When John C. Fremont's fourth expedition traveled down stream (mostly ice) on Embargo Creek, they were nearing the end of a perilous and unfortunate foray into the Rockies. Behind them were deep, deep snows. Ahead was Taos (after a long walk from the South Fork area). Unfortunately, this was when men started dying from the effects of a brutal December and early January at 10,000-12,000-foot altitudes. 12 of 34 did not outlive this expedition.
Fortunately our 7 hikers came out of the Embargo basin intact. They entered caves and sheltered areas where the Kern brothers and others slept, ate, and recuperated their strength. They found ways to walk despite fatigue, to rescue much of their drawings and equipment. But two of them were shot when they returned some days later to retrieve the materials.
We enjoyed Stuart Bryan's book and his generous explanations as he prepared to leave for his summer aquatic retreat. His book, Fremont's Fatal Fourth is on sale in the visitor center, the county museum, and Barnes and Noble. Our local history is significant and interesting.
Later this summer, we'll have a long hike up to and down from their high mountain Christmas and New Year's camps.
Should we or shouldn't we? Fortunately they did!
Heading up to the Cave Complex
Beaver ponds below the caves.
Thin sticks hold up two men
Embargo Creek at Shelving rocks, near or on Dove property
Shelving rocks where Kern people camped, about 3-4 miles upstream from Rio Grande
Del Norte's Stuart Bryan wrote this book chronicling the Fremont group's misadventures just north of South Fork.
Investigator Bryan considers that demystifying this drawing (later watercolor) by one of the Kern brothers was one of his best achievements. It appears to be a composite of condensed images along lower Embargo Creek. from "shelving rocks" to a windy cave and including a facial profile on a big rhyolite rock.
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