The Forty Mile Desert was the California Gold Rush name given to Nevada's Lahontan Valley region east of Fernley. In 1843, the Walker-Chilles party became the first wagon train to use this settlement route, with the heaviest use occurring between 1849-1869. Regardless of the desert's known dangers, this became the accepted trail to the two main routes to California - the Carson River and Truckee River trails.
Starvation and thirst preyed upon people and animals every mile of this trail. A survey made in 1850 illustrated appalling statistics - 1,061 dead mules, 5,000 dead horses, 3,750 dead cattle, and 950 graves.
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