TRAILS WEST -- MARKERS OF THE CALIFORNIA TRAIL

WHAT WE DO
	DRILLING RIVET HOLES FOR A NEW INSCRIPTION PLATE

The members of Trails West undertake a variety of activities.   One, as shown in the photograph above, is the renovation of existing markers.   This renovation sometimes requires that we replace existing inscription plates with a new one that is more appropriate for the location.  The photograph above shows several Trails West volunteers drilling the top bar of a Trails West Marker to allow riveting a new aluminum inscription plate to it.  Note the boys helping.   One of them is holding a can of bacon grease that is used as a drilling lubricant.          It is easy to see that the marker being worked on is one that has been in place for a long time because the yellow undercoat is showing through the brown paint in many places.   Because this is a fairly common problem, renovation also includes cleaning and repainting markers with dark brown paint.          In addition to renovating existing markers, we sometimes have to remove or relocate an existing marker; sometimes we have to install a new one.   The new markers that we install are fabricated by members of Trails West using railroad rail we purchase and cut into the required lengths.   These are then welded together to make one of our new markers.   When a marker is moved or a new one is planted, a hole three-feet deep is dug, the marker placed in it, and then rock and concrete are poured into the hole to hold the marker in place.          An aluminum plate riveted to the top rail identifies the trail location and usually gives a short description of the significance of the location.   Often the inscription is a quotation taken from one of the many diaries kept by the emigrants as they traveled to California.   These quotations are selected by several of the Trails West historians who enjoy researching the trail.          So far, Trails West has placed over 500 markers along the various segments of the California Emigrant Trail.   Roughly 70 more markers will be placed by Trails West to finish marking the major segments of the trail as it crosses over the Sierra Nevada Mountains into California.          Additional Trails West-type markers have been or will be installed along the Hastings Cutoff by OCTA volunteers from Elko, Nevada, and the Crossroads Chapter of OCTA.   These groups are inscribing the plates and providing and installing the markers.   Trails West volunteers are helping to determine the best locations for the markers, are helping to select quotations to use as inscriptions, and are providing general technical assistance.

Sometimes a Trails West outing is attended by more people than can work on a marker at one time.   Consequently, some people will work on a marker while others do something else.   This something else might be taking GPS readings and checking the maps, walking the trail looking for evidence of emigrant travel, taking photographs, looking at the local flora, or enjoying the company of others who are also interested in the emigrant trail.   In the photograph to the right, note the two ladies enjoying their conversation and local flora while a group (at the right edge of the photograph) are working on a marker.

Each marker-maintenance outing is planned and directed by a Trail Boss.   The Trail Boss decides, in consultation with other Trails West members, what segment of the trail we are going to work on next and what needs to be done.   This decision is then reviewed and approved or modified by the Trails West Board of Directors.   When the approved outing takes place, the Trail Boss is in charge of the trip.   He or she tells us what needs to be done but does not tell us what to do.   People on an outing decide for themselves what they are going to do.   We have found that this approach gets the work done and makes our trips an enjoyable experience for everyone

A DISCUSSION

As shown in the photograph to the left, there are times when we have to stop and discuss what we are going to do next.   The photograph also shows why having a CB radio is important on a Trials West outing.   With many vehicles on an outing, sharing the information that everyone needs could be difficult without radios.          The photograph was taken somewhere along the Humboldt River corridor in north central Nevada.

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