Crossing Paths

Crossing Paths. . John C. Fremont and his expedition of 27 explorers rode south from Pyramid Lake and camped in this area of the Carson River on January 18, 1844 by a bend in the river, beneath the bluffs where Ft. Churchill is now located. After making observations from the nearby mountains, Fremont decided on a more southern route over the Sierra Nevadas to the Sacramento Valley. They arrived at Sutter's Fort in March of 1844. , Fifteen years later, the rapid growth of California increased wagon traffic across the Sierra range significantly. It soon became apparent a shorter, faster route across the continent was imperative. Captain James Harvey Simpson of the US Army of Topographical Engineers was selected for the task of finding that route. In 1859, he and 64 men set off from the Great Salt Lake in Utah to Genoa, Nevada., Although both the Simpson and Fremont trails did cross near this point on the Carson River, Simpson made his camp about five miles west of this point further up on the south side of the Carson River and on his return trip about three miles east of where Buckland Station is located today., Both men are recognized in history as famous trail blazers but Fremont is more readily remembered because of his political career. Dedicated July 29, 6022 (2017) by the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus Chief Truckee Chapter #3691 James W. Marshall Chapter #49 Julia C. Bulette Chapter #1864 and its Outpost Copper Queen 1915