The Petersons were the first settlers in the valley, which is surrounded on all sides by steep mountains. To get their wagons into the valley, Peterson and his sons dug and graded a new road through a narrow entrance to Weber Canyon known as "Devil's Gate". In 1846, early adopters of the Hastings Cutoff had used the same entrance only in reverse, as an exit on their way from Fort Bridger to California.
The Petersons were the first residents of the valley, which is entirely encircled by steep mountains. To transport their wagons into the valley, Peterson and his sons constructed a new road through a narrow passage at Weber Canyon called "Devil's Gate". In 1846, early trailblazers of the Hastings Cutoff had employed the same entrance in reverse, as an exit on their journey from Fort Bridger to California.