At the foot of the grade, at the entrance to the Carson Valley is Van Sickle's old place, one of the early day stage-stations on the Placerville road.
Van Sickle was a noted character, a fearless, rude pioneer, but well liked and highly respected.

His fame was materially enhanced when he killed Sam Brown, one of the noted desperadoes of the Tahoe region in the days of the Virginia City mining excitement.

Tradition says that Brown was a fire-eating southerner, from Texas, a man proud of his bad record of several murders.

He was notorious in Virginia City, and when the war broke out was one of the outspoken heralds and advocates of secession.

He had trouble with Van Sickle and had threatened to kill him on sight.