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 Early Mt. Whitney Pack Trains |
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Frank Chrysler and Ted Cook . |
 Fred Moore (MWPT packer) heading out of Whitney Portals in 1941 with Mt. Whitney Pack Train. That old stone wall is still there at the Portals today! |
 Ted Cook at the old Carroll Creek MWPT Pack Station, 1941. |
 Mt. Whitney Pack Train's packer, Slim, circa 1941. |
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| Ray, My name is "Rena 'Beth' Moore-Smith. I am the last of my immediate, Fred Arthur Moore family. My dad, Fred Moore, was born in the small town of Black Rock, just out of Independence in Inyo County, CA on March 29th in 1896. His father was Walter Browning Moore and mother was Mary Coreen (Whittle) Moore. Both are buried there in the Lone Pine cemetery. I heard that Dad was related to a Wm. L. Moore and a James J. Moore (I believe of Independence/Lone Pine.) and both in the early years were sheriffs of Inyo County. I just returned home on October 23rd from a trip to Independence, Lone Pine, and Keeler. I am in the process, and with some helpful connections, trying to learn more about this past history. I know there are some Moore cousins living in the Inyo area that I have never met. My dad had a brother, Walter Irving Moore, and Floyd Moore that later settled in the Bishop area, a sister, Julia R. (Moore) Lasky, in Lone Pine and several step-sisters, Amy & Grace Whittle. After meeting and marrying my mother, Rena (Roop)Moore, in 1920, my Mom and Dad (Fred) moved to Independence and lived in the Mary Austin house from 1920 through 1921 until they eventually moved to Lone Pine. I am their only daughter along with the five sons they had - Fred, Lynwood, Bob, George, and Willis. All of my brothers have passed away. Lyn and George are buried in the Lone Pine cemetery. Over the years we have lived in Lone Pine, Bartlett, and later on a farm in Torrance, CA. Every summer, from June through September, our home was Whitney Portals! That is because Dad worked for Mt. Whitney Pack Station which was owned by Frank Chrysler and Ted Cook. I'm not real sure just when this all started, but I do know I have pictures and information in the 1930s and 1940s from my mother's old scrapbook. As I grew up I got to know every inch of the Portals' area. My "rock" was the large "Wishing Rock" on the small lake across from the Portals' cabin which we stayed in off and on. Most of the time we stayed in a large tent which was set up for our summer stay. In later years my Dad married a second time. And, believe it or not, Grace A. Moore, at 101.5 years old, is still one of the few residents still living in the town of Keeler!!. She is quite a remarkable person whom most everyone in the area knows. Dad passed away in January 1979. I still know some of the Lone Pine residents from days gone by and it always feels like home to me whenever I get a chance to visit. I love it there. My son, Tony, came across your website and sent it on to me. It is so interesting! I spent time on early visits to Carroll Creek and Cottonwood, the Alabama Hills, where we also had a home for a while. I've been most everywhere. I also knew the older brothers and sisters of Deborah Cook who wrote to your site. Her father, also a Fred, Fred Cook, younger brother of Ted Cook, worked for the Mt. Whitney Pack Station along with my dad. I knew her mother Ruth, brother Mike, and sister Margaret Rena, named after her aunt, Ted's wife Margaret and my mother Rena. My older brother, Lynwood, used to care for Father Crowley's yard in the Portals. Sincerely, Rena 'Beth' Moore-Smith 25 October 2003 |
 Ted Cook at Anton's Camp |
 Death Valley '49ers - Fred A. Moore on the front wagon. |
 Bonnie, Doreen, and Lyn Moore in front of Fr. John J. Crowley's cabin at Whitney Portals |
 Mt. Whitney Pack Train's packer, Johnny, circa 1940. |
 Mt. Whitney Pack Train's packer, Jerry, heading out of Carroll Creek circa 1940. |
 Fred Moore and Slim (MWPT packers) circa 1941 |
 Fred Moore packing up for the outfit in Lone Pine in the early 1940s. |
 Charles Morgan's wife, Mary Morgan, with their son David at Whitney Portals in the early 1956 [per Mary]. |
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 Rena Elizabeth Moore and Frederick Arthur Moore in Los Angeles in 1920. |
 Rena and Frederick's children at Whitney Portals in 1956. (L-R): Bob, Beth, Freddie, and Lynwood |
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by Rena Moore |
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Golden Trout Camp | |
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Mt. Whitney Pack Train's Chrysler & Cook Brochure | |
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Sierra Crossing |
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Panoramas of the High Sierra |
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Ghosts of the Past 1- 20 Mule Team & Manzanar |
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Ghosts of the Past 2- Cottonwood Sawmill & Owens Valley Aqueduct |
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 Sign Guest Book |
 The Pigmy Packer |
 View Guest Book |
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This page was last updated on
23 August 2007