"Though only twenty miles away, Elko feels like its worlds away. Time to praise another Stone marker still adorned with its original etching." -- September 2008

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Along I-80 @ Exit 292, 10 miles west of Elko Humboldt County   40.766071, -115.919849

Original Date Visited: 9/16/08

Signed: No

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Exact Description:
Across the Humboldt Valley southward from this point, a deeply incised canyon is seen opening into the valley. Through that canyon along the South Fork of the Humboldt ran the disaster-laden route called the Hastings Cutoff. It joined the regular Fort Hall route running on both sides of the Humboldt here.

The canyon was first traversed in 1841 by the Bartleson-Bidwell Party, the earliest organized California emigrant group. In 1846 Lansford Hastings guided a party through this defile of the South Fork and out along the Humboldt. The ill-fated Reed Donner Party followed later the same year.

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 COVERED IN MY INTERSTATE 80 ROAD TRIP

Next Marker

 JUNCTION HOUSE

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Related Links & Markers

 [253] -- Emigrant-Donner Camp   Virtual Tour of the California Trail 

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