In 1683-1684, the party of Lt. General Juan Dominguez de Mendoza took this route to explore the Pecos Plains, obtain pearls from Texas rivers, and Christianize the Jumano Indians. Starting twelve miles below El Paso, the party of thirty-five traveled first southeast, then northeast into Texas, crossing future Upton County. They found 'many pearls' near present-day San Angelo, and at the confluence of the Concho and Colorado rivers, they founded San Clemente Mission. Two centuries later, part of this route was used by the Goodnight Loving Cattle Trail.