The pioneers of 1847 crossed the Sweetwater River for the last time this June 26th, as they ascended the 25-mile wide plain known as South Pass.

Wilford Woodruff:

"IT WAS THE BEST ROAD WE HAD HAD FOR MANY DAYS AND HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE WIND RIVER RANGE OF MOUNTAINS...I SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT MYSELF TRAVELING OVER THE BEAUTIFUL PRARIES."

Orson Pratt went ahead to try to ascertain with his barometer, the summit of the pass. But the main group would stop a couple of miles short of actually crossing the continental divide.

Along the way this day, they found deep snow drifts and used it to cool the milk from their cows. Some of the younger pioneers even had snowball fights.