Its surface is weakly wavy dissected by wide river valleys and gulches. Esmerelda and Willow gulches overflowed their banks and flooded Aurora. The habitat consists of deserts, dry gulches, open areas, streamsides, road edges, and city parks. Cottonwood and Halladay gulches then enter from the right. Gold had been discovered in the gulches near the pass as early as 1842. Baldwin would lower himself down into the gulches daily with his one remaining arm. Water brought gold to the gulches, giving miners their first glimmer of hope.