May 3, 1862: Walnut Creek

Camp 69

It rained too hard to cook outdoors, so [yesterday and today] we got our meals at a tavern near.

May 2, 1862: Walnut Creek

[Today] we had intermittent but heavy rains. We stuck to our tents, but…Professor Whitney left for San Francisco.

May 1, 1862: Walnut Creek

View from Rocky Ridge, Las Trampas Regional Wilderness; by dsleeter_2000, on Flickr

Camp 69

[Today] Hoffmann and I visited a ridge about two thousand feet high¹, about six miles from camp, quite a hard day’s tramp. Heavy clouds wreathed the whole summit of Mount Diablo, but we had a fine view of the green hills near and around us. A shower caught us on our return and wet us, but how unlike the rains of the city. The smell of the rain on the fresh soil and green grass was decidedly refreshing.

Calochortus umbellatus; by Tom Hilton, on Flickr

[Tonight] the wind was high…

Specimens collected: Calochortus umbellatus; Amelanchier utahensis; Scutellaria tuberosa; Lupinus albifrons; Cardamine californica var. integrifolia; Trifolium fucatum; Castilleja affinis subsp. affinis; Alopecurus saccatus; Pleuropogon californicus.

¹Probably Rocky Ridge, west of Danville

April 30, 1862: Walnut Creek

Camp 69

Professor Whitney joined us, and [today] we moved about nine miles up the valley, south.

Delphinium patens; by Tom Hilton, on Flickr

Specimens collected: Sidalcea malviflora subsp. laciniata; Trifolium obtusiflorum; Trifolium fucatum; Plagiobothrys bracteatus; Plagiobothrys trachycarpus; Limnanthes douglasii subsp. nivea; Trifolium gracilentum; Carex subbracteata; Rubus ursinus; Micropus californicus var. californicus; Delphinium patens subsp. patens; Lathyrus jepsonii var. californicus; Trifolium albopurpureum var. olivaceum; Trifolium microcephalum; Trifolium willdenovii; Allium serra; Veronica peregrina subsp. xalapensis.

April 27, 1862: Martinez

McNabney Marsh, near Martinez; by Mathesont, on Flickr

Camp 68

Well, for three days we have been hard at work here and expect Professor Whitney up tomorrow to join us. The hot sun begins to tell on the faces, necks, and hands of the party. Rémond’s nose looks like a strawberry, red and fiery. Hoffmann’s is like a well-developed tomato, while Gabb’s nose is today more like the prize beet at an agricultural fair. Skins are red, faces burned, necks more scorched, but I think all will come out right in a little while.

Allium serra; by Tom Hilton, on Flickr

Specimens collected, April 24-27: Lepidium latipes; Guillenia lasiophylla; Caulanthus lasiophyllus; Camissonia micrantha; Trifolium gracilentum; Trifolium fucatum; Dichelostemma capitatum; Cicendia quadrangularis; Cotula coronopifolia; Allium serra; Triteleia laxa; Lupinus affinis; Plantago maritima var. juncoides; Geranium dissectum.

April 23, 1862: Martinez

Camp 68

….and I followed [today]. Our party consists of: Averill, who goes as mule driver, clerk, etc.; Hoffmann, topographer; Schmidt, our new cook, who promises well; Gabb, our paleontologist, young, grassy green, but decidedly smart and well posted in his department—he will develop well with the hard knocks of camp; Rémond, a young Frenchman, who will be with us for about two weeks. We commenced by drinking a bottle of champagne presented by a young lady of San Francisco.

April 22, 1862: San Francisco

[Today], I sent on the party to go into camp…near Martinez…