- [Voiceover] Passthrough
winter's canyon.

Very narrow road.

Stream with beautiful
falls, 1,000 feet below

and high granite
walls on each side.

A grand sight.

I never went through
such country in my life.

(peaceful acoustic guitar)

- I think an early
automobile trip

would be about the most
fun a person could have.

It was a visceral experience.

The landscape coming
at you as it did.

Especially when you
had no windshield

or top to block your
view. It's all around you.

It's no wonder it appealed
so much to Jackson

because he, like everyone else,

had ridden trains
most of his life.

Enclosed, cramped,
stuffy railroad cars.

What a difference
that would have been.

- [Man] "Mount Shasta, which
for days had been in view

"off and on like a guide
post," Jackson wrote,

"now faded completed
from sight behind them,

"as they came down
out of the mountains,

"and headed for the
town of Alturas,

"in the northeastern
corner of California."

- [Voiceover] My darling girl,

we have crossed the
mountains and don't expect

to come to any more
until we get in to Idaho.

We have proven that my
machine can do or go anywhere.

I feel confident we can make it.

How I wish you were
with me, and that it was

possible for you
to take the trip.

With a barrel full of love,

I am as always,

yours.

Nelson.

(hawk cries)