ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti, ˈɛm.tˈiː. sˈɪmənz, wˈʌn ʌvðə fˈɜːst paɪənˈɪɹ sˈɛtlɚz ʌvðə ɹˈiːdʒən, lˈɛd ɐn ˈɛfɚt tə kˈʌt ɐ ɹˈoʊd ˌoʊvɚ nˈæʃᵻz pˈæs, bˌʌt ðə hˈɛvi fˈɔːɹɪst ænd stˈiːp ɹˈɪdʒᵻz mˌeɪd ðɪ ˈɛfɚt dˈɪfɪkəlt ænd ðɪ ɐtˈɛmpt fˈeɪld.
In 1850, M.T. Simmons, one of the first pioneer settlers of the region, led an effort to cut a road over Naches Pass, but the heavy forest and steep ridges made the effort difficult and the attempt failed.