It has quite an impressive name......
For an ugly piece of rock in the middle of the countryside. It was named Independence Rock by trappers in the area in 1830. It is 2000 feet long, 700 feet wide and 150 high and it made in granite. Travelers knew that this was a beginning of their trip along the Sweetwater (and goodbye to the Platte River) Mormon pioneers tried to reach this location by Independence Day to ensure a safe arrival in Salt Lake Valley before winter storms. This another location where people climbed up and wrote their names--even near the top--despite the hardships of the trail.
My great-grandfather wrote:"June 29th We left our camp on the Greesewood Creek, came to Independence Rock about 100 yards beyond-came to the ford on Sweetwater River....."
As you can tell by my picture the window has really picked up. Jena didn't even get out of the RV because of the wind. Gary and I ran down, took some pictures and headed back. Winds were running between 30 mph with gusts up higher than that as evening approached.
John Hamilton McClure:
"The next day we passed Independence Rock
And the bunch that climbed it was quite a flock
Of men and women and children to see
All they could of this rock of liberty.
The rock was large but not very high
It was rounded on top and the road went by.
Between it and the hill, the rock next the stream
Was a cliff three hundred feet high it did seem."
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