He went to the Rocky Mountains in an oxcart from Timewell in 1860 (he would have been 22) to prospect for gold and maybe find work.

Five of his letters from that journey have survived. Here is an excerpt from one telling about coming down from the mountain:

I was in the lead. I had not went far before one of my feet went through which upset me and down I come but I soon regained my position I was in a hurry to get all right before the boys were up so they would not get to laugh at me. I moved on a little more cautious than before but still in a smart trot so as not to let on wishing to see some of the rest get in the same position but I had not gone far before I heard a noise behind me looking around I seen Charley Pettigrew was laying on the snow and his pack scattered all around him he soon got up all right and come. we came to a place in the snow where thare been several went under we got over and sit down to see the maneuvers of the rest presently Enos M come along in a run when all of a suden one foot went down and he fell and his pack went over his head and he turned a somerset over it then if you had have been close you might have heard me laugh but the fun wasn’t all over yet we told him to come away & let the next try his luck presently. Dan  Come along in he went he was loaded with shovels, pans and the cooking vesels & these come over his head in a very unceremonious manner ratling terribly his weight being considerable he went in the snow considerable this caused a laugh that was a laugh .