How Death Valley Got Its Name

[@popeyefreeze2541]

Anyone who has been to death valley knows how absolutely enormous and empty and blistering hot it is. I cannot imagine having the balls to blindly just forge your way through that area.

[@drew-shourd]

Because you are aware of it's size and danger, they did not, in fact, it's thanks to people like that, that we now know it's monumental size.

[@MetalHead-ks9zq]

Forget that I'd rather stay on the East Coast goodbye death Valley hello Boston

[@brucewilson1958]

In the 1970s I broke down in my will used Volvo in Death Valley. It just stopped running. I was able to coast to a 'Rest Area'. This amounted to a gravel pull over with zero amenities. I had about two quarts of water which lasted about two hours. I had no money for a tow truck. I had to fix it myself. It was over one hundred degrees. I got it 'fixed' on the third day. Each day I hitch hiked 10 miles to a truck stop and got a gallon of water and a cheeseburger. I read the entire car manual. I determined that the gas pump attached to the gas tank was not operating, not getting electricity. Eventually I took ten feet of heavy gauge copper wire and wired the fuel pump to the positive on the battery, all duct taped on the outside driver's side. I made a split on the driver's door. So, I hooked the two ends, sparks flying, and turned the key. It started. I turned around and drove to a Volvo Dealer. Irony, the mechanic lifted up the carpet in the trunk and showed me a little wire. That's your problem. I've seen it a hundred times. Cheap and fast fix on them back through Death Valley California bound.

[@jammyscouser2583]

My GG Grandad was an OG 49er. He sailed from New Zealand with his dad when he was 12, his dad died somewhere in California, maybe San Fran, nobody knows. He came back to NZ when he was fifteen. I found this out in a newspaper article from 1918 when he died. At the time of his death he had one son already killed in the Great War, one still at "the front" and one returned home sick. That is all, chur

[@PurpleandGeauxld]

Great content. Please consider doing a video on National Parks that have been de-rated from Park status (e.g. Lincoln, Platt, Mackinac Island, Sully’s Hill, etc.) and the reasons why?

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Great suggestions!

[@PavelDatsyuk-ui4qv]

Mackinac island has nothing good for wildlife and people but it helps keep them out if the UP

[@worf7680]

​@@PavelDatsyuk-ui4qv lemme guess. Iron mountain local?

[@PavelDatsyuk-ui4qv]

@@worf7680 the soo

[@garryferrington811]

For the developers, of course.

[@TheWrxrally]

One of the men who traveled to the San Fernando mission, namely William Lewis Manly, wrote an autobirgraphy called "Death Valley in '49". Great read.

[@515ventures3]

This story sounds like it needs to be a blockbuster movie.

[@mechanicalman1068]

That area is about as unforgiving as you can get in America. There’s a town west of Death Calley on the east side of the mountains perfectly named Dunmovin. You could see the settlers toiling through Death Valley and the Mojave, near death, and upon seeing these forbidding mountains just said “that’s it, I’m done moving.”

[@ArisaemaDracontium]

I’d very much recommend reading Death Valley in ‘49 by William Lewis Manly (available free online as an ebook, part of Project Gutenberg). It’s the autobiography of one of those two men who went west on foot to scout a route and get supplies to rescue the rest of the Bennett party. His whole life is an amazing tale of pioneer life, somewhat embellished I’m sure, but still absolutely fascinating and captivating.

[@Poppageno]

Manly is an unsung American hero and should have a movie made about him. I have been there and I don't think the Escape trail as currently proposed is correct. I feel/think they would have skirted the North end of the Slate Range and gone through Shepard's Canyon. My reason; upon descending out of the Panamints they could see the North end of the Slates and the mouth of Shepard, Why when you were week and starving would you take the arduous trip through the Slates than the the easier path up the alluvial fan?

[@eddiekyler7502]

Thanks for the recommendation sir.

[@artistjoh]

I love Death Valley. Such a beautiful place. I have also been lucky to be there when it rained and saw the masses of yellow desert flowers come into bloom. It is a place of extraordinary beauty.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Oh man, a super bloom? What an experience!

[@jchi1ds]

I second the recommendation re: 'Death Valley in '49'. Manley was born in St. Albans, Vermont and made his way west at a young age. His life before and after the Lost 49ers adventure is remarkable. His descriptions of the early California settlers and the Gold Rush are interesting. Lake Manley in Death Valley is named after him.

[@jeremyday9056]

I am so glad I found this channel. Such a wonderful telling of history. Thanks for the content!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

You're very welcome and glad to have you in the community!

[@meganstahlberger608]

I can't imagine trying to cross with almost no map...

[@Chris-ut6eq]

Water seeking optimists!!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Gold is a helluva drug

[@Chris-ut6eq]

@@NationalParkDiaries Love the show that this comment references :)

[@matt45540]

A very well told story, and a short story is better than no story!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you - glad I could get it out this week!

[@michab4083]

... and in many cases also better than a long one ;-) Great content!

[@gydeme]

Just got back yesterday from a trip to CO where I dropped by the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. I think this park would be an awesome topic for a couple future videos. The history of the park is quite interesting as it had been known to the Ute people but not visited out of superstition. A few other records of it are out there but when John Gunnison got there the canyon got its first modern written descriptions. He later was killed by the Utes. The canyon itself is gorgeous and entirely unique looking compared to other canyons I've seen in the US. I don't know the exact history of the establishment of the park but I know the CCC was involved in laying down a lot of the groundwork and it remains one of the lesser known and visited parks in the whole system--aka it needs a spotlight! Love your work as always, would happily go on and on about my trip to the canyon, but I'll leave it here. Thanks for your work as always!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Great topic for sure! Thanks for the suggestion!

[@philosopher4279]

The map is a great contribution to the video - thanks. Helps keep vids short and clean.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks!

[@user-ue8wq8ey2q]

Great story and a welcome surprise this week!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@BobPruett]

Fascinating story. As a truck driver, I used to pass by the Harry Wade Exit Route daily.

[@sandysue202]

Since my hiking days are pretty much in the past, this will be a great way to see national parks that I have not been to! This was a great little video about Death Valley!!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

I'm happy to help, thanks for watching!

[@glma2711]

I like your "normal" voice as opposed to your "storytime" voice, your normal voice is a lot more engaging

[@meganstahlberger608]

I like both 🤷‍♀

[@xp8969]

I like turtles

[@solssun]

This was just as gripping as your others. I’ve always wondered the origins of the name :)

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@air4334]

I just came upon this channel...awesome history and hit "SUBSCRIBED" thanks !!!

[@kevinpoole6122]

Outstanding video-well researched, personable presentation! Thank you. New to your channel and loving it. 👍

[@57WillysCJ]

Two of my grandmothers family went west and were joined by the Donner Party. James and Morgon Savage. Morgon stayed to Oregon. James lost his wife around Fort Hall but some say Lake Tahoe and left for California the proper way. He went back with the later search party. He lead the Marriposa Battalion. Edwin Bryant's author of What I Saw in California cousins of whom he grew up with lived in the same town as the two Savage men.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for sharing that story!

[@gtbkts]

Thanks for all the awesome content and great video!!!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@gtbkts]

@@NationalParkDiaries always ♥️

[@raucepowers8127]

I really appreciate you including the fact that the mule only had one eye. I don’t know why, but I needed to know this.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

This is important information lol

[@clammydan]

Love Death Valley, one of my favorite parks, would love a full video on it someday

[@NationalParkDiaries]

There's so many good Death Valley stories. I've got a bunch of ideas for it. I do have a video on "Why Death Valley is the Hottest Place in the World" if you're interested in that. kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5_Udmihq650f5o

[@deadreset]

Hey there, greetings from historical gold country here. No one up here nor in the state that stole our name says Nevada like that... otherwise it's a good video . Kudos 👍👌

[@Speeeeed]

I like how you tell the story nice and slowly. There's no feeling of rushing by you, which a lot of other presenters on other channels do. Well done. It made me want to subscribe. Thank you!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

I appreciate that, thank you!

[@JJRossi]

Love your storytelling, thanks! Keep up the great work.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you and will do!

[@judyfeuerbach4199]

Thank you! I didn't know how Death Valley got its name - can't even begin to imagine the hardship those 49ers experienced. Looking forward to more videos.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you and more coming soon!

[@abramhansen]

I just went to Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve today which is the closest thing Idaho has to a national park. It would be interesting to see a video on why places like this are not national parks as it seemed like it should have been and was basically functioning as one.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

That's a fascinating topic, for sure. I've got it on my list of things to look into. Not sure when I'll get to it, but I'm intrigued so it'll probably get covered eventually lol

[@frednorton1704]

Correct. If Saguaro National Park ( there are actually two of them) can be a park I don't know why craters can't. There are Saguaros all over the place, nothing unique about the park. If the reason is to preserve them then make it a monument.

[@aharonvarna5992]

More stuff like this please.

[@bobs2809]

The red border you placed around the thumbnail made think that I had already watch this video and almost miss it and your channel. I'm glad I looked closer.

[@hugmynutus]

Wonderful story. Well presented. I'm reminded constantly (when ever there is a summer death in the park) that the name is not a joke or misnomer but a very deliberate warning.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@ElLenadorLA]

This was great. I grew up down the street from the San Fernando mission.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@NoSuffix]

People who lived one and half centuries ago had to face so much hardship and obstacles in their lives. It took pioneers and gold seekers an average of 4~6 months to travel in wagons from Salt Lake City to San Francisco at the time. Some would never make it. Today it's about 11 hours' drive or 2 hours' flight. We should appreciate everyone and everything we have.

[@Patrick.Weightman]

You should do a video on the Naches Pass in Washington! It's one of the very first pioneer trails into washington and only like 14 miles or something, but took pioneers almost a full year to get through it with severe troubles. Currently it's a 4x4 trail and part of the Pacific Crest Trail

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Sounds pretty interesting, I'll look into it!

[@jesssimpson5959]

I’m so glad the KZbin algorithm brought your video to me, I thoroughly enjoyed it and gave it a like and I subscribed to your channel. I’m looking forward to seeing more of your content.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

I'm glad you're here, welcome to the community!

[@rogerkay8603]

What a superb piece of history, thank you for this! (you stayed away from the Donners.....well done!)

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@bzuulu]

Really good video! Perfectly paced and formatted. well done

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you!

[@weirdbeard1980]

I read a book called the age of gold that goes into fairly deep detail about this incident. The man who gave death valley its name is reported to of said "good bye valley of death"

[@curiousworld7912]

These folks should have read Virginia Reed's letter ( Miss Read, from the Donner Party's group), where she states '...hurry along, as fast as you can, and never take no shortcuts.'

[@erics.786]

Well done.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you!

[@gailnewcomb8256]

I really like the story and you tell it well!❤

[@NationalParkDiaries]

So glad, thanks for watching!

[@paulapridy6804]

At Furnace Creek in the 1980s my husband worked for a company mining borate. It was called the Pearl Mine after the original 'lady' who, like many others there, ran the daily business of the miners. Among other things. 😎

[@garysohn4307]

Thanks for the great story. 👍

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@offthetrail636]

Awesome vid. Normally I don’t subscribe on the first vid I watch but I did this time. I’ll be watching more tonight

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Welcome to the community, we're glad to have you!

[@uremailingalex]

Loved the history lesson!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you!!

[@SweetLittleAki]

What I find so fascinating about the gold rush was just a few years prior, the Donner party became trapped in the High Sierra's in the winter of 1846-47. Cought by snow blocking Granite Pass, the settlers were forced to over-winter near Trukee Lake. There, during the worst winter ever recorded to date in the region, starvation compelled the survivors to cannibalism. Out of 87 total members, 46 survived. News of the disaster caused immigration to fall sharply off. Yet all it took was the discovery of gold to send thousands cascading into the very same valley where the Donners experienced inhuman suffering. Absolutely Wild.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Yep! That was actually one of the events that forced the group South originally! They had arrived too late in the season to attempt to cross the Sierras, and were deterred after hearing about the Donner Party.

[@dianadenman5637]

Thank you SO much for this. Very interesting. This is the first time I've heard this story. Will subscribe to your channel.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Welcome to the community!

[@yammietits5040]

Liked and subscribed 👍 Awesome job. I love these kind of stories / history stuff.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks so much and welcome to the community!

[@LexaKnight]

Nice show.. you explained things well.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you!

[@theresehopkins1581]

Excellent history lesson!!! 😊❤ Thank you!! Glad I found your channel 😊

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching, glad you're here!

[@rikspector]

Thank you and thanks to the other people whose comments added to your! Cheers, Rik Spector

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@iainhunneybell]

Great story 😊

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you!

[@duvessa2003]

I like the library background so I have subscribed 😊

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Hahahaha, thanks so much and welcome to the community!

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Very interesting!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@TravelSmallLiveBig]

The story I have heard my entire life was that one of the women said it as they finally got out. There were two women at that time and one of them was Sarah Bennett, my great great great grandmother.

[@josephalaguna]

Great content. Subscribed!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Welcome to the community!

[@jbgood7694]

Excellent video. I know this area well. Very harsh but beautiful. There are a lot of awesome hot springs to soak-in. You could travel 100 miles or more and not see a single sign of civilization. Just flat valleys, rock, mountains, joshua trees and sage brush. I travel over Walker pass often. Winter is brutal. Summer is brutal. The weather is perfect for about 2 weeks in the spring and about 2 weeks in the fall.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@Bassmasterwitacaster]

I live by Providence canyon in Georgia, I believe it was caused by or at least made larger by erosion from farming in the 1800s. Might be a story in there somewhere

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Now that's an interesting story. Great suggestion, thank you!

[@fungusmushroom]

So what happened after the party upon leaving Death Valley? From my house I can see Manly Peak to the east and the mythical Walker Pass to the west. What happened to the people who left the encampment and the people who ate the oxen, did they finally find water at Indian Wells?

[@NationalParkDiaries]

The Jayhawkers (oxen eaters) were able to make it to present-day Ridgecrest, before heading south to civilization, probably in the modern-day LA area. The Bennett-Arcan Party, those who stayed and had to be rescued, eventually made it to safety at Mission San Fransisco, near present-day Santa Clarita

[@LarsLarsen77]

I've camped in death valley during the winter. It's nice.

[@Black_Jesus3005]

Great history. Thanks

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@robertshows5100]

Three Horses and A One Eyed Mule. Great movie title

[@NationalParkDiaries]

It totally is!

[@Bry.wood92]

Great video homie

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you!

[@socalgal714]

I think Knott's Berry Farm used to do a reenactment of this story in their Covered Wagon Show.

[@ryansearlybronco]

Your pronunciation of Nevada is wrong

[@johnpayton5750]

No one cares bud..

[@somethingsomething404]

Ima bad person who doesn’t not deserve nice things, but thank you for the video.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@dogpatch75]

This channel is a great resource! A very interesting subject for an in-depth report would be the "Road to Nowhere" in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This issue was a huge controversy dating from the establishment of the park in the 1930's, then enflamed by the impoundment of Fontana Lake in the 1940's, and finally resolved in 2018. It was a classic battle between locals who believe public land is theirs to exploit, and conservationists who look after public lands on behalf of all of us. Fortunately conservationists won, leaving us with a true gem that is protected from overuse because of the difficulty of access brought about by the existence of the lake bordering the park's southwest quadrant. At issue: Access to old cemeteries, access for copper mining inside the park by mineral rights owners, building yet another "scenic highway" that would benefit a few business owners in Bryson City, NC., and general resentment by locals of the concept of public lands.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Great topic suggestion, and pretty accessible to me as well. Thanks for watching!

[@Poppageno]

Harry Wade died in an attempt to leave via a Southern route out of DV.

[@winkieblink7625]

We hear little to none about this wagon trains trek and a lot of people died here as well. I think there’s a movie somewhere I remember. Thanks for the pioneer story!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@user-ev5og3uj3u]

Good show and information

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you!

[@stephenenders2066]

I love w3ird random history bits. Thanks

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@AlltruthmattersTL]

Nice job

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks!

[@capt.bart.roberts4975]

A question I've long pondered. Thanks for answering another idle question.

[@capt.bart.roberts4975]

Given it 's the lowest hottest place on the planet, I figured it would be something like this.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Glad I could help, thanks for watching!

[@c.e.4138]

cool!! i was intrigued

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@ecocodex4431]

"OH NO SCOOBY! IT'S THE MINER 49ER!"

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Damn, that's a throwback right there!!

[@matthewwelsh294]

Love that show

[@miketrissel5494]

Nice calm reading voice ... not like these worthless Internet readers, that don't have a clue about syntax and pausing. Well done - kept my interest throughout.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you!

[@CoreyRussell-bi5nx]

Excellent content. Keep it going.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you and will do!

[@rubentherubicon]

It's pronounced nevada, not na-vah-duh

[@joshuagunthner1838]

you'd really expect that it would have been named for the brutal summers, crazy that it got its moniker in the winter.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Yep, surprised me when I first learned it too!

[@RichardCockerill]

last night i watched a episode of the tv show Death Valley Dats..3 episode i think from 1952,which told this story and very well done i must say and in 30 minutes,if you want to watch death valley days you can on youtube

[@Capnchaos4202]

One night I was driving just outside of death Valley it was 80°. I dropped down into the valley and it was 125° at 3 o’clock in the morning !!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Such a silly place 😂

[@rogerlevasseur397]

Please, Sierra Nevada. Adding mountains makes the name redundant.

[@fungusmushroom]

We call em the Sierras here in the Sierra.

[@sendthis9480]

Try being a fan of The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim!!! All of us The The Angels Angels of Anaheim fans are tired of it! Lol

[@sharonroberts3397]

GREAT VIDEO VERY INTERESTING AND INFORMATIVE

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you!

[@forest6702]

Awesome story I had no idea!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@fuzzybuddywizard]

Cool! Thank you

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@philosopher4279]

Panamint City is a great deep dive all to itself. Ghost town high in the Panamint Range

[@Juandirection1]

The trey lance pick really setup the 49ers for failure. Wait damn wrong video. 😅

[@barbzem]

Thanks!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks so much for your support!

[@victorponce7238]

Cool info. I didn't know that stuff. Poor people. Very tough individuals in those days. Doing herculean tasks. Crossing mountains and deserts on meager rations and very little water. OMG. 😳😁

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@alberthall4720]

Great story.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you!

[@davechristian7543]

5:23 sorry but so did that one guy who said good bye death valley make it to where he wanted to get to like were the gold was? plz..

[@ferretman6790]

That thumbnail had me very confused. For second I was thinking:Yeah, that sport didn’t even exist yet

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Hahaha, not quite my channel subject matter 🤣

[@Chris-ut6eq]

Please don't judge me, but I expected more death in this tale.

[@bigmarty11288]

Yoooooo is that the monkey wrench gang behind you? Great book!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

It is! Just read it for the first time this year!

[@THEECATGUY]

Could you do a video for Kings Canyon National Park in the Sierra Nevadas?

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Great suggestion and yes I plan to cover it at some point!

[@tHebUm18]

Not gonna lie, expected more death than seems happened. Seems remarkable given the circumstances.

[@alfrede.newman6626]

You gave a lot of info ..(I had no idea how convoluted the trip got)👍 I guess i would have to read more about the era and people to understand htf they could put their lives in the hands of a trailblazer.(because they had no skills at traveling) and then decide later (no matter what reason).. that they could do it alone.... through the deserts...😕

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!