This movie takes place in 1883-84. The buffalo were extirpated from the rockies by this time. The United States was fairly well surveyed at this time, especially rivers and notable landmarks. How do they not know how far they are from water or the way to denver, maps and bearing compasses were in wide use at this time. I don't understand how they don't know where they are or how far they were from water. While they're skinning 100s of buffalo their clothes remain all but blood free. I'm not a horse person, but I find it difficult to believe their horses would survive the winter trapped in the mountains. The movie is slow and its hard to judge how much time has passed for them.
Review of Butcher's Crossing
