October-December 1874, Shasta, Yosemite, Dead Rivers Image 31

55 Pit, McCloud & Sacramento are all branches of the main Sacramento (Shasta Fountains) No characteristic of Shasta is more marked than its want of running water Its melting snows & ice speedily disappear in the porous lava even the outlets of the gls flow but a few miles ere they sink to reappear in large springs both the Sacramento & McCloud rise in large springs [strarting] into life, rivers at once [apparently] without any real childhood The Sacra [Sacramento] Spring 1 1/2 ms above Sissons issues from the base of a hill of [gravel], gl drift overshadowed by willows alders & thorns 56 falling at once into white rapids with all the rush & song that belongs to them This water no doubt is derived from the south west side of Shasta & sinks in gl debris. After the Oct storms had cleared away I sauntered slowly Shastaward enjoying the fine landscapes of the upper Sacramento giving time for the snows that I knew had fallen to [be] compacted On 1st [Oct] Nov left Sissons for the edge of timber line intending to reach summit on the 2d. My barometer as well as the clouds gave notice of storm The sky was [filmy] [Sisson] & his guide said I don\u27t like the looks of the sky, youhttps://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/jmj-all/1849/thumbnail.jp