As we pushed forward, on one side rose the lofty peaks of the Rocky Mountains, and on the other stretched out a vast extent of comparatively level land, in some parts open prairie, in others dense forest.  The boughs of the trees were thickly laden with snow, the whole country, indeed, was wrapped in a white wintry mantle.  The scenery was dreary in the extreme.  Our spirits sank; it seemed that we should never come to an end of our long journey.