Over the Rim : the Parley P. Pratt exploring expedition to Southern Utah, 1849-1850

"This little-known expedition, led by Parley P. Pratt, thus had a large impact on Utah history. It was also a dramatic and adventurous journey. The journals of the expedition - published complete in Over the Rim for the first time - record the feat of an unusual party of righteous frontiersmen who, challenged by harsh weather and difficult terrain, opened a way for Mormon expansion toward the Pacific coast and along the way documented much about both their new homeland and the native Utes and Paiutes their people would displace."--BOOK JACKET.

One hundred and fifty years ago, a party of forty-seven--later to increase to fifty--men set out from Salt Lake City on an arduous winter expedition to explore the country to the south. They were to bring back information Mormon leaders would use as a blueprint as they expanded south from the initial core settlements near the Great Salt Lake. Many of the towns and cities that now dot the flanks of Utah's high mountain-plateau spine, along Interstate 15 and Highway 89, were built on sites identified by the explorers. This little-known expedition, led by Parley P. Pratt, thus had a large impact on Utah history. It was also a dramatic and adventurous journey. The journals of the expedition--published complete in Over the Rim for the first time--record the feat of an unusual party of righteous frontiersmen who, challenged by harsh weather and difficult terrain, opened a way for Mormon expansion toward the Pacific coast and along the way documented much about both their new homeland and the native Utes and Paiutes their people would displace.

Over the Rim is the first book about an important but little-known expedition sent by Brigham Young to explore southern Utah. Led by Mormon apostle Parley P. Pratt, the party traveled from Salt Lake City south across the rim of the Great Basin to the Virgin River near future St. George. They brought back to Mormon leaders their first detailed portrait of the country to the south that the church planned to settle. Preface Introduction The journals Great Salt Lake to San Pete San Pete to the Little Salt Lake Over the rim to Dixie Exploration of Little Salt Lake and Cedar Valleys and beyond Reunion and celebration The long, cold trip home The official report Epilogue Appendices Related papers Biographies of expedition members Robert Campbell's Ute alphabet Robert Campbell's emigrant guides Bibliography Index.