Welcome to Lore Legends, a subset of lore episodes that explore the strange tales we whisper in the dark,

even if they can't always be proven by the history books.

So if you're ready, let's begin. They were part of the California Gold Rush.

Starting in 1849, pioneers from all over the country picked up and moved out west.

Just the hope of digging up a few nuggets was enough to convince them to upend their entire lives.

In October of 1849, the San Joaquin Company made a dangerous decision on their way to the

promised land. Instead of wintering in Salt Lake City, they would brave crossing the Sierra Nevada

mountains during the coming winter.

Except the peaks of the Sierra Nevada were not where you wanted to be when a blizzard rolled in.

It went well at first, but it was slow going and everyone was getting frustrated.

That is until a young newcomer wrote up claiming to know a different, faster route. The company's official guide said no, but traveling

had worn them down. They were exhausted and even more importantly eager to make

it to the gold-dusted hills of California.

So in the end, 27 of the original 107 wagons hitched their hopes on this new path.

It was the worst mistake they could have ever made.

They ended up in a desert valley and several men from their company died before ever making it out.

Those who survived were severely malnourished, including an 8-year-old boy who lost so much weight

that he left as light as a 3-year-old, and their tragedy gave the location the name that it has today,

Death Valley. America loves a get-wretch quick scheme. It's what we were

founded on after all, discovering a faster trade route, finding a shortcut to wealth. Even today,

most of us want to get rich fast and we would do anything

to make it happen. But history reminds us of what happens when we make moves only motivated

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