Denver, Colorado. Aug[ust] 2 /[18]77.
Dearest Hyacinth*1 I wrote last from La Veta on the 23rd., since which I have been incessantly on the move and very hard at work. The Stracheys*2 and I left La Veta that day by a railroad up a gorge in the Rocky Mountains Westwards, ascending to 9000ft. amongst Pine forests where Prof[essor] Hayden*3 had formed a camp that we might explore the neighbouring forests for plants. There were 5 tents, all small, pitched at the edge of the Pine forest, one for Dr and Mrs Gray*4, one Gen[eral] and Mrs Strachey, one Dr Langborn and self, one cook and black man, and one for mess. On the second day a tremendous storm of thunder, lightning and hail came on, followed by rain all the afternoon and we were pretty miserable on that day. On the 26th. we left the tents and proceeded, partly by rail and partly in/horse waggons, to Fort Garland, a military post to the Westward, in order to ascend the Sierra Blanca, supposed to be the highest of the Rocky M[ountain]s., about 1450Oft. The Fort, which consists of Adobe huts, stands on a vast plain, and is garrisoned by about 5 Officers and 50 soldiers. Now that there are no Indians within 50 or 100 miles, they have no fighting to do except when sent on detached duty to distant outposts, and their chief duties are escorting stores of all kinds. The life must be a dreadfully monotous[sic] one. There are four ladies, officers' wives, at the Fort, and their nearest neighbour is a brother or brother-in-law of Mr Blackmore (of Canterbury Museum) who lives with his family some 15 miles off.

On the following day, Dr Gray and Langborne, Hayden and myself set out for the Mountain about 15 miles off, and had very heavy work to ascend above the timber line (12 to 13000ft.) having to force a road through some thickets of Aspen for 5 hours, and then through forests of pine, the fallen branches of which encumbered the ground. We slept at 13000ft., under thick blankets on the ground by a huge fire very comfortably, though my breath turned to frost all round my head. On the following day Dr Gray and I botanized the heights in two directions and then we returned to the Fort, very tired and in rags. We were up at 4 next morning and drove 16 miles to the railroad, descending to La Veta, and thence Northward past Pueblo to Colorado Springs - a good way North.- and then by coach to Marriton a watering place at the foot of the R[ocky] M[ountains], close to Pikes Peak, near a beautiful Gorge. This is in summer a favourite resort for invalids, and I found a Dr Solly there whom I had known in London, and who came to America for his health and married here. After botanizing here for two days, we took train to this place, arriving last night. Tomorrow we take the rail to a place called George town, whence we can ascend Gray's Peak, then return here and go to Cheyenne which is on the great line of railroad to California. I have had no letter from England but yours, written two days after I left, and I am very anxious for news. I know that letters for me did go to the P[ost] O[ffice] La Veta, and they were to have

been sent to Colorado Springs but were not there, nor have they been sent on here as they should have been. I must just be patient. This is a very active and indeed hard life. What with travelling, collecting, preserving, writing notes and journals, and being introduced to people, I am kept tremendously busy. I am however learning an enormous deal -- and I do so long for you my darling, I often wish too that your father*5 was here, he would enjoy it so much, but the travelling is awfully expensive. Being on Hayden's staff in Colorado, all my expenses are paid, but it will not be so in California. Mrs Gray takes it very quietly and gets on nicely, but I think that Mrs Strachey is at times more done up than she cares to show, and very uncomfortable. Now, darling, I must close, with best love to all. Dyer*6 sent me three copies of the Report, but no letter. I long to hear of you all. Ever your most affectionate husband | J.D.Hooker.