion of them[.] after we had crossed a half dozen Bluffs we came to a beautifull table land dotted all over with choice plants & flowers. the beautifull scenery on the East, the River North & the camp passing between—The trees on the sides of the Bluffs[.] up one we saw an Eagle perched. the Beautifull Mountainous Scenery, & the Varied tints of the Horizon as the Sun declined caused reflections to pass through my mind long to be remembered[.] just after Sun set we came down from the bluffs which were rather a dificult task as the sides were verry Steep & Craggy, as we were passing down in the deep ravines the Trees had been torn up by the roots & large stones & Rocks lay accross our path as though at some period of the past there had been a mighty convulsion of the Earth in the past....

 Just at the Mouth of the Kanyen, on the right side the Rock[y] Mountains were verry high & of Red Sand Stone, with two large masses of gothic shape Sand stone at the top, & all around Ceeders [cedars] were growing between the two masses of Stone above named[.] the Moon was going down & oposite the Sun had risen above the Mountains reflecting its bright Rays on the High Rocks oposite presenting the most beautifull Picture imaginable.