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What did Tom's route to the camp and
Frémont's have in common? Snowshoes; they both came on
snowshoes. Tom is using a pair of eastern woodland
style "bear paw" snowshoes made of bent
ash with rawhide lacing. Frémont's
vouchers show no expedition purchases of
snowshoes. Where did Frémont get
his? Frémont: February 3, near
Grover's Hot Springs-- While a
portion of the camp were occupied in
bringing up the baggage to this point,
the remainder were busied in
making sledges and snowshoes.
I had determined to explore the mountain
ahead, and the sledges were to be used in
transporting the baggage. Frémont: February 6, Faith
Valley--During the morning we had
the pleasure of a visit from Mr.
Fitzpatrick, with the information that all
was going well. A party of
Indians had passed on
snow-shoes, who said they
were going to the western side of the
mountain after fish. This was an
indication that the salmon were coming up
the streams; and we could hardly restrain
our impatience as we thought of them, and
worked with increased vigor.
Pictured
is Tom Chaffin at Frémont's Long
Camp near Carson Pass. Tom, a professor of
journalism and history at Emory University
in Atlanta, is the author of a new
biography, Pathfinder: John C.
Frémont and the Course of American
Empire (See
below)
Frémont: January 28, 1844, near
Bridgeport--During the day a few Indians
were seen circling around us on snow
shoes,
and
skimming along like birds; but we could not bring
them within speaking distance. Godey [Alex
Godey, at right], who was a little distance
from the camp, had sat down to tie his moccasins,
when he heard a low whistle near, and looking up,
saw two Indians half hiding behind a rock about
forty yards distant; they would not allow him to
approach, but breaking into a laugh, skimmed off
over the snow, seeming to have no idea of the power
of firearms, and thinking themselves perfectly safe
when beyond arm's length.
Frémont:
February 3, near Markleeville--We occupied
the remainder of the day in beating down a road to
the base of the hill, a mile or two distant; the
snow being beaten down when moist, in the warm part
of the day, and then hard frozen at night, made a
foundation that would bear the weight of the
animals next morning. During the day
several Indians joined us on snow-shoes. These were
made of a circular hoop, about a foot in diameter,
the interior space being filled with an open
network of bark. (illus
after Kroeber, Handbook of the Indians of
California)
Frémont: February 6, Charity
Valley--Accompanied by Mr. Fitzpatrick
[Thomas "Broken Hand" Fitzpatrick, at
right], I set out to-day with a
reconnoitering
party on snow-shoes. We marched all in
single file, trampling the snow as heavily as we
could. Crossing the open basin [Faith
Valley], in a march of about ten miles we
reached the top of one of the peaks [Elephant
Back], to the left of the pass [Carson
Pass] indicated by our guide [Melo--a
Washoe Indian]. Far below us, dimmed by the
distance, was a large snowless valley
[Sacramento and San Joaquin], bounded on
the western side, at a distance of about a hundred
miles, by a low range of mountains [Coast
Range], which Carson recognized with delight as
the mountains bordering the coast. "There," he
said, "is the little mountain [Mt.
Diablo]--it is fifteen [sic] years
since I saw it; but I am just as sure as If I had
seen it yesterday."
It was late in the day when we turned towards the
camp [Charity Valley]; and it grew rapidly
cold as it drew towards night. One of the men
became fatigued, and his feet began to freeze, and
building a fire in the trunk of a dry old cedar
[probably Sierra Juniper], Mr. Fitzpatrick
remained with him until his cloths could be dried,
and he was in a condition to come on. After a days
march of 20 miles, we straggled into camp one after
another, at nightfall; the greater number
excessively fatigued, only two of the
party having ever traveled on snow-shoes
before.
Charles
Preuss, February 8, Near Forestdale
Creek--We are slowly working our
way through the snow. Sleds and
snowshoes make
such a good track that the horses, without
packs, will probably get across. The men
are now the pack horses. It was impossible
to sleep last night; all the blankets and
hides could not keep a person warm. During
the day it is beautiful.
Kit
Carson--The snow was six feet on
the level for three leagues.
We made snow shoes and walked
over the snow to find how far
we would have to make a road. Found it to
be the distance afore stated. After we
reached the extremity of the snow, we
could see in the distance the green valley
of the Sacramento and the Coast Range. I
knew the place well, had been there
seventeen [sic] years before. Our
feelings can be imagined when we saw such
beautiful country.
Discovery of the Long Camp.
What is the Long Camp,
anyway?.
How did they get there?
Just who discovered Carson
Pass, anyway?
How do I hike there?
What was the approach to this
place? See other campsites
on the way.
An overview of the route from
Markleeville to the Pass--an
important determination of
latitude!
Frémont's
Long Camp is now a
Geocache site. Click the
Geocaching icon to visit
the page.
Anyone with a GPS device can
participate in this popular new
hobby. There are probably many
geocaches right near you. LFlood
found it: Thank you for your
scholarship and efforts to
preserve our history. This is a
highly deserving cache location.
I'm glad it is still in its
pristine state.
by Tom Chaffin
Hill & Wang--Farrar,
Straus and Giroux, New York,
2002
Order online at
Barnes
& Noble or
amazon.com
There in no
connection between this website and the
publisher or any
bookseller
©1999, 2007
Bob
Graham
