Miller was fascinated by the dramatic rock outcroppings found along the North Platte and its tributary, the Sweetwater River. This sketch, based on CR# 137, is identified as a scene on the Sweetwater, which runs through present day Wyoming.
In this version of the sketch, the eccentric forms of the craggy rocks are rendered in pinkish purple and brown. The outcropping in the foreground is populated by bighorn sheep (Miller also refers to them as ‘Argali’), another subject of Miller’s interest. Miller frequently recounts the bold and wily habits of the sheep, who were some of the most challenging game to hunt. According to Miller, the male sheep engaged in daring battles on the mountainsides, with the victor knocking the vanquished off the cliffs. In his accompanying note, he claims that the mountain sheep frequently jumped from heights of 25 to 30 feet and landed on their large horns.
