Photograph: Copyright © 1961 Roy D. Tea

Made 10/61, Great Salt Lake Desert, Utah.

This 1961 photograph of the Hastings Trail was made approximately five miles southeast of the wagon excavations of the late 1980s. This is the very center of the Great Salt Lake Desert. At the time, the trail was essentially pristine and undisturbed. Although a tiny handful of trail enthusiasts had made this part of the crossing in the twentieth century, things have changed since this picture was made more than 35 years ago. In particular, all-terrain vehicles have now made possible access to this part of the desert and although still risky, small but significant numbers of visitors follow parts of the old emigrant roads here today.

This area was flooded in 1987-89 as described earlier and when the pumping was stopped and the water receded, several inches of salt covered the trail. Pumping ended nearly ten years ago. Little by little, rain and snow are dissolving the new layer of salt and to the delight of many the trail is reappearing in this area.