Snowmobiles & Parts

Welcome to Oly Olson's Garage, the website location for all your vintage and antique Jeep, 4x4 and Snowmobile parts, located in Placerville California in the the scenic Sierra Foothills of California.

www.OlsonsGarage.com

Ph.  530-626-4600 

Mormon Lassen Applegate Trail

SUNDAY, AUGUST 13, TRUCKEE RIVER

            After stopping over to let the cattle's feet rest, they cut grass to carry with them to feed the animals while crossing the 45-mile desert. They reached the old Truckee road. This ended the blazing of the road over the Carson Pass, 170 miles in 40 days. There was one more short distance where they would blaze a wagon road before finally reaching the Salt Lake Valley-the Hensley Cutoff.

 MONDAY, AUGUST 14, BOILING SPRING

            When the company reached a boiling spring, the water was so hot a dog died immediately when it fell in. They fed their cattle the grass they had cut previously and carried with them. They did not build corrals this night since the men stood guard until 11:00 p.m. when they continued their journey. They traveled 25 miles at a rapid rate, before camping at sunrise at Humboldt Sink. It was hot and the men spent the day sleeping in the shade of the wagons. They had been two nights and a day crossing the desert.

            As the group traveled up the Humboldt River, the Indians grew bolder because they could hide behind the willows on the banks of the river. Several horses were shot with poisoned arrows and died.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, ST. MARY'S RIVER

             As they traveled along the St. Mary's River, there was very little feed for the animals. The country was dry, barren, and dusty, with no timber, only small brush.

            Daniel Browetr's cow, which was being, taken to his widow, became so lame it couldn't walk, so it was killed and the meat was divided. The Indians continued to harass them, killing more horses. Other animals were wounded by the arrows, but did not die. This caused a layover so the animals could rest. Journals began to express thoughts about being anxious to reach Salt Lake Valley and to see if their families were there.

 FRIDAY, AUGUST 25

            The Indians continued to steal and wound horses. The men talked to seven Indians who came into camp and asked them not to shoot their horses.

            On August 26 the company met a group of emigrants going to California. Bishop Levi Riter, one of the emigrants, reported that grain, corn, and garden plants did well in Salt Lake and that they were five hundred miles from the valley. Riter was going to San Francisco to collect goods he had shipped on the ship Brooklyn. He was a bishop in Salt Lake.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 27

            There was no traveling on this day. Addison Pratt held a prayer meeting at his wagon in the afternoon. Just as the meeting was over, Capt. Samuel Hensley and ten packers came into the camp. Hensley told them it was about 380 miles to Salt Lake on a cutoff he had found. He told them the route was good and would save them eight to ten days. Original plans were to go by Ft. Hall. Hensley also said his route was nearer the Hastings' route. These packers spoke favorably about Salt Lake and its inhabitants.           

TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, HASTINGS' CUTOFF

            Joseph Chiles, captain, and a company of emigrants with 48 wagons bound for California, passed. He gave the Browett-Holmes company a way bill showing a route shorter than Hensley's route. These California-bound emigrants were anxious to talk to Azariah Smith because he was present at Coloma when gold was discovered. They bought bacon and buffalo meat from this company and tried unsuccessfully to get coffee.

           As they traveled the next few days, the weather was cold, with north winds and rain intermittently. They passed the Hastings' Cutoff.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3

            The mountaintops were covered with snow, with a heavy frost in the valley where they traveled. It had snowed heavily, making traveling very disagreeable. Indians came to camp to trade buckskins for knives and clothing. They also wanted gunpowder. On September 5 four men were sent ahead to find the Chile "cutoff."

            A council was held on September 7 to decide which route to follow to Salt Lake. It was voted to continue to try to find the "Chiles cutoff."

            After searching for the cutoff another day, a second meeting was held on the morning of September 9. It was decided to continue on the Ft. Hall road until they reached the Hensley cutoff.

            As they traveled through Warm Springs Valley and camped, the cattle frequently fell into the wells and could not get out without help.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, GOOSE CREEK

            Travel along Goose Creek provided a supper of small trout. Some undisturbed graves were noticed, the first they had seen. Usually, graves had been looted by the Indians or animals.

           While camped in the Stone Creek Mountains, James Sly returned and reported he had found the Hensley turnoff about eight miles ahead.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, CITY OF ROCKS

            Leaving the Ft. Hall road at the City of Rocks, the company traveled two miles before reaching the Hensley cutoff. There were no wagon tracks here. Once again this vanguard group was blazing a wagon road. The Hensley route had been a pack trail previously. This marked the fourth time, since leaving Ft. Leavenworth, the ex-Battalion soldiers had taken the first wagons across unmarked land.

            After traveling along Cassia Creek for a couple of days, they turned east through sagebrush on a pack trail. They camped at the bottom of a mountain in a grove of birch trees with plenty of grass for the animals. Journals mention mounting excitement and rising spirits as the end of the journey drew nearer.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

            After going through a pass in the mountains, the Great Salt Lake came into view. They were on the opposite side of the lake from where the Saints were building their city.

            After descending the mountain, they crossed a dry sage plain and camped on Deep Creek. Many Indians came on horseback to trade, and camped for the night.