A Traveler's Guide To
Historic California
Photo Feature of the Month - February
John Albert "Snowshoe"
Tostensen/Thompson
Snowshoe
Thompson was born in Norway in 1827. For 20 winters (1856-1876) he carried
the United States mail between the silver camps in Nevada and the gold
camps in California. He crossed Ebbetts Pass, Carson Pass or Luther
Pass on long skiis (then called snowshoes) and helped the snowbound along
the way.
The response to his request to the United States government for payment
of $6,000 for his services was a letter of thanks.
He died May 15, 1876, in his cabin in Diamond Valley, Alpine County.
Boreal Ridge, Nevada County
Other tributes honor Snowshoe
Thompson at Carson Pass in Alpine County, and Placerville and South
Lake Tahoe in El Dorado County.