Some Pioneer Experiences

Sometime during the winter of 1862 or �63, uncertain as to the month, a small party of us took two yoke of oxen, two wagons and went to the mountains for a hunt. The party consisted of the three Pennocks, Jackson, Degrass, Porter, Platt Hinman and myself.

We went into left hand canyon, turned to the north for a mile or less, there to the west and on up a mile or so beyond where Solomon Geer afterward lived. As this was too near civilization to be a good game section the nest morning three of us, Jackson, Porter and myself started on a trip over the first high mountain into a more promising field, leaving Degrass and Platt to keep camp and hunt nearby. We planned to sleep two or three nights by a fire without blankets and just took what lunch we could carry in our pockets, but of course matches and salt.

We moved leisurely and amused ourselves at times by rolling stones down the mountains, a kind of sport safe enough at that time but very dangerous and not allowable now with so many people in the hills everywhere. By the time we got a mile or so beyond t he little valley where Buchanan�s sawmill later was located, night was coming on before we hunted to amount to anything and snow began falling lively. Selecting a good place by a big rock we constructed a shelter of spruce and pine boughs but made our fire so near it that it took fire and burned. By the time we had constructed another shelter it was likely quite a late hour at night. We made our fire farther away and cat-napped by lying and sitting on boughs. We got somewhat wet but took no cold. We had shot a grouse and that helped out our lunch. At daylight we realized we must get out of that and try to get back to camp. We had known snow was falling fast but were surprised at making a start to find snow fully up to our waists. It was cloudy but snow had ceased to fall. A small pocket compass Porter carried assisted us to start in the right direction. It was very laborious and slow progress we made, taking turn about going ahead and breaking a trail. When we reached the gulch and started up the steep mountain we could not see the lay of the mountain so selected the easiest ascent, we often had snow slide down on us and nearly cover us up and we floundered and fell over rocks and in snow at a discouraging rate. Along toward noon we were so chilled from the melting snow from contact with our warm bodies we decided to try for a fire. Clearing the snow from a large flat rock Porter at last succeeded with small dry twigs in starting a fire. I was well dressed for travel on dry ground but very poorly for wading and floundering in three or four feet of snow as I had shoes and cotton socks, cotton drawers with overalls and denim jumper instead of coat. My socks were down and my shoes and drawers drawn up from being as wet as snow could make them, consequently my ankles were bare for a few inches. Jackson and Porter were well dressed for the experience, heavy pants, beside underwear and overalls, vest coat and boots. They favored me by going in the lead more than their regular share of time. This first fire likely saved my from being chilled through completely. I took off my socks and wrung the water from them and warmed them a little.

About this time we could see the sun a little through the clouds and the mountain crags far above us and we then knew we had started to climb the mountain too far to the south and had we gone a couple hundred yards to the north we might have had a much easier climb, avoiding so steep a mountain and also the rocks. But the fire had put new courage into us and we needed it. We were sure we could build another fire when necessity required. We gradually turned to the left and after a few more hours of difficult labor found ourselves in the gap of the high divide immediately west of our camp where we left Degrass and Platt. Our guns had been all over in snow and were just as wet as snow could make them and here at a second fire, also made on a flat rock, I succeeded in firing it. This shot was heard by the boys and answered by one in reply. In the meantime they had decided we could not get back over the mountain through the deep snow but would have to follow down some draw leading to the St. Vrain and they would have to get out of the hills and go around and up the St. Vrain and find us there somewhere. With this plan in view they tied a loaf of bread in a tree penciled a note with it and were just starting with the team when our shot was heard. Platt took care of the team and gathered wood for a good fire, while Degrass started quickly at breaking a trail up the mountain toward us. His shot had put new life in us and we were sure we could make camp in time as it was now all downhill. Soon we were in calling distance and later in sight of Degrass wading up to his middle. A warm fire and hot coffee (on this occasion I drank some for about the first time in my life) soon put us in good trim.

Next morning we got out of there but it took us about all day to get to the DuBois ranch, always a hospitable place, where we were comfortable. Next day got to the Pennock and Dwight ranch and one more day to reach our own home. Not a bit of game but a whole lot of experience not soon to be forgotten.

M. H. Coffin