[or-roots] Oregon Trail or probably not

[Leslie Chapman]

I've probably mentioned this before, but I remember when I was about 7 or 8
my folks and I camped beside some old wagon ruts "somewhere" in the Oregon
high desert, I don't think it was th Oregon trail but might have been since
I probably had no real idea where the trail ran at that age, I assumed it
followed the river I believe.

Anyway the reason I bring this up is that in wandering near our campsite, we
were dry camping, I stumbled across the remnants of a wagon, just a few
bolts of peculiar shape, sort of u-bolts except the U was square and
flattened to hold a wooden member without pressing into it too hard. My dad
who had started life on wagons and used them on the farm until after WW 2,
(somewhere in the family we till have our old logging wagon seen in some
early fifties Cottage Grove Parades) identified them for me, but of course I
don't remember exactly  what they were.

I believe there was some evidence of fire and as I recall I had some
pleasant fantasies of having discovered the site of an "indian massacre"
that maybe no one knew about. Dad pointed out that more likely it was
abandoned by some poor busted sod farmer in the thirties and the fire damage
was just from a lightening fire. But of course that and the absence of any
bones didn't discourage my fantasy much. I wish I had some idea where we
were. If my neice would quit wasting all her time on raising her two
daughters and get to the important stuff of transcribing dad's diaries maybe
I could find his notes for that nights camp.

Les C



Below is a thumbnail view of the Oregon Trail as seen from the Interpretive
Center at Baker City, OR.
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