The following day my new partner, JAMES, came back with his pack.  That night we discussed the situation around us.  As he was the oldest, I let him take the lead.  We decided to go down Eagle River for one day and look for prospects.  The next morning we had early breakfast: biscuits, beans and coffee.  We took away a few extra biscuits.  In many places, the top of the snow was firm enough to hold one's weight from breaking through as the snow was deep.  Many times we would break through, delaying us and making our trip slow and tiresome.  My partner, JAMES, was a slower walker than I was.  I would have to stop and wait for him.  Our plan was to go down Eagle River as far as we could.  Then turn to the right and come back by the way of Elk Mountain -- a high mountain.

As we traveled onward, we came to a place where several large trees were recently cut down as if some prospector or hunter was going to build a cabin, but no one was seen near.  We went on some distance further.  Suddenly we heard in the distance a rumbling sound.  As we continued on, the sound was getting louder and we decided it was a waterfall.  Both of us wanted to see it.  On our right there was a gulch leading up to the place where a large body of solid water fell over a cliff nearly 100 feet high with a continuous roar.  It was impossible for us to speak to one another and be heard.  We could only motion to each other.  Mountains around us were like huge bee hives towering up into the sky.  We could not see the tops, they were so close together.  It was very easy to get lost or to lose our sense of direction.

It was now afternoon and getting shady as if snow would come.  If we should be caught by it we would be in a bad fix.  We knew many prospectors who had lost their lives in just such surroundings as we were now in should a storm come up.  Signs were now appearing that one was on the way.  We now turned our faces back toward the place we started from by going over Elk Mountain.  Just as we got above the timber line the snow commenced to fall slowly.  By hurrying on I thought we could get across before the snow fell thickly and prevented us from seeing our way ahead, as there were no markers or signs to guide us.  Before we reached the top of the mountain the snow began falling thickly.

A slight wind commenced to blow by the time we reached the top.  It was terrific, almost lifting us off our feet and every minute getting stronger.  We had a feeling that we must leave as soon as possible.  It was impossible for us to speak with each other on account of the velocity of the wind.  I have always had a good sense of direction and felt sure of the way I was going although I had no guide to go by.  My experience in coal mining helped me now.  I made motions to my partner by pointing in a certain direction.  He pointed in another direction and started away from me.  I did not know how much experience he had had in this kind of weather and on a mountain top and thinking also that it would not do for us to separate, I gave in and followed him.

I had noticed that when we reached the top of the mountain we turned slightly to the right.  I now had a feeling that he was going down another gulch in the direction of the waterfall.  We traveled down the gulch and when we got down into the timber line of spruce and fir, we could speak to each other.  The storm was now raging overhead and it was still snowing heavily.  I spoke to JAMES and told him that we were going the wrong way, that we were turning away from Aley and Dunns Tent, but he argued against me.  I tried to convince him where he made his mistake when he turned to the right on the top of the mountain and kept leaning to the right for some distance on account of the strong wind blowing against our left side and forcing us to the right more and more as we struggled along.  The shades of night were coming on fast.

We were getting hungry and our struggles through deep snow were using up our strength.  The more we argued about the right direction to go, the more bitterness came into our voices and finally we both stopped saying anything.  Who was right and who was wrong? I turned to my partner and said to him, "Well then if it must be, you take the lead and I will follow." He started and went some distance.  We walked on some distance.  It was now getting darker and the snow continued to fall heavily.  The wind was moaning in the tops of the trees.  I did not feel any bitter cold.  All our walking was done in silence.  At times I felt like leaving him, knowing that I was risking my life by following him.  Should we continue on much further we would get bewildered and lose our sense of direction.  That is the end of many prospecting miners.  We were both aware of this danger.  JAMES stopped.  We both stood still.  I could see fear in my partner's face.  I spoke to him and said, "Bill, we are lost", with a voice that had a tremor in it.  He said, "Yes, I believe we are."