The indifferent stars above brought me here. Great explanation of the foundation of the cut off route that would later be used by the Donner party. The additional CA history also helped paint the legacy of why this part of American history is so fascinating.

@octatrails

6 ай бұрын

Hope you also enjoy some of our other videos about Trail history.

The best land under heaven brought me here! James Reed and Charles Stanton amongst others should be national heros

Thank you for providing this, as I have been trying to learn the exact route of the Donner Party. There is one aspect of the Hastings Cutoff I don't understand which I'm hoping you may be able to answer: Hastings lead a wagon train through is cutoff ahead of the Donner Party, leaving a note on the trail that there wasn't a suitable pass through the Wasatch Mountains; yet, Hastings was able to guide his wagon train over the mountains and across the Salt Lake Desert. My question is, why wasn't the Donner/Reed party able to follow Hastings route trough the Wasatch Mountains? Instead, they cut their own trail through the mountains and somehow was able to resume travel via the Hastings Cutoff. This is puzzling to me and I haven't been able to find an answer! Please let me know if you're able to shed any light on this, and again, thank you so much for your efforts to preserve the history of our emigrant trails!

@octatrails

7 ай бұрын

Todd, I am checking with history experts and will find the answer you are looking for

@toddmorrison7342

6 ай бұрын

Terrific, much appreciated!@@octatrails

@octatrails

6 ай бұрын

Todd, This answer is provided by Steve Allison, the President of OCTA. When the Harlan-Young, Miller, and Leinhard groups exited Echo Canyon in 1846 in what is now Utah, Hastings was in the rear of those companies dealing with some problems. His partner, James Hudspeth decided to guide the companies north down the Weber Canyon, instead of the way Hastings had planned. The trek down Weber Canyon was a disaster. The Weber River was running high and there were narrow, steep places where they had to lower each wagon down the rocks with ropes. It was difficult in the extreme and a stupid mistake on the part of Hudspeth. Leinhard wrote in his journal about their wagons flipping over into the river. The Donner Party was 3 weeks behind the lead groups. Hastings left a note at the Weber River crossing near what is now Henefer, Utah. He told them not to follow their tracks down the Weber. He said to go to the west and over the mountains that way. Reading the note, it was clear to James Reed, the Donner Party Captain, that they should avoid the Weber River route. But it was not clear what path they should take. The Donner Party encamped at the Weber River crossing while James Reed and two other men left on horseback to go forward and find Hastings. They caught up to Hastings in what is now Lake Point, Utah on the south shore of the Great Salt Lake. They tried in vain to get Hastings to come back and lead them through the Wasatch Mountains. He did go back with them as far as Big Mountain, east of the Salt Lake Valley, and from there described the way through the mountains. Hastings went back west and caught up with the other companies near Grantsville, Utah, and continued west. After being gone for four days, Reed rejoined the Donner Party at the Weber River crossing and led them the way Hastings had described. Traveling along the creek beds was slow because the trees and brush were incredibly thick. Eventually, they made their way down Emigration Canyon and exited near where Hogel Zoo is now. They crossed the Jordan River in the Salt Lake Valley at about 2900 South. Heading northwest, they found the wagon tracks of the companies ahead of them and followed them to Donner Lake where they got snowed in and remained for the winter. When Brigham Young and the Pioneer Company came in 1847, they followed the Donner tracks into the Salt Lake Valley. The Donners had created a crude wagon road across the Wasatch Mountains. It took the Donners 4 days to hack their way through Emigration Canyon. The next year, Brigham Young's Pioneer Company traveled the same distance/route in 4 hours. Check out this website: historytogo.utah.gov/harlan-young/

@toddmorrison7342

6 ай бұрын

Good morning! I can't thank you enough for the provided information and clarification, your assistance is greatly and genuinely appreciated! I'm very excited to Google Earth the locations provided in your response, and I certainly look forward to all future KZread posting on your channel - CHEERS! @@octatrails