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The walk will take place from Sunday, Sept. 12, through Saturday, Sept. 18.
Descendants of American Indians who took part in the original relocation and other supporters will walk from Chico to Covelo to commemorate the 147th anniversary of the trail, camping each night along the way.
Participants will descend into Round Valley the afternoon of Saturday, Sept. 18, to participate in a gathering sponsored by the Round Valley Indian Tribes at the Round Valley Reservation in Covelo.
The theme for the walk and gatherings is “Honor Their Memory … A Path Not Forgotten.”
The Mendocino National Forest asks that people traveling on forest roads along the trail route be aware of the event and careful of the walkers to ensure their safety.
This year, the walkers will begin at Bidwell River Road at 7 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 12. They will walk west on State Highway 32 and camp at the Buckhorn Campground at Black Butte Lake the first night. For the remainder of the week, they will walk across the Mendocino National Forest, following the Nome Cult Trail.
Their planned schedule is:
Monday, Sept. 13, Orland to Newville Cemetery, camp at Grindstone, Buckhorn Campground or Paskenta;
Tuesday, Sept. 14, Newville Cemetery to camp at Black Bear Campground;
Wednesday, Sept. 15, Black Bear Campground to camp at Log Springs;
Thursday, Sept. 16, Log Springs to camp at Wells Cabin;
Friday, Sept. 17, Wells Cabin to camp at Eel River Ranger Station;
Saturday, Sept. 18, walk into Round Valley.
The removal of Indians from Chico to the Round Valley Reservation in 1863 is one of the many forced relocations following the establishment of reservations in northern California in the 1850s.
At least eight different tribes were moved to the reservation after it was initially established as the Nome Cult Farm in 1856. It became a full-fledged reservation in 1958 and eventually was named Round Valley Reservation.
In September 1863, 461 Indians were marched under guard from Chico to the Round Valley Reservation nearly 100 miles across the Sacramento Valley and rugged North Coast Ranges.
Only 277 Indians completed the journey. Some were killed, a few escaped, and others were left behind, too sick to go on.
The route is now called the Nome Cult Trail.
The original path has largely disappeared as a result of road construction and maintenance. The most grueling part of the trail passed through what is now the Mendocino National Forest.
The Forest Service has placed interpretive signs along the route to mark places where the Indians and their military escorts camped.
A free brochure and trail map produced by the Forest Service is available from Mendocino National Forest offices for those interested in the route.
For further information on the event, please contact Sandra Knight, Chico Mechoopda Tribe at 530-899-8922, Extension 213, or Alberta Azbill, Round Valley Indian Tribes at 707-983-6126, Extension 11.
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