Fandango Pass | |
---|---|
Elevation | 6,135 ft (1,870 m) |
Traversed by | CR 9 |
Location |
Modoc National Forest, Modoc County, California, United States |
Range | Warner Mountains |
Coordinates | 41°48′08″N 120°12′25″W / 41.8021136°N 120.206895°W |
Official name | Applegate-Lassen Emigrant Trail (Fandango Pass) |
Designated | July 15, 1956 |
Reference no. | 546 [1] |
The Fandango Pass (previously Lassen Pass; variants Lassen Cut-off, Lassen Horn) [2] is a gap in the Warner Mountains of Modoc County, California, USA. Located in the Modoc National Forest, its elevation is 6,135 feet (1,870 m) above sea level. [2] It is approximately 5 mi (8.0 km) southwest of Fort Bidwell. [3]
Fandango Pass was historically notable for its location as the convergence of two trails, the Applegate and the Lassen, that were traveled by emigrant pioneers between 1846 and 1850. [1] The pass can now be traversed on a 10 mi (16 km) section of graded gravel, 1.5 lanes wide. It is closed during winter storms. [4]
The mountain pass was located at a convergence of two trails, the Applegate and the Lassen, that were traveled by emigrant pioneers between 1846 and 1850. [1] The Applegate Trail, originally intended as a less dangerous route to the Oregon Territory, was established in 1846 by the Applegate brothers and Levi Scott, [5] and ran through today's U.S. states of Idaho, Nevada, California, and Oregon. The Lassen Horn Trail [6] was established by Peter Lassen two years later and ran south at Goose Lake towards California Gold Rush mines and settlements. [7] Though the pass was extensively traversed from 1848 until 1853, its importance declined after 1869 with the opening of the Cedar Pass wagon road. [6]
To reach the pass, the emigrants had to cross or bypass Upper Alkali Lake in order to reach the Warner Mountains which is located to the west of the lake. [8] The historic cutoff, part of the California Trail, required passing through Rabbithole Springs, crossing the Black Rock Desert and High Rock Canyon before finally arriving at Surprise Valley, a journey of approximately 100 miles (160 km) of desert travel. From here, the trail climbs steeply to reach the pass, gaining about 1,600 ft (490 m) in about 2 mi (3.2 km). [8] From the summit, the trail descended steeply into the southeast end of Fandango Valley [3] by Goose Lake on the Oregon-California border. The Fandango Pass trail section is visible on the eastern side of the summit. [9]
The pass, known initially as Lassen's Pass (1857 map) or Lassen Pass (1864 map), [3] was named for Lassen by gold seekers in 1849 who followed the route made by Lassen the previous year. [3]
One theory of the name change, from Lassen to Fandango, is that in the 1850s, an Indian massacre may have occurred in the area. The massacre involved a large emigrant train that had camped at the edge of the valley. While the party indulged in a fandango after finding game, grass, and water, [10] it was attacked by Indians. Another theory suggests that Wolverine Rangers camping in the valley found it to be so cold that they burned their wagons for heat and danced a fandango. They named their camp site "Fandango Valley". Later pioneers who passed the area and saw burned wagons deduced that an Indian massacre had occurred. [11] [12] [13] Fairfield describes an 1858 skirmish between Whites and Indigenous people that occurred near Fandango Valley that resulted in at least 17 Indigenous men being scalped by Whites. [14]
While the valley, peak and pass were named Fandango in the 1870s, a 1949 map, nonetheless, showed the pass as being named Lassen Horn. [3]
On July 15, 1956, the Fandango Pass section of the Applegate-Lassen Emigrant Trail became California Historical Landmark No. 546. The plaque marker is located 10.8 mi (17.4 km) east of Highway 395 on Fandango Pass Road (County Road 9). [1] A second marker is located off the road, placed by Trails West. [8]
Fandango Pass | |
---|---|
Elevation | 6,135 ft (1,870 m) |
Traversed by | CR 9 |
Location |
Modoc National Forest, Modoc County, California, United States |
Range | Warner Mountains |
Coordinates | 41°48′08″N 120°12′25″W / 41.8021136°N 120.206895°W |
Official name | Applegate-Lassen Emigrant Trail (Fandango Pass) |
Designated | July 15, 1956 |
Reference no. | 546 [1] |
The Fandango Pass (previously Lassen Pass; variants Lassen Cut-off, Lassen Horn) [2] is a gap in the Warner Mountains of Modoc County, California, USA. Located in the Modoc National Forest, its elevation is 6,135 feet (1,870 m) above sea level. [2] It is approximately 5 mi (8.0 km) southwest of Fort Bidwell. [3]
Fandango Pass was historically notable for its location as the convergence of two trails, the Applegate and the Lassen, that were traveled by emigrant pioneers between 1846 and 1850. [1] The pass can now be traversed on a 10 mi (16 km) section of graded gravel, 1.5 lanes wide. It is closed during winter storms. [4]
The mountain pass was located at a convergence of two trails, the Applegate and the Lassen, that were traveled by emigrant pioneers between 1846 and 1850. [1] The Applegate Trail, originally intended as a less dangerous route to the Oregon Territory, was established in 1846 by the Applegate brothers and Levi Scott, [5] and ran through today's U.S. states of Idaho, Nevada, California, and Oregon. The Lassen Horn Trail [6] was established by Peter Lassen two years later and ran south at Goose Lake towards California Gold Rush mines and settlements. [7] Though the pass was extensively traversed from 1848 until 1853, its importance declined after 1869 with the opening of the Cedar Pass wagon road. [6]
To reach the pass, the emigrants had to cross or bypass Upper Alkali Lake in order to reach the Warner Mountains which is located to the west of the lake. [8] The historic cutoff, part of the California Trail, required passing through Rabbithole Springs, crossing the Black Rock Desert and High Rock Canyon before finally arriving at Surprise Valley, a journey of approximately 100 miles (160 km) of desert travel. From here, the trail climbs steeply to reach the pass, gaining about 1,600 ft (490 m) in about 2 mi (3.2 km). [8] From the summit, the trail descended steeply into the southeast end of Fandango Valley [3] by Goose Lake on the Oregon-California border. The Fandango Pass trail section is visible on the eastern side of the summit. [9]
The pass, known initially as Lassen's Pass (1857 map) or Lassen Pass (1864 map), [3] was named for Lassen by gold seekers in 1849 who followed the route made by Lassen the previous year. [3]
One theory of the name change, from Lassen to Fandango, is that in the 1850s, an Indian massacre may have occurred in the area. The massacre involved a large emigrant train that had camped at the edge of the valley. While the party indulged in a fandango after finding game, grass, and water, [10] it was attacked by Indians. Another theory suggests that Wolverine Rangers camping in the valley found it to be so cold that they burned their wagons for heat and danced a fandango. They named their camp site "Fandango Valley". Later pioneers who passed the area and saw burned wagons deduced that an Indian massacre had occurred. [11] [12] [13] Fairfield describes an 1858 skirmish between Whites and Indigenous people that occurred near Fandango Valley that resulted in at least 17 Indigenous men being scalped by Whites. [14]
While the valley, peak and pass were named Fandango in the 1870s, a 1949 map, nonetheless, showed the pass as being named Lassen Horn. [3]
On July 15, 1956, the Fandango Pass section of the Applegate-Lassen Emigrant Trail became California Historical Landmark No. 546. The plaque marker is located 10.8 mi (17.4 km) east of Highway 395 on Fandango Pass Road (County Road 9). [1] A second marker is located off the road, placed by Trails West. [8]