![]() ![]() Today, it is still protected as part of the California National Historic Trail. Because of the Donner-Reed tragedy, there was never any extensive use of the Hastings route. The Donner Party traveled this route in 1846 and troubles they experienced on the salt flats contributed greatly to their later misfortune high in the Sierras. In 1846 his route became part of the Hastings Cutoff, promoted by Lansford Hastings as an easier (and quicker) route to Califonia than the usual route through Idaho off of the Oregon Trail. Fremont with his expedition went straight across the salt flats, looking for a shorter route to California in 1845. There's no record, though, of Bonneville ever coming to this place that was named for him. As was the custom in those days, he named the salt flats for his boss: Captain Benjamin L.E. Joseph Walker, another famous frontiersman, was mapping and exploring this area around the Great Salt Lake in 1833. He'd probably heard about it before from Native Americans that he'd come across. ![]() In 1827, Jedediah Smith was returning from his first trip to California when he came across what we now know as the Bonneville Salt Flats. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |