Emigrant Gap

Last updated
Emigrant Gap
Emigrant Gap - Flickr - Joe Parks.jpg
Elevation ~5,200 ft. / 1,585 m
Traversed byI-80 (1961).svg I-80, Union Pacific Railroad
Location Placer County, California, United States
Range Sierra Nevada
Coordinates 39°18′11″N120°39′58″W / 39.303°N 120.666°W / 39.303; -120.666
Reference no.403

Emigrant Gap is a gap in a ridge on the California Trail as it crosses the Sierra Nevada, to the west of what is now known as Donner Pass. Here the cliffs are so steep that, back in the 1840s, the pioneers on their way to California had to lower their wagons on ropes in order to continue.

Contents

The Emigrant Gap was so named because it was a low gap on a ridge where the emigrants' wagons crossed from the American River drainage to the Bear River drainage. It was part of the Truckee Route, a portion of the California Trail by which pioneers, heading west, emigrated from the United States to California, which was part of Mexico until it was captured by the United States in the Mexican–American War (1846–1848).

There is a California historical marker (number 403), dedicated on June 25, 1950, on Interstate 80 commemorating this brave and arduous task.

The spring of 1845 saw the first covered wagons surmount the Sierra Nevada Mountains. They left this valley, ascended to the ridge, and turned westward to old Emigrant Gap. The wagons were lowered by ropes to the floor of Bear Valley. Hundreds followed before, during, and after the gold rush. This was a hazardous portion of the overland emigrant trail. [1]

The small unincorporated community of Emigrant Gap is adjacent to the gap.

The Stephens–Townsend–Murphy Party were the first to cross Emigrant Gap and the Sierra, doing so in 1844–45.

Historical marker, Emigrant Gap Emigrant Gap Memorial.jpg
Historical marker, Emigrant Gap

Climate

Blue Canyon–Nyack Airport has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Csb) according to the Köppen climate classification system. Summers are generally warm with cool nights, while winters are moderately cold and extremely snowy, despite no month having an average low temperature below freezing.

Climate data for Blue Canyon, California (Blue Canyon–Nyack Airport), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1943–present
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °F (°C)76
(24)
73
(23)
72
(22)
82
(28)
88
(31)
92
(33)
95
(35)
97
(36)
96
(36)
88
(31)
78
(26)
75
(24)
97
(36)
Mean maximum °F (°C)63.1
(17.3)
60.7
(15.9)
63.1
(17.3)
71.4
(21.9)
76.3
(24.6)
85.2
(29.6)
87.3
(30.7)
86.6
(30.3)
85.3
(29.6)
76.5
(24.7)
69.5
(20.8)
61.1
(16.2)
89.5
(31.9)
Average high °F (°C)46.5
(8.1)
45.0
(7.2)
48.2
(9.0)
52.0
(11.1)
60.6
(15.9)
69.8
(21.0)
77.8
(25.4)
77.4
(25.2)
72.9
(22.7)
62.9
(17.2)
51.2
(10.7)
44.8
(7.1)
59.1
(15.1)
Daily mean °F (°C)40.4
(4.7)
39.0
(3.9)
41.5
(5.3)
44.8
(7.1)
53.1
(11.7)
62.1
(16.7)
70.2
(21.2)
69.8
(21.0)
65.1
(18.4)
55.5
(13.1)
45.1
(7.3)
39.2
(4.0)
52.2
(11.2)
Average low °F (°C)34.4
(1.3)
33.1
(0.6)
34.7
(1.5)
37.5
(3.1)
45.6
(7.6)
54.4
(12.4)
62.7
(17.1)
62.1
(16.7)
57.2
(14.0)
48.1
(8.9)
39.0
(3.9)
33.6
(0.9)
45.2
(7.3)
Mean minimum °F (°C)21.6
(−5.8)
19.9
(−6.7)
23.0
(−5.0)
24.9
(−3.9)
31.6
(−0.2)
38.5
(3.6)
53.9
(12.2)
52.9
(11.6)
41.2
(5.1)
33.0
(0.6)
25.8
(−3.4)
20.3
(−6.5)
16.5
(−8.6)
Record low °F (°C)5
(−15)
6
(−14)
9
(−13)
17
(−8)
21
(−6)
28
(−2)
36
(2)
35
(2)
27
(−3)
17
(−8)
13
(−11)
3
(−16)
3
(−16)
Average precipitation inches (mm)9.87
(251)
10.56
(268)
9.40
(239)
4.76
(121)
3.71
(94)
1.20
(30)
0.09
(2.3)
0.28
(7.1)
1.03
(26)
3.87
(98)
8.39
(213)
11.46
(291)
64.62
(1,640.4)
Average snowfall inches (cm)48.1
(122)
43.5
(110)
49.8
(126)
25.0
(64)
7.5
(19)
0.6
(1.5)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.4
(1.0)
2.7
(6.9)
24.0
(61)
38.8
(99)
240.3
(610)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)11.511.811.610.56.02.60.61.12.86.110.514.489.5
Source 1: NOAA (mean maxima and minima 20062020) [2] [3]
Source 2: WRCC (snowfall 1940–2012) [4]

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References

  1. http://ceres.ca.gov/geo_area/counties/Placer/landmarks.html Archived 2005-04-16 at the Wayback Machine ceres.ca.gov
  2. "NOWData NOAA Online Weather Data". NOAA. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  3. "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  4. "BLUE CANYON AP, CA (040897)". Western Regional Climate Center. Retrieved November 29, 2015.