The Oregon Trail A virtual tour along the landscape

Oregon Trail Map

The Oregon Trail Pioneers: a.k.a. – Overlanders, parties, companies or teams (some groups: 1000) Traveled 2000 miles during summer months (April-Nov.) in 1830’s and ’40’s Young – adult males traveling w/ families Canvas Covered Wagons: clothes they wore, blankets, guns, ammo, knives, water canteen, blackened pot, sugar, salt, flour Many started in Missouri then…

A - The Great Plains

The Great Plains Several hundred miles of wide, rolling prairies (“Carpet of fresh green grass”) Native Amer. Territory Buffalo Violent Storms – Challenges? –Cooking was tough –Getting stuck in mud –Crossing streams –Soaked clothing and bedding

B - Platte River Map

C - Platte River

The Platte River Relatively easy portion of journey – sluggish, shallow, ½ mile wide Friendly interaction with Natives until 1954 River crossings were difficult: Drownings, Quicksand Dry, Dusty, Shadeless – Challenges? –Lips cracking, dry nostrils, sickness: Cholera –New animals, deceptive distances –Monotony: tensions, tempers, weariness, boredom = Fractures –Unpacking possessions to cross the river Fort Laramie – Cut supplies Independence Rock – “register of the desert”

Rocky Mountains - Map

D - Rocky Mountains

Approaching the Foothills of the Rockies Sweetwater River – O. Trail became more rugged (2-3 miles per hour) Challenges? –Trees cut, boulders pried/pushed aside –Detours around deep gulches –Wagons tipped –Creek crossings: unload, disassemble and load Largest Mtn. Range in U.S. – snow capped peaks 3,000 ft. high – Passable?

Rocky Mountains – South Pass

Dry, Rocky terrain of wild sagebrush, precipitous hillsides and prickly pear but gradual assent – Challenges? –Wagon unloading, ropes, pulleys, worn animal hooves Also…Unpredictable weather in high passes (snowstorms) – Challenges –Slow travel, no grazing or hunting

E - The Great Basin

The Great Basin Northern most part, not a great descent (plains) but… One of driest parts of journey – Challenges? –Water unattainable, impassable gorges Try Snake river but… –Difficult: deep, swift, submerged boulders Many rafts capsized

F - The Blue Mountains

Blue Mountains Very steep but comforting…Last range, near destination and crossed them before Challenges: –Similar to other mountains: ropes, pulleys, etc. –Health concerns: Very taxed at this point – susceptible to dysentery and exposed to cholera, measles and Mountain fever: Sores on unwashed bodies Also, Heat exhaustion, children falling off wagons

G - The Columbia River

Columbia River Dalles settlement on south bank VERY swift river, rapids – Challenges? –Stood still for days –Fall in – many settlers died here Barlow Road over Cascade mountains – Eastern slope – Not bad; Western slope: swampy and heavily forested Used lines to slow wagons down slope

H - Willamette Valley

Willamette Valley Lush, flat valley On Barlow Road – cliff walls of valley were too high to cross: –Ferried river or –Native help –Most emigrants settled at the mouth of the river