The only white men on record to reach this place except the Major's other party, was General Ashley, the distinguished fur trader with a number of trappers.

In his search for fresh beaver grounds he led his party in rude buffalo-skin boats through this canyon in 1825.

They had a hard time and nearly starved to death as they depended for food on finding beaver and other game, in which they were disappointed.

On one of my trips over the rocks with cargo I made a slight detour on the return to see the boulder where the Major had discovered Ashley's name with a date.

The letters were in black, just under a slight projection and were surprisingly distinct considering the forty-six years of exposure.