The scenes of pleasure lasted until the fall of 1830.  Kit then joined his second trapping expedition.  This band had been formed for the purpose of trapping the principal streams of the Rocky Mountains.  Mr. Fitzpatrick, a trapper well known and respected by the mountaineers, had charge of the party.  He was, at that time, well acquainted by experience with the Rocky Mountains, and has, since then, gained an enviable fame as an Indian Agent.  The new party travelled North and commenced operations on the Platte River, which they followed down stream to one of its tributaries, the Sweet Water River.  From here they worked on until they reached the Green River.  Hence they journeyed to Jackson’s Hole, which is a fork of the Great Columbia River.  After making a short stay at this point they started for the Salmon River.  Here they were joined by a band of their own party, who had left Taos some days in advance of the main body, and for whom they were then hunting.  The whole party, as now organized, remained where they were throughout the winter of 1830 and 1831, employed in killing only the amount of game necessary for their sustenance.  An unfortunate affair here happened to them.  Four of their men, while hunting buffalo, were attacked and killed by a party of Blackfeet Indians.  No other incident occurred during the winter to change the everyday routine.  In April of 1831, they recommenced trapping, shaping their course for Bear River.  This is the principal stream that empties into great salt lake.  Thence they returned to Green River, where they found some Trappers under the command of Mr. Sinclair, who left New Mexico soon after Mr. Fitzpatrick’s party and had wintered on the Bear River.  Among many other facts, they learned from this party that Captain Gaunt, who was an old mountaineer well known to most of the whites present, had passed the winter on the Laramie River, and that he was then with his men in the New Park.  Kit Carson and four of his companions determined to join him.  For this purpose they started, and, after ten days of steady travel, found his party.

There are two of these natural Parks in the Rocky Mountains.  To distinguish them they are called the Old Park and the New Park.  As their names imply, they are fair natural examples of the manufactured parks of civilization.  In some things nature has lavished upon them charms and beauties which no human skill can imitate.  These parks are favorite haunts of the deer, antelope and elk, while the streams which run through them are well stocked with otter and beaver.  Kit and his companions were graciously received by Gaunt; and, with him they trapped the streams in the vicinity of the New Park and the plains of Laramie to the South fork of the Platte.  Having finished here, they left for the Arkansas, remaining there while their captain went to Taos to dispose of their stock of furs and to make such purchases of necessaries as the men required.  Gaunt returned after an absence of two months; when, trapping operations were resumed on the Arkansas River, which they trapped until it froze over.  The party then went into Winter Quarters.