[or-roots] [or-roots) Oregon Trail

[cklooster at aol.com]

Last summer my sister and I took our parents' motor home on a meandering six week trek from Oregon to Maine and back again.  One of the places we visited which left a lasting impression was a National Historic Landmark  and State historic site near Guernsey, Wyoming called "Oregon Trail Ruts".  There is a photo and mention of this site on Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Trail_Ruts_(Guernsey,_Wyoming).  It is one thing to read about the challenges facing the Oregon pioneers; it's quite a different perspective to actually see the marks preserved in stone where heavily laden wagons struggled to cross through a rugged and desolate country as they climbed toward South Pass.  The ruts cut into the sandstone four to six feet deep in places and one can just imagine the physical effort required to get each wagon up and over this ridge.  The Wyoming park service has created a very well done interpretive walking trail from the parking area up to the wagon ruts (with a number of strategically placed benches all along the route).  We stopped at several other areas near the Platte river where portions of the trail are still visible, but this was by far the most awe inspiring.  One of the things that struck me was how narrow the tracks were...a pretty small container for the whole of a family's worldly goods

There is an interesting interactive site that gives an online overview of the Oregon trail at  http://www.isu.edu/~trinmich/Oregontrail.html

Carla

-----
Original Message-----
From: Stephenie Flora <slflora47 at msn.com>
To: 'or-roots mail list' <or-roots at listsmart.osl.state.or.us>
Sent: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 3:31 pm
Subject: Re: [or-roots] 1852 correction




With 10,000 emigrants coming to Oregon in 1852 and another 50,000 going to California more than one emigrant commented on the desire for some elbow room.  It was the worst at the beginning of the journey because everyone was trying to leave around the same time.  There were times the dust was so bad that one diarist commented that he could hardly see his wheel oxen.  And then when it rained they suffered through mud bogs.  They were definitely traveling in each other’s pockets.

 

 


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