- [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)