Category: U.S. History

September 22 – A 5-month virtual road trip along the California Trail Since September 15 we’ve been “virtually” exploring routes leading to California in the region around the Truckee River. Now we return to the other major river route – the Carson River. As weary travelers crossed the 40-mile desert toward the Carson River, they [...]

September 15 – A 5-month virtual road trip along the California Trail The first wagon route established over the Sierra Nevadas followed the Truckee River. After crossing the 40-mile desert, emigrants were thrilled to have reached water and shade trees. There is a wayside interpretive exhibit located in the westbound I-80 rest area just west [...]

September 8 – A 5-month virtual road trip along the California Trail Continuing on the Applegate Trail from Rabbit Hole Spring we next encounter High Rock Canyon (GPS coordinates -119.413, 41.389). The Friends of Black Rock/High Rock website (https://blackrockdesert.org/high-rock-canyon/) has a nice introduction and description, as does the Bureau of Land Management website (https://www.blm.gov/visit/high-rock-canyon). The [...]

September 1 – A 5-month virtual road trip along the California Trail As we begin our final month of a virtual road trip along the California Trail we finish the Hastings cutoff by passing through South Fork (of the Humboldt River) Canyon (GPS coordinates -115.859, 40.746). The entrance to the canyon lies in South Fork [...]

August 22 – A 5-month virtual road trip along the California Trail Lying within the boundaries of Elko, Nevada, the Hot Hole (GPS coordinates -115.778, 40.818) and associated springs were mentioned quite frequently in emigrant diaries. You can view the recently installed interpretive exhibit on the California Trail Center app and mirror website at https://ctic.oncell.com/en/hot-hole-322443.html. [...]