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The emigrants had survived the Forty
Mile Desert, but the Carson Pass Route still had its
share of difficulties to mete out: the treacherous climb
up the West Carson Canyon to Hope Valley, an almost
perpendicular climb to the first summit, and the hard
pull to the second summit.
The Carson Route had been opened in 1848
by a portion of the Mormon Battalion heading eastward to
Salt Lake. The route ran from the Humboldt Sink to
Hangtown (Placerville) and Sutter's Fort via the Carson
River. When the mileage was added up, this represented
the most direct route and had the added advantage of
arriving right in the center of the most well-known gold
diggings. It also had the reputation of being, overall,
the easiest route. |
The emigrants sturck the Carson River at Ragtown, so
called because of all the clothing abandoned there.
Franklin Longworthy, 1850:
"It
is an oasis of great extent, green, romantic, and
beautiful, situated in the midst of vast deserts and
barren mountains. The Carson river runs a serpentine
course through the valley the banks being everywhere
fringed with a luxuriant growth of willows...." |
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But
as the emigrants struck the Carson River, the forbidding
Sierra Nevada were clearly visible on the horizon.
Peter Decker:
"The
road leads near the foot of the main chain of the Sierra
which rises abruptly from 2000 to 3000 ft. The outlines
or top is gently irregular. In places beautiful peaks
rise seemingly to a sharp point some of which are
covered with banks of snow."
At
the edge of the Carson Valley, the emigrants entered
Carson Canyon, the beginning of their rugged climb over
the Sierra Nevada. |
Sarah Royce, 1849:
"The
men had hard work to drive the cattle and mules over
the boulders at the frequent crossings of the stream,
an in between the great masses of rock where the trail
sometimes almost disappeared. As the cañon narrowed,
the rocky walls towered nearly perpendicular, hundreds
of feet; and seemed in some places almost to meet
above our heads. At some of the crossings it was well
nigh impossible to keep the trail, so innumerable were
the boulders; and the scraggy bushes so hid the
coming-out place. The days were shortening fast, and,
in this deep gulch, darkness began to come on
early."
The emigrants emerged from the canyon into Hope Valley.
Franklin Longworthy, 1850:
The
road level for two miles; when we suddenly and
unexpectedly emerged from the cañon into a mountain
valley. . . .Through this lonely vale, the Carson
river winds its way, but is here diminished to the
size of a small brook, with gentle curves, rolling
over the beds of pebbles. I think this valley must be
six or seven thousand feet above the level of the sea,
as snow lies through the year at a little higher
elevation. Innumerable summits of rough, jagged, and
snow-capped mountains, surround the valley on all
sides. |
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But Hope Valley offered only a brief
respite before the emigrants faced the challenge of two
rugged passes. The route from Hope Valley ascended
gently for several miles before beginning the sharp
climb over Carson Pass, at 8600 feet.
Wm. Johnston, 1849:
"At
times...double teaming had to be resorted to; eight and
in some cases ten mules were used; and very often the
men were called upon to put their shoulders to the
wheels, while a reserve foce followed in readiness to
scotch them, whenever a rest was necessary." |
And once the first summit was reached,
another one loomed: West Pass, at 9500 feet. As the
emigrants climbed West Pass, they could touch the
"perpetual snow" in the banks along the
roadway.
James Wilkins, 1849:
Here
on the very summit of the back bone of the American
continent ... we were favored with a storm of hail,
rain, and sleet. The wind blew icy cold. Overcoats
were in demand, altho in the middle of the day, while
in the valley below but a few hours before, the sun
was so hot, both coats and vests had to come off. |
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Sarah Royce, 1849:
I was rewarded by coming out, in advance
of all the others, on a rocky height whence I looked
down, far over constantly descending hills, to where a
soft haze sent up a warm, rosy glow that seemed to me a
smile of welcome; while beyond, occasional faint
outlines of other mountains appeared; and I knew I was
looking across the Sacramento Valley. |
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