My journey along the Oregon Trail
During my three-month journey along the Oregon Trail, I have witnessed more than ever before. In case you and Paul decide to embark on this trip, the following advice may be of use to you. It is crucial to purchase a good tent and a sturdy wagon to transport all your belongings and supplies. I highly recommend a prairie schooner, which is lighter than a Conestoga wagon and drawn by oxen. Although they move slower than mules, they are less expensive and less likely to be stolen by Indians.
Make sure to pack enough flour, salt, sugar, tea, coffee, dried beans and fruits, corn, and rice. I would advise against carrying any perishable goods, as they are more of a burden than a benefit on this journey. However, if you have extra dried goods, you can exchange them for travel clothes and moccasins in the mountains.
The Oregon Trail is a historic route pning 2,000 miles from Independence, Missouri to Oregon City, Oregon, known for its many dangers. While much of the path was established by Lewis and Clark in the early 19th century, it was mainly missionaries who traversed the trail in large numbers in the following decades with the aim of converting Native Americans to Christianity.
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In the mid-1800s, hundreds of thousands of pioneers embarked on this trail in pursuit of new lives, while miners seeking their fortune in the gold rush also followed this path. However, as the railroad became more prevalent towards the end of the century, the Oregon Trail became less popular as the same journey could be completed in just a week by rail.
Meat is abundant on this trip, so rifles and ammunition are essential. Don't forget to bring a good sheet-iron stove for cooking, as wood is scarce on the trail. I would recommend starting from St. Joseph to avoid crossing several streams, which can be very high and dangerous.
Our routine at the camp starts before sunrise, and we travel most of the day. One of the biggest discomforts is caused by violent windstorms that scatter our tents and wagons and make cattle stampede wildly. To protect ourselves from the devastation of these storms, our men have come up with a simple yet ingenious trick: we group the wagons in small circles with oxen chained inside them at the first sign of a storm.
Another danger that lurks within the camp is people getting trampled, especially little children, in the general confusion. I have witnessed this personally, and that's why I always keep my little ones in plain sight and close to our wagon. Although the Indians we have met so far have been peaceful, I wouldn't trust them entirely, given the rumors of their cruelty.
One day, we were startled by thunder-like sounds and a heavy dark cloud approaching us, which we initially took for a sandstorm. As the cloud drew closer, we felt the ground tremble and recognized thousands of buffalos rushing past. Fortunately, they were on the other side of the stream and did not cause any harm to our camp.
It is getting late now, and we have another early start tomorrow, so I will end my writing here. I hope this letter brings you peace and blessings to your family. Love, Mary.
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My journey along the Oregon Trail. (2023, Feb 24). Retrieved from https://phdessay.com/my-journey-along-the-oregon-trail/
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