Carson Pass
Encyclopedia
Carson Pass is the Sierra Crest
mountain pass
over which State Route 88
crosses. The historic pass was a point on the Carson Trail during the California Gold Rush
and was used for American Civil War
shipping to California until the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad
. The Pacific Crest Trail
traverses the Carson Pass summit, which has California Historical Landmark
#315 at CA 88 postmile 6.09 where Kit Carson
carved his name into a tree.
. When encamped at Nevada's Carson Valley on January 31, 1844; guide Kit Carson
suggested the expedition detour west during the winter conditions to Sutter's Fort
in California for supplies. Local Washoe
Indians told them of a route through the mountains, but warned them not to proceed through the snow. Frémont duly ignored the advice and directed the group westward. The Washoe were right in that they would not be able to find food or game, and they ended up resorting to eating dog, horse, and mule just to survive. On February 14, Frémont and his cartographer Charles Preuss
made it up Red Lake Peak
and became the first white men to see Lake Tahoe
in the distance. On February 21, the expedition made it through the now-named Carson pass west of Red Lake and arrived at Sutter's Fort on March 6 with no fatalities.
In 1849, Mormon
s built a wagon trail (Carson Trail) through the Carson Pass from Sly Park, California
to the Carson Valley. The road was later extended through the Carson Spur around the north shore of Silver Lake
, and southwest to Jackson
(California State Route 88
through the pass uses this southern route).
Sierra Crest
The Sierra Crest is a ~ generally north-to-south ridgeline that demarcates the broad west and narrow east slopes of the Sierra Nevada and that extends as far east as the Sierra's topographic front...
mountain pass
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
over which State Route 88
California State Route 88
State Route 88 , also known as the Carson Pass Highway, is a California State Highway that travels in an east–west direction, from Stockton, crossing the Sierra Nevada at Carson Pass, and ending at the border with Nevada, whereupon it becomes Nevada State Route 88, eventually terminating at U.S...
crosses. The historic pass was a point on the Carson Trail during the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
and was used for American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
shipping to California until the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad
First Transcontinental Railroad
The First Transcontinental Railroad was a railroad line built in the United States of America between 1863 and 1869 by the Central Pacific Railroad of California and the Union Pacific Railroad that connected its statutory Eastern terminus at Council Bluffs, Iowa/Omaha, Nebraska The First...
. The Pacific Crest Trail
Pacific Crest Trail
The Pacific Crest Trail is a long-distance mountain hiking and equestrian trail on the Western Seaboard of the United States. The southern terminus is at the California border with Mexico...
traverses the Carson Pass summit, which has California Historical Landmark
California Historical Landmark
California Historical Landmarks are buildings, structures, sites, or places in the state of California that have been determined to have statewide historical significance by meeting at least one of the criteria listed below:...
#315 at CA 88 postmile 6.09 where Kit Carson
Kit Carson
Christopher Houston "Kit" Carson was an American frontiersman and Indian fighter. Carson left home in rural present-day Missouri at age 16 and became a Mountain man and trapper in the West. Carson explored the west to California, and north through the Rocky Mountains. He lived among and married...
carved his name into a tree.
History
The 1844 Frémont Expedition turned south from northern NevadaNevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. When encamped at Nevada's Carson Valley on January 31, 1844; guide Kit Carson
Kit Carson
Christopher Houston "Kit" Carson was an American frontiersman and Indian fighter. Carson left home in rural present-day Missouri at age 16 and became a Mountain man and trapper in the West. Carson explored the west to California, and north through the Rocky Mountains. He lived among and married...
suggested the expedition detour west during the winter conditions to Sutter's Fort
Sutter's Fort
Sutter's Fort State Historic Park is a state-protected park in Sacramento, California which includes Sutter's Fort and the California State Indian Museum. Begun in 1839 and originally called "New Helvetia" by its builder, John Sutter, the fort was a 19th century agricultural and trade colony in...
in California for supplies. Local Washoe
Washoe
Washoe or washo could refer to:*Washoe -- a chimpanzee that was taught by humans to speak in American Sign Language*Before it was made a Territory, Nevada was popularly known as Washoe*Washoe County, Nevada*Washoe Lake - lake in Nevada...
Indians told them of a route through the mountains, but warned them not to proceed through the snow. Frémont duly ignored the advice and directed the group westward. The Washoe were right in that they would not be able to find food or game, and they ended up resorting to eating dog, horse, and mule just to survive. On February 14, Frémont and his cartographer Charles Preuss
Charles Preuss
George Karl Ludwig Preuss , Anglicized as Charles Preuss, was a surveyor and cartographer who accompanied John C. Fremont on his exploratory expeditions of the American west, including the expedition where he and Fremont were the first to record seeing Lake Tahoe from a mountaintop vantage point as...
made it up Red Lake Peak
Red Lake Peak
Red Lake Peak is believed to be the vantage point from which John C. Fremont and Charles Preuss made the first recorded sighting of Lake Tahoe in February 1844 as Fremont's exploratory expedition made a desperate crossing of the Sierra Nevada through what is now Carson Pass on their way to obtain...
and became the first white men to see Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the United States. At a surface elevation of , it is located along the border between California and Nevada, west of Carson City. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. Its depth is , making it the USA's second-deepest...
in the distance. On February 21, the expedition made it through the now-named Carson pass west of Red Lake and arrived at Sutter's Fort on March 6 with no fatalities.
In 1849, Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
s built a wagon trail (Carson Trail) through the Carson Pass from Sly Park, California
Sly Park, California
Sly Park is an unincorporated community in El Dorado County, California. It is located in Sly Valley east of Placerville, at an elevation of 3560 feet ....
to the Carson Valley. The road was later extended through the Carson Spur around the north shore of Silver Lake
Plasse, California
Plasse is an unincorporated community in Amador County, California.Plasse is located near Silver Lake in the Eldorado National Forest. It lies at an elevation of 7287 feet ....
, and southwest to Jackson
Jackson, California
Jackson is the county seat of Amador County, California. The population was 4,651 at the 2010 census, up from 3,989 at the 2000 census...
(California State Route 88
California State Route 88
State Route 88 , also known as the Carson Pass Highway, is a California State Highway that travels in an east–west direction, from Stockton, crossing the Sierra Nevada at Carson Pass, and ending at the border with Nevada, whereupon it becomes Nevada State Route 88, eventually terminating at U.S...
through the pass uses this southern route).