In striving to find some pass for the horses the whole party was more than once strung out in detachments miles apart, through the mountains.

Early in January, near the site of the present Canyon City, Pike found a valley where deer were plentiful.

Here he built a fort of logs, and left the saddle-band and pack-animals in charge of two of the members of the expedition; intending to send back for them when he had discovered some practicable route.
He Strikes Across the Mountains on Foot.
He himself, with a dozen of the hardiest soldiers, struck through the mountains towards the Rio Grande.

Their sufferings were terrible.

They were almost starved, and so cold was the weather that at one time no less than nine of the men froze their feet.