The Road Viewers left the Willamette Valley on August 20, 1852.Menefee and Tiller, Cutoff I, 327. Once they finished the road survey, they tried to follow the remaining route to Vale, Oregon, where the cutoff was to begin. They continued northeast until they located the ruts of Meek's wagons and followed them not far from the Crooked River until they came to Steen's Ridge. A marker was found carved on a rock that was left in a small cairn on top of Steen's Ridge. The inscription read: "T – 1852."This rock is currently on loan from the Oregon Historical Society to the Bowman Museum in Prineville, Oregon. It is believed the rock was carved by William Tandy, one of the Viewers. Although there was never any official statement, it is apparent the Viewers were also looking for the Lost Blue Bucket Mine, a place where some of Meek's emigrants had stumbled onto gold nuggets.Menefee and Tiller, Cutoff I, 332-334.
