Rules of the Road

In June 1840 Joseph Walker was carving his name into Independence Rock, the first of 1000s of settlers who

would do the same, making the natural tower the "Gateway to the Rockies".  Later that month he met up with some of his brother, Joe's men who led them further into Oregon, being the first to go beyond Boise and entering the Columbia Plateau.

Somewhere in that region they ran into Indian trouble because the Walker children remembered their mothers leading them to the river to hide.  Joel then composed a formal set of safety rules for settlers traveling to the Northwest:

1.  Be careful never to camp in timber.
2.  Be careful never to let Indians come among you.
3.  Never let Indians have any ammunition on any account.
4.  Keep careful watch day and night.
5.  Never neglect camp - guard at any account.
6.  Never fire a gun after crossing the Umqua Mountains until you cross the Siskiew Mountain perhaps a 5 day travel..
7.  Keep  yourselves as close as possible  in traveling through the brush.
8.  Never scatter after game or make any division.
9.  Keep your guns in the best firing conditions.

Next time...19th Century Pharisees

End of a Rockies Era

By the end of 1835 there were only about 50-75 white trappers left in the far west compared to 500-600  at the beginning of the decade.  Fashion had changed in the East and the beaver hats were not so fashionable anymore.  Small fur companies went broke, even the Rocky Mountain Fur Company folded in 1834 deep in debt. John  Jacob Aster  sold off divisions of the American Fur Company.

The Indian became more important in trading as they harvested the furs and sold them to the companies.  The last summer fur rendezvous was held in 1840 with "very little beaver and a lot of dull".  Joe Meek attended and was told  "we are done with this mountain life, done wading in beaver dams, freezing in the Rockies is dead, there is no place for us now, if there ever was...".

The Rocky Mountain fur trade was not dead, just changed.  Many old style trappers left, the the trade continued and even improved.  There was no longer pressure from the large competitive trapping brigades and the beaver, otter, mink recovered.  New markets opened up and the number of white roaming the region decreased, leaving the Indians more peaceful.  It was a good time period...

Next time...Allied with the Indians.

Through the Valley of the Shadow...

By the third day in the desert, the men were mortally thirsty, frightened and rebellious.  They demanded that Walker turn back and continue the longer route where there was at least water. 

Captain Walker was not one to change his course based on what his men said, but this time, by midnight he yieldedto the wishes of his men, and as it was cooler at night, they started back towards the Sierra mountains.

Two bad days and nights followed which reduced the party to drinking the blood of some of the cattle.  No one died, however, and once they found the route again, they reached Humboldt Sink by June 18 without further ado.

Time to reunite with old friends and enemies...next time.