Show 113 left most we the Lake and took a westerly course into the extensive and barren plains I have ever seen From this statement it is evident that the party did folio the shore of the lake for at least eight days How far south they would get in this time is a matter of conjecture travel on that desolate plain is slow and painful They probably did not get far enough south to strike the springs at Pilot Peak when they eventually turned westward in 7 search of the Unknown (Humboldt) river Soon this river was reached and followed to its sink Walker's party eventually reached California and returned the following year However Walker did not choose to lead the party across the desert west of Great Salt Lake on the return trip Instead he directed his course north from the Humboldt to the Snake river valley from which he crossed to the upper Bear at the appointed rendezvous As a trapping enterprise the Walker expedition to California had proved a failure and rejoined Bonneville all the controversy concerning the work actually accomplished by Bonneville in the West in spite of his obvious errors in describing the lake and regardless of his evident lack of interest in its exploration as such he Regardless of did contribute to the knowledge of the Great Salt Lake and the Great Basin Walker's men were the first to actually follow the west shore of the lake any appreciable distance |