Sunday, Aug 11.—Passed points declared by the driver to be the highest we had crossed. Saturday and Sunday nights were very cold, though the days were very warm. (Orion)
On the seventeenth day we passed the highest mountain peaks we had yet seen, and although the day was very warm the night that followed upon its heels was wintry cold and blankets were next to useless.
On the eighteenth day we encountered the eastward-bound telegraph- constructors at Reese River station and sent a message to his Excellency Gov. Nye at Carson City (distant one hundred and fifty-six miles).
130.1–24 the highest mountain peaks we had yet seen . . . the “Sink” of the Carson] Mark Twain’s geographical description is not entirely accurate. His remark about the mountain peaks is clearly derived from Orion’s record, which reads “Passed points declared by the driver to be the highest we had crossed.” In fact, when the travelers crossed the Ruby Mountains through the Overland Pass they were several hundred feet lower than they had been at both South Pass and Big Mountain, and the highest mountains in view were more than a thousand feet lower than those of the Wind River and Uinta mountains visible from South. Chapter 20: note for 130.1–24," in Roughing It : an electronic text. 2016
Burton: To Reese's River. 13th October.
Burton: To Smith's Creek. 14th October.
Burton: To Cold Springs. 15th October.
Burton: To Sand Springs. 16th October.
At some point along here Burton's and Twain's route to Carson diverged. Burton continued on the original route to Fort Churchill while Twain's party took the "Dogleg", in order to avoid difficulties with Indians.