“Snow!”
It was snowing hard as the first wagons reached the top of the trail leading down into South Pass, the twenty-mile wide valley that marked the halfway point of the journey. Garrett told Sam that South Pass, on the continental divide, was an important element in a successful crossing of the Rockies. If the pass was snowed in, days, maybe even weeks would be added to their journey. Sam, Todd and Garrett stopped their horses. It was clearly evident South Pass was impassable.
Sam looked at Garrett. The wagon master’s face was grim. Sam knew this situation had been a worry for him from the very beginning of the trek. Now his worst fears had been realized. Gus pulled up in the wagon.
“Got no choice, do we, chief?” he said, climbing down from the wagon seat and walking up to the men.
