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Pass cuts west, over the Ruby Mountains, about five miles south of
Franklin Lake, right. It was a key shortcut for the Bidwell-Bartleson
Party. Fortunately they had discarded their wagons at Big Springs.
The pass could only be attained by horse or on foot. John Bidwell
put the choice in simple terms: "T 23d [Tuesday, Sept. 23] We
could see no termination of the valley, not any signs of Mary's [Humboldt]
river, therefore concluded that we were too far south - and passed
over the [Ruby] mountains to the North, where we struck a small stream
[Huntington Creek].... Encumbered with wagons, the Donner-Reed Party
had to continue south, bypassing the pass junction, top left. The
trail signs are at the road junction. The gopher snake didn't take
the pass road. |
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