Near West Wendover in Elko County, Nevada — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Pilot Peak
The peak was named by John C. Fremont on his expedition of 1845. Kit Carson, the expedition's guide, sent ahead to locate water, found a line of springs at its eastern base, now known as McKellar Springs. Carson is reputed to have guided the rest of Fremont's expedition across the salt desert by sending up smoke signals from the peak; hence, Fremont's name for it.
During the years 1847-1850, relief parties sallied forth periodically with water from the Pilot Peak springs to rescue and succor the thirst-crazed emigrants and their livestock struggling across the terrible salt desert to the eastward.
Erected by Nevada State Park System and Northeastern Nevada Historical Society. (Marker Number 46.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1845.
Location. 40° 50.636′ N, 114° 12.448′ W. Marker is near West Wendover, Nevada, in Elko County. Marker is on Pilot Road north of Interstate 80, on the right when traveling north. Pilot Road is accessed from Exit 398 of I-80. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: West Wendover NV 89883, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Tough Traveling in the Desert (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Can Anything Survive Here? (about 500 feet away); Where Did the Lake Go? (about 500 feet away); Transcontinental Telephone Line (approx. 10 miles away); Ancient Lake Bonneville (approx. 10 miles away); Historic Wendover Field (approx. 10 miles away); Western Pacific Railroad (approx. 10 miles away); Lincoln Highway (approx. 10 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in West Wendover.
Also see . . . New Amended Text for Marker. The Nevada State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) recently updated the text of the roughly 260 state historical markers in Nevada. The Nevada SHPO placed the amended text of each individual marker on its website and will change the actual markers in the field as funding allows. Minor changes have been made to the marker for grammar and readability. In the last paragraph the time reference for relief parties has been changed to 1849-1850. The link will take you to the Nevada SHPO page for the marker with the amended text. (Submitted on November 12, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 11, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 613 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 11, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.