It lies on the Continental Divide between the city of Gunnison to the northwest and the town of Saguache to the southeast.

The expedition crossed over the San Juan Mountains at Bill Williams Pass, but soon after reaching Pool Table Mesa in mid-December, the men and mules began freezing to death.

After one rescue party failed to reach help and began resorting to cannibalism, Fremont, with the help of the Ute Indians, led the men out to Taos, New Mexico.

[4] In the fall of 1853, Captain John W. Gunnison also explored and surveyed the area in search of a route for the transcontinental railroad.

[5] Not long after exploring the area, Captain Gunnison was killed by Indians, and his second in command, Lt. Edward G. Beckwith, took over and decided that the best route for the railroad would be further north through Wyoming across the Great Divide Basin.