Today, I pre-ran the Trails West annual conference trip with Steve. We will be guiding a trip following Hawley Grade, which crosses portions of Johnson and Luther Passes.
A few years ago, I made a list of all the Pony Express Stations in Nevada and California. I pulled from multiple sources because there doesn’t seem to be a definitive list of stations. My theory is that the Pony Express lasted only a year and a half, and the routes changed, so some of the smaller or short-lived stations were lost along the way. Somehow, Lake Valley House didn’t pop up in my research.
This weekend, I got to visit the location and the marker. The station was on the short-lived route through Woodfords, used before Daggett Pass opened. Lake Valley House was used from April 3 to May 13, 1860. Riders left the valley headed up Hawley Grade.
If you enjoy emigrant history, join me June 11-12 for the Trails West Conference. Wednesday is presentations, I’ll be attending and selling books. Friday is the trip. I have at least 2 seats open if someone wants to ride with me. I probably won’t be doing the optional hike down the grade from Echo Summit.
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