Emptiness
When the group led by Call goes to steal the horses in Mexico, they pass through rough and empty terrain (Chapter 10). For someone like Newt who never traveled much farther than Lonesome Dove, the emptiness is unsettling because he cannot keep track of landmarks to guide himself back.
Later in the novel, Augustus travels through the plains in pursuit of Blue Duck and Lorena. The towers of buffalo bones shock Augustus, who thinks that "with those millions of animals gone, and the Indians mostly gone in their wake, the great plains were truly empty, unpeopled and ungrazed" (Chapter 54). Augustus understands that his impression is temporary due to America's inevitable expansion. But the interim period between different societies and civilizations is a "moment of true emptiness" (Chapter 54).
The Dust
Dust is just one of many difficult environmental factors that the outfit deals with as they begin their journey to Montana. In Chapter 25, the dust renders the world thick and white. Newt, who is assigned a place near the back of the herd, has to tie a bandana around his face just to breathe.
Lightning
Lightning storms occur at multiple points in the novel. In Chapter 31, the outfit gets caught in rain storm while still in Texas. Lightning and thunder worsen the situation, and Dish warns Newt not to go near the cattle since they act as electrical conductors. This same lightning terrifies Lorena.
Later in Chapter 62, lightning strikes some of the herd, sending the terrified animals off in different directions. Much to everyone's shock, the lightning also kills Bill Spettle.
Rivers
Crossing rivers is an inevitable part of the cattle drive that often brings anxiety, particularly after rainstorms. Unfortunately, one of the cowhands named Sean O'Brien is attacked by water moccasins while crossing the Nueces River (the very first river that the outfit crosses). After this tragedy, everyone dreads crossing the San Antonio River. Jasper Fant develops a phobia about drowning, making it extremely difficult for him to cross any river.
In another notable river crossing, the outfit is pelted with hail while navigating the Canadian River. Most of the cowhands remove their clothes to cross, and the hail bruises their bodies.
San Francisco
Lorena's image of San Francisco gives her hope and something to strive for in the future. In comparison with the hot, dry, and dead end life that Lorena leads in Lonesome Dove, the cool fresh city of San Francisco offers her the chance to reinvent herself. Prior to her capture and abuse at the hands of Blue Duck's men, Lorena's primary goal is getting to San Francisco. Augustus gently tells Lorena that "life in San Francisco...is still just life" to prompt her into considering that a healthy life involves appreciating the small everyday things (Chapter 45).
