Twin Rivers Branch Library, Montana
It appears that Wilson Price Hunt of John Jacob Astor's party seeking to monopolize the fur trade crossed Union Pass in 1811, and another Astorian, Robert Stuart, returned east the next year using South Pass.
[Photos taken 13 -16 Jun 2013.] (Click once to enlarge; press ESC to return here.)
As the above plaque notes, Jedediah Smith learned of South Pass from the Shoshones? after failing to cross Union Pass following a severe winter. Unlike most mountain passes, South Pass seemed like the rolling plains of Nebraska.
If readable, this plaque shows that the California, Oregon, and Mormon Trails as well as the Pony Express all used South Pass.
This plaque gives a special nod to the Pony Express, which, although the owners lost $1 million, was highly regarded throughout the world.
Though it doesn't look like a typical mountain pass South Pass was between the ridge in the distance and the light-colored crown just past the dirt road.
South Pass was a "milestone" for many. [Click once to enlarge; press ESC to return here.]
Three names of importance for South Pass: Sublette, Bonneville, and Fremont.
A short distance away from South Pass a Wyoming Rest Stop had this sign.
The Lander Cut-Off. Unlike other shortcuts the Lander Cut-Off had water for most of its route.
Speaking of water, this is an area of the Continental Divide where some creeks or streams flowed into a tributary of the Missouri, others into the headwaters of the Green River, which joined the Colorado River, and yet others into the Snake River, which joined the Columbia River. There are only a few spots where waters so close together emptied into the Gulf of Mexico, the Sea of Cortez, and the Pacific Ocean.
Another plaque with information on the Lander Cut-Off; this plaque was in the Salt River Valley just inside Wyoming's western border.
Links:
- Brief Wikipedia history of Union Pass
- Will Bagley essay on the importance of South Pass to westward migration
- Wikipedia article on South Pass
- Wikipedia article on Togwotee Pass, including pronunciation
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M 1 Jul Actual Route: Road 550A bd - Darby Lib - Lake Como - Road 550A bd
T 2 Jul Actual Route: Road 550A bd - Darby Lib - Hamilton - Stevensville - Classmate's Home
W 3 Jul Actual Route: Classmate's Home - Florence P.O. - Milltown - Seeley Lake - Sawyer Crk Rd bd
Th 4 Jul Actual Route: Sawyer Crk Rd bd
F 5 Jul Actual Route: Sawyer Crk Rd bd - Seeley Lake, MT, Lib - Swan L - Bigpoint - Kalispell W/M
Sa 6 Jul Actual Route: Kalispell W/M - Kalispell Lib - Kalispell W/M
Su 7 Jul Actual Route: Kalispell W/M - Kalispell Walgreens - Glacier Natl Pk - St Mary bd
M 8 Jul Route: St Mary bd - Browning - Cut Bank
Finding Campgrounds:
- RV Campgrounds from TrailerLifeDirectory.com
- Family Camping Directories from Woodalls.com
- Free campsites website
- Info on finding BLM Campgrounds
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