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Departure of Expedition Group
September 6, 1869 - Cook, Folsom and Peterson depart Diamond City, Montana. -
2nd Journal Entry
The group traveled down the Missouri River. They passed through Three Forks and head east up the Gallatin Valley camping at Hamilton. -
3rd Journal Entry
The Group continued east to Bozeman, Montana to re-supply, eventually camping just east of Fort Ellis. -
4th Journal Entry
The group went up over Bozeman Pass then immediately southeast down Trail Creek to the Yellowstone River opposite Emigrant Gulch. -
5th Journal Entry
The group traveled south along the Yellowstone to the southern end of Paradise Valley camping close to the river in Yankee Jim Canyon. -
6th Journal Entry
They continued south along the Yellowstone, crossing the mouth of the Gardner River and moving up on the benches above the Black Canyon of the Yellowstone. They camped at what was to become known as Rescue Creek. -
7th Journal Entry
The party continued along the benches above the Black Canyon to Tower Fall. They camped at Tower Fall for two days, leaving on September 16, 1869. -
9th Journal Entry
Crossing the Yellowstone at Tower Fall, they traveled east until they encountered the East Fork (Lamar River). They travel up the Lamar River camping at the confluence with Calfee Creek. -
10th Journal Entry
They camped just 6 miles southeast of the previous camp in the parkland above Flint Creek to sit out a snowstorm. This lasted two days. -
11th Journal Entry
They traveled a hard eight miles west toward the Yellowstone camping near Sour Creek. -
12th Journal Entry
They continued to travel west over timbered and broken terrain to the Basin Group of hot springs on Shallow Creek. The group referred to these springs as the Chemical Works. -
13th Journal Entry
September 21, 1869 - the group continued west for 18 miles emerging on the rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone just downstream from the falls at a point that is now named Inspiration Point. They move up river a few miles camping just above the Upper Falls until September 23, 1869. On September 22, 1869 they descend the canyon between the falls, ford the river and try to scale the northern wall of the canyon. This fails and they must return the way they came. -
14th Journal Entry
They travel up the Yellowstone through today's Hayden Valley to the Mud Volcano area where they camp. -
15th Journal Entry
September 24, 1869 - continued up the eastern shoreline of the Yellowstone, eventually crossing Pelican Creek before encountering the north shore of Yellowstone Lake near the mouth of Pelican Creek. -
16th Journal Entry
The groupo departed Pelican Creek and crossed the outlet of Yellowstone Lake near present-day Fishing Bridge and followed the shoreline to the current location of Bridge Bay marina where they camped for the night. -
17th Journal Entry
They continued along the shoreline to the West Thumb Geyser Basin where they camped and explored for two days. -
18th Journal Entry
The group explored the geothermal features of West Thumb for two days before moving on. -
19th Journal Entry
The group departed West Thumb westerly en route to the Madison River drainage. The route took them across the Continental Divide to the upper end of Shoshone Lake. They camped in the vicinity. -
20th Journal Entry
The group traveling north up deLacy Creek from the Shoshone Lake area. The group had a difficult time re-crossing the divide. They camped on the divide that night. -
21st Journal Entry
After crossing the divide, the party stayed east of the Firehole until they followed White Creek down into the Lower Geyser Basin where they saw the Great Fountain Geyser erupt. They camped just south of the geyser. -
22nd Journal Entry
The group explored the area upstream on the Firehole River from their camp for about five miles, taking them into the Midway Geyser Basin. There they saw the Excelsior Geyser erupt before heading back down the Firehole River to the Madison River. -
23rd Journal Entry
The group eventually emerged from Madison Canyon. From that point on they were in familiar territory. -
Final Journal Entry
The Cook-Folsom-Peterson party arrived back in Diamond City.