cupcake
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California Gold Rush via The Baja Trail
'Ho! for California on the Mexican Trail' by Patricia A. Etter
https://www.octa-journals.org/overland-journal/volume-11-num...
'The Cave Paintings Of Baja California' by Harry Crosby
Page 139: "In 1849, through ignorance or necessity a number of American gold-seekers came to Baja California and attempted the overland trip to the
gold fields. Some survived the ordeal but many did not as they struggled along without guides or adequate animals. Food was scarce but the lack of
water was the most crucial element. The diaries of survivors recount excruciating hardships, and local lore dating from 1853 tells of the roadside
burials of hapless 49ers all along the route from the Llano de San Gregorio to Mission San Fernando."
If you know of other published works on this subject, please post them here. Articles, books, diaries of those that made this trek.
[Edited on 11-30-2024 by cupcake]
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David K
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Baja Travel was tough in the 1800s!
The above illustrations from J. Ross Browne, published in 1868. See them all: https://vivabaja.com/j-ross-browne-1868/
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bajaric
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Interesting article, thanks for posting. I had seen the account of Hawke published elsewhere.
All I can add is that here seems to have been a sort of short cut that was used by the 49'rs that bypassed the difficult section of El Camino Real
between San Ignacio and San Borja. This route crossed the Vizcaino between San Angel (near San Ignacio) to Ojo de Leibre, a distance of 75 miles
without water. North said he saw glass fragments of bottles discarded along this route when he traveled it around 1906. From there the "trail" went
north, stopping at various water holes including San Andres and Leon Grande (in the Sierra Columbia west of modern-day Punta Prieta). This route saw
little use and was eventually abandoned.
Hawke attempted to push north from San Andres / Leon Grande to San Fernando, but was forced to turn back make his way to San Borja then north along El
Camino Real. Interesting that even in 1849 travelers were unable to discern the route of El Camino Real in some sections, or spot some of the
overgrown water holes along the way, making it a very difficult journey.
[Edited on 12-2-2024 by bajaric]
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wilderone
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The Gold of Northern Baja by Jens Tobias contains much colorful early history and running bibliography for additional follow-up study.
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cupcake
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Thanks to all of you for this additional information.
Crosby states that there were many 49er deaths on the Baja Trail, but the article by Etter has all the American (US) 49ers surviving. Etter states
that she has cited all the known groups of US 49ers that took the Baja Trail.
I wonder what explains the disconnect. Was Crosby's information incorrect (he does seem to indicate that his information regarding deaths came from
local hearsay)? Or, were there other 49er groups making this journey other than US citizens?
[Edited on 12-2-2024 by cupcake]
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Tioloco
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A fascinating time in history. Thank you for posting this. Makes me wonder what type of record keeping could have been used considering the private
nature of the miners not wanting others to know who or where they were mining?
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John M
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Stand by....
I did some research on this topic a few years ago. Now, all I have to do is find it.
I'll try to get to it in a day or two.
Please don't hold your breath.
John M
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