Juan Jesus Villapando

In 1833, Juan appeared in southern California with a rough assemblage of men who posed as horse traders, as the business of supplying horses to the southwestern area and back east was highly profitable. Juan Villapando was from a New Mexican family, and figured he could make good money by cashing in on this trade, only his band was not bound to follow the rules of decency and law.

He was the first of outlaw raiders and horse thieves known as Los Chaguanosos, and it is said that he was responsible for the theft of more than one thousand horses. His raids moved the stolen horses over the southern portion of Death Valley, across the vast desiccated desert expanse that made summer travel impossible, but even in winter the toll was heavy, with some horses dying on the way.

This was such a rough passage that the route earned the name, Jornada del Muerto, or Journey of Death. Accounts tell of horse bones and remains along the trail so often that no other directional markers were needed for travelers.

Law enforcement caught on to Juan’s doings after realizing that every ranch his traders visited ended up with missing animals. He was caught, but then escaped, and even used the shortcut over Walker Pass, later to become known as Walker’s Cutoff.