Shortcut Ends in Disaster!
Weary emigrants were only too receptive to any idea that might
shorten their journey, especially if it meant avoiding the Blue Mountains.
Stephen Meek, pilot of an 1845 emigration, persuaded 200
families camped near this site to follow him on an alternate route
across the desert to the upper Willamette Valley. The expedition
became stalled at Lost Hollow. Unable to find water to the west, the
emigrants turned north and twenty-four died before they reached The
Dalles.
At this place are two trails, the
fork is in the bottom above the
crossing of the creek. and there is a
possibility of emigrants pursuing
the wrong route... Mr. Meek,
who had been engaged as our pilot
...informed the emigrants that he
could, by taking up this stream to
near its source, and then striking
across the plains, so as to intersect
the old road near the mouth of
the Deschutes or Falls river, save
about one hundred and fifty miles
travel; also that he was perfectly
familiar with the country through
which the proposed route lay, as he
had traveled it; that no difficulty
or danger attended its travel.
Joel Palmer,
September 3, 1845
