On Monday, October 9, 1843, Theodore Talbot recorded yellowish granite in needle-form fragments and masses, mountainous country, good grass, partially dried-up water in the creek where the party camped, and a large, much-traveled Banak trail. Ditto Creek was often nearly dry when emigrants passed through the valley. They found plenty of dry grass but often had to dig for water in the sandy creek bottom. The terrain changed from the volcanic rocks near Canyon Creek to a softer dirt and gravel road. Many travelers wrote their names with axle grease on the large granite boulders beside the trail. A Bannock Indian trail went up the valley toward the Camas Prairie, and the Jeffery-Goodale Cutoff rejoined the main Oregon Trail at Ditto Creek.