Re: Death Valley Emigrant Trail


Message posted by daveday on April 02, 2011 at 12:10:47 PST:

Yes, trail research is riveting! Over the years, Death Valley trail researchers have proposed several different routes through this area. We know they were all at Bennett Springs west of Pioche. Some researchers have put the route north of Groom, some a little to the south by Papoose Lake and some through Groom. To the west, 40 Mile Canyon, Cane Springs and Indian Springs have all been suggested as way points.

The bottom line is that some or all of these routes and locations may be correct. It is known that the group further broke up in the area of the NTS but almost all ended up in Furnace Creek Wash in Death Valley. The exception was the Savage/Pinney party who all disappeared except for Savage and Pinney.

The bottome line however is that 28 wagons and fewer than 100 people would not have made a trace detectable today 162 years later. Observed roads or trails today were made by later wagons or earlier Indians. The 49ers were likely following Indian trails from water to water and those may be seen on the ground if you can get there. The best guess is that some or all of the routes above were being followed in 1849. The article about Jerry Freeman's supposed trip across the NTS to Papoose Mountain is in the Las Vegas Sun and you can find it there. Some believe it, but I seriously question it.


In Reply to: Death Valley Emigrant Trail posted by Vince on April 02, 2011 at 1:19:50 PST:

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