Meanwhile, Walker traveled North skirting Death Valley and the Nevada barrens, following the eastern foothills of the Sierras. It was a safe route with abundant pasture and water. However, they took the long way because Captain Walker reasoned that if they headed into the dessert on a northeast diagonal they would would cover less ground in the end.
On May 10, they turned away from the Sierras into the dessert...which makes me wonder if there is ever any good reason to go into a dessert?? We will find out next time...