40-Mile Desert - Carson River Route Mystery Cache
40-Mile Desert - Carson River Route
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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As usual, the cache container is not located at the posted
coordinates, but it is located within a reasonable distance away.
The roads leading to the initial coordinate and to the actual cache
location could get quite muddy in the winter or after a heavy rain
or snow storm. If the terrain is dry, a 4WD can get within a few
feet from the cache. Otherwise, it may be a good idea to park on
the 2-track road when you get near the final cache and then walk
the short remaining distance to the ca
DESCRIPTION: At the posted coordinates, you will find yourself
along a portion of the dreaded Forty-Mile Desert of early pioneer
days. A large concrete monolith at this location helps protect a
brass plaque that contains an excerpt from the writings of Eleazar
Stillman Ingalls, one of the early pioneers. Information on this
plaque can be used to answer the ten questions listed below and
obtain the coordinates of the actual cache location (N39°
ab.cde’ W118° fg.hij’). Once you answer the questions,
take the two-track road leading south from the monolith toward the
cache location.
HISTORICAL DATA: In the mid 1800’s, when the early pioneers
headed west to settle the new lands and “stake their
claims” during the time of California and Nevada gold rush,
the California Trail took them across northern Nevada, along the
Humboldt River, an area which is now traversed by travelers on
I-80. When they reached the area of modern day Lovelock and Toulon,
the Humboldt simply ran out of water and disappeared into the
desert. At this point, the settlers had to continue their journey
along one of two dreaded routes. The “Truckee” route
would take them west, where they would eventually reach the Truckee
River near what is modern day Wadsworth, NV, where they could again
stop to rest before continuing west along the Truckee to the base
of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, east of modern day Reno, NV.
Similarly, the “Carson” route would take them south,
where they would eventually reach the Carson River at an area known
as “Ragtown,” which is located a few miles west of
modern day Fallon, NV. Here they could also rest before continuing
along the Carson to the base of the Sierra Nevadas near modern day
Carson City, NV. Regardless of whether they chose the Carson or
Truckee route, they would have to endure 40 miles without any
usable water for themselves or their livestock as they traversed
this harsh, barren, and treacherously hot and barren stretch of
loose sand and waterless alkali wasteland that exhausted the
animals, wagons, and humans who were already worn out and weakened
after months of long, arduous travel. A Nevada State Historic
Preservation Office marker (#26) located near the junction of I-80
and US-95 states, “Starvation for men and animals stalked
every mile. A survey made in 1850 showed these appalling
statistics: 1,061 dead mules, almost 5,000 horses, 3,750 cattle and
953 graves. The then-value of personal property lost was set at
$1,000,000.“ Because of this, the Forty-Mile Desert was the
deadliest and most dreaded part of the California Trail. To avoid
crossing the barren desert with extreme heat, the desert was
usually crossed at night, a journey that could take several
days.
The following are writings from some early pioneers about the
Carson River Route:
Unknown Author – “August 24th - We started on the
desert at ten o'clock. The first ten miles was a little rolling.
The road was good but no vegetation but sage brushes scattered here
and there. The next ten miles the road was hard and as level as a
house floor with no vegetation. Then it became somewhat sandy and
rolling the wind having raised mounds of drifted sand every few
rods. The last twelve miles was very bad the wheels of our wagons
sinking half way up to the hub in sand and it was with extreme
difficulty our cattle could get along. There was a relief station
when we started on the desert from California to relieve emigrants
that was in distress. We saw a number of pitiful objects. Some were
very sick; others crazy from the effects of the hardships of the
journey. There was two trading posts on the desert. They sold water
for one dollar per gallon ($20.78 in 2002 dollars). The road on the
last end of the desert was litterly strewn with the carcasses of
horses, mules or cattle. Also numbers of wagons was to be seen
where the cattle had given out and they had to leave the wagons . .
. August 25th - We arrived across the desert at Carson river at ten
o'clock this morning. Here we found a busy scene. Hundreds of
wagons that had got through the day previous were corralled around
several trading posts where they were disposing there produce &
groceries to the emigrants at exorbitant prices. The article
potatoes was selling for the moderate sum of two dollars per pound
($41.55 in 2002 dollars). Teamsters were not moving there cattle
around California. Cattle traders were riding there mules at full
speed from one train to another bargaining for cattle. All seemed
life and activity. When we drove the cattle near the river there
thirst was so great that they became almost unmanageable and it was
with difficulty we could restrain them from taking wagon and all
into the river. We finally succeeded in getting them unyoked &
they went into the river pell mell, but fortunately it was not very
deep and we succeeded in getting them all out safely. We gave them
what hay we had left, yoked up and drove on seven miles where we
camped, having but little else but brush to graze on. They were,
like ourselves, nearly wore out and was glad to find rest from
there laborings.”
J. S. Shepherd - “Our water being gone, we threw away our
casks, tents, buffalo robes, and many other things, to lighten our
load; we toiled on through the sand and heat, until we got within
five miles of Pilot [Carson] river; here we understood there was a
spring of good water, by the side of a small lake of salt water, on
the top of a hill....so we took our horses out of the harness and
led them to the spring, which we easily found. On getting to the
top of the hill, a small lake ushers itself into view, five or six
hundred feet below you. A rather steep descent took us to the
bottom, down which we succeeded in getting our horses; here,
immediately at the bottom is one of the most beautiful springs I
have ever seen, of most excellent water. Oh! how sweet and
delicious is a draught of good cold water when you are suffering
with burning thirst.”
Eleazar Stillman Ingalls - Imagine to yourself a vast plain of sand
and clay; ...the stinted sage, the salt lakes, cheating the thirsty
traveler into the belief that water is near; yes, water it is, but
poison to the living thing that stops to drink.... Burning wagons
render still more hideous the solemn march; dead horses line the
road, and living ones may be constantly seen, lapping and rolling
the empty water casks (which have been cast away) for a drop of
water to quench their burning thirst, or standing with drooping
heads, waiting for death to relieve them of their tortures, or
lying on the sand half buried, unable to rise, yet still trying.
The sand hills are reached; then comes a scene of confusion and
dismay. Animal after animal drops down. Wagon after wagon is
stopped, the strongest animals are taken out of the harness; the
most important effects are taken out of the wagon and placed on
their backs and all hurry away, leaving behind wagons, property and
animals that, too weak to travel, lie and broil in the sun.... The
owners hurry on with but one object in view, that of reaching the
Carson River before the boiling sun shall reduce them to the same
condition.... The desert! You must see it and feel it in an August
day, when legions have crossed it before you, to realize it in all
its horrors. But heaven save you from the experience.
HOW TO FIND
This last writing appears on a plaque located at the posted
coordinates for this cache. Other information found on that plaque
will provide the answers to the following questions, which will
lead you to the actual location of the cache container. Use the
answers to complete the following coordinates: N39° ab.cde’
W118° fg.hij’
QUESTIONS:
a. First digit of the distance across the desert.
b. First digit of the four-digit year that the excerpt was
written.
c. Day of the month that the excerpt was written.
d. First digit of the day of the month that the monument was
placed.
e. Third digit of the four-digit year that the excerpt was
written.
f. Month that the excerpt was written divided by the month that the
monument was placed.
g. Third digit of the four-digit year that the monument was
placed.
h. Last digit of the distance across the desert.
i. Last digit of the year that the excerpt was written.
j. Second digit of the day of the month that the monument was
placed.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Lbhe nafjref fubhyq vapyhqr gur sbyybjvat ahzoref va fbzr beqre: mreb, mreb, bar, gjb, sbhe, sbhe, svir, svir, frira, frira.
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