Two Walker Passes

The recent discovery of gold, silver and other ores in the region of Mono Lake has created quite a furor in the way of wagon road enterprises throughout the state. This is right and commendable and worthy of emulation by the good citzens of our valley.

Some weeks since we called the attention of the public to the route of Colonel Walker, known as "Walker's Pass", leaving the overland road a short distance south of Tule River, thence crossing the heads of the southern branches of that river, striking Kern River above the Canon about fifty miles from Keyesville, opposite Owens Lake.

Walker's original pass of 1834 was also the pass of 1843 when he guided the Joseph B. Chiles wagon party to California. This is the pass that Edward Kern was referring to and the area south of Owens Lake where Walker left the wagons and mill irons. Joe Walker may be credited with bringing wagons to California but the wagons never made it over the mountains.

December 21st, 1845 as Joe Walker and Ed Kern were riding passed Owens Lake, Kern noted the following:

We passed today (Walker's) Child's cache, where, on account of his animals failing, he was obliged to bury the contents of his wagons, among which was a complete set of mill irons. Later, while camped on the Kern River, Ed Kern added this note: On his (Walker's) return trip he left the country by a more southern pass in the Sierra, which Captain fremont calls Walker's pass. Walker's old pass was to the northward of this by what is now called Kern River.

Walker's return trip may have been in February of 1844 when he applies for local passports for himself and three of Chiles men = Lewis Anderson, Thomas Cowrie and Dawson.

It appears that Walker discovered "New Walker Pass" in February of 1844.