A few miles into their journey this June 24, 1847, the pioneers came across a curious natural phenomenon. Here, was a spring, the water full of sulphur and alkali. Too strong for even the animals to drink. But, digging below the turf around the spring, they found crystal pure ice.

Erastus Snow:

"(THE ICE)...SEEMS PURE AND ENTIRELY FREE FROM THOSE INGREDIENTS WITH WHICH THE WATER IS IMPREGNATED."

They enjoyed the refreshing taste of the ice, then moved on to find water their livestock could drink.

When they stopped for the night, another tragedy in camp. A gun accidentally discharged, killing Brigham Young's best horse, a stallion named 'John.'