Across this barren stretch of trail, emigrants had to keep their wagons moving over rocks, gravel, and sand while searching beyond the main route for water, wood, and grass that had been trampled scarce. The many smaller ruts beside the main ditch-like trail marked efforts to find resources or escape dust, deep ruts, and congestion. Travelers recalled long days over high, rolling hills and ridges, scarce signs of life beyond occasional juniper, camps at places such as Willow Creek and Cedar Hollow, and the strain of cooking in windblown sand with green sagebrush or greasewood for fuel. Accounts from 1851, 1853, and 1864 tell of rain, dry valleys, steep winding hills, meager grass, wagon accidents, hunger, and the constant physical hardship and patience required on the journey.