The water runoff from nearby mountains changes seasonally and from year to year. Emigrants used a variety of methods for crossing, depending on how much water flowed in the New Fork River.
Fording the New Fork: Low Water Crossing
Green River (New Fork) is a pretty large swift deep stream we forded however and camped in the bottom - James Brown, New Fork River, July 30, 1859
Forded the stream which was very swift & up to the other wagon bed. - Hamet Case, New Fork River, July 17, 1859.
Raising Wagon Boxes: Medium Water Crossing
All the wagon beds were blocked up... A rope was tied to the rear axel of each wagon manned by a dozen men, eased down by a like number, and when afloat, to hold it from drifting down the current, another rope was attached to the tongue and carried between the lead mules, handled by a crew of twelve on the opposite shore. When the lead mules were out of sight under water, with the aid of the ropes the men on the west shore hauled them to a sand bar where they found their footing. The leaders towed the wheelers along to the sand bar, and the wagons followed to the shore in safety. - John Collins, New Fork River, May 16, 1864
Creating a Makeshift Ferry: High Water Crossing
(E)xamined
all our wagon-beds, selected two of the tightest and best made, took them off the axels, caulked them as tight as possible, and otherwise made them fit for boating, and then put them in the water.
The next morning they were soaked tight... A wagon was taken in pieces and put in one boat, and baggage was taken in the other, and rowed over... nearly forty wagons were taken over that day. - Sherlock Bristol, New Fork River, July 30, 1862
42.6138, -109.85
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