There are still some enduring mysteries in Death Valley. One of them is the 1834 Rocks. These puzzling inscriptions, found at three sites and separated by a wide distance, each bear a unique combination of symbols: a date, a cross, and a chalice, with an enigmatic "SP" monogram at all three.
Keen to investigate, I met up with noted Death Valley expert Matt Jones on a couple of hikes to visit the 1834 Rocks. As we explored, Matt shared stories of fellow researchers working to unravel the secrets behind these symbols.
1834 is an early date for explorers in Death Valley. One theory suggests that the inscriptions were left by renowned fur trapper Joseph Walker during his 1834 California crossing. Leading a party of fifty-two men through the Sierra Nevada via the pass that now bears his name - Walker Pass, as he sought alternative routes to the California Trail. Could these symbols mark a cache, route, or some meeting spot? This is my favorite theory so far.
