by Jesse Wiley
“A snake,” you say.
“Snake!” Hannah screams, waking up Ma and Pa. Everyone crowds around you as you tell them about your close encounter.
“Good thing you didn’t try to strike it or run,” Pa says. “Those snakes are deadly.”
No one gets much more sleep that night, especially you. You keep checking to see if anything is coming near you. When the morning bugle sounds, you’re still exhausted, even though you’re not sorry at all to leave Fort Bridger.
* * *
You’ve entered Bear Lake Valley, a beautiful area with rolling hills and cedar groves. It’s filled with plenty of firewood and water.
But Caleb has warned you all about the next obstacle ahead: the Big Hill. It’s one of the steepest climbs on the Trail. After five days of hiking, you finally reach the point where you have to trek up the massive hill. Everyone stares at it in disbelief.
“Even if we get up that thing, how are we going to get down the other side?” Pa asks.
“One thing at a time,” Caleb says. “We can do it if we’re careful.”
“I think we should use a windlass to get the wagons up,” Joseph suggests.
“What’s that?” you ask. You’ve never heard of one of those before.
“You anchor one wagon at the top of the hill, and attach ropes to its wheels,” he says, getting excited by the possibility.
“Then what happens?”
“You attach the other end of the ropes to the rest of the wagons at the bottom of the hill. Then you turn the wheel on the windlass like a crank. It pulls the wagons up the hill.”
“I’ve heard of windlasses being used successfully on the Trail,” another man agrees. “We should try it.”
If you use the windlass, the oxen would just have to get themselves up the hill, without carrying the weight of the wagons. But some of the others aren’t so sure that it’s a good idea. They’re nervous about using something they aren’t familiar with for the first time.
“What if it breaks?” someone says. “Or if it isn’t strong enough?”
They think going slow and steady up the hill might be the best option, even if it would be challenging for the animals.
What do you decide?
If you build a windlass, turn to page 85
If you go up the regular way, turn to page 25
Return to page 63
You decide to tie two wagons together and cross the river in pairs. With double the weight, the wagons should be less likely to tip over in the strong current. Besides, the idea of disassembling your wagons and floating the parts across the river sounds like too much work. And there’s too much potential for accidents or losing things in the process.
Your wagon is connected to Caleb’s with heavy ropes. Soon everyone is ready to go.
“Let’s roll the wagons,” Caleb orders. “Move them slow and steady. And don’t stop in the riverbed, just in case there is quicksand.”
The first pair of wagons rolls into the water, and then the second follows. Yours are next. Ma is riding in your wagon with Hannah and Samuel because she isn’t a very good swimmer and the water is too rough for her to walk in. You help Pa and Caleb lead the animals, along with Joseph and Eliza.
You step into the brisk water, which reaches up to your waist, ready for the first part of the crossing. You shiver and your teeth start to chatter. Archie jumps in after you and paddles happily.
“You have that thick warm coat, Archie,” you grumble enviously.
The other animals are reluctant to get into the water, and you don’t blame them. You wonder if it’s because they don’t want to be cold or because of how strong the current is.
“Hiyaa!” Pa calls, pulling them by their yokes. “Come on.”
Finally, the oxen take the plunge. Slowly they make their way across the river as you lead them with ropes. Things are going smoothly until suddenly the wagons jerk violently.
SPLASH!
Something has fallen out of one of the wagons.
“Ma!” Hannah screams.
You see your mother’s bonnet bobbing in the current, but you don’t see the rest of her anywhere. Where is she?
Pa throws you his ropes. “Hold them steady!” he shouts. And then he dives after Ma.
You remember Caleb’s warning about stopping in the river, so you keep your oxen moving. But you feel a lump in your throat and you want to cry out for Ma. What if she drowns?
Finally you see Pa swimming back, dragging Ma along behind him. She isn’t moving, and he lifts her into the wagon. Then he jumps in and starts to press on her chest and blow into her mouth. As Pa keeps going, your heart pounds so hard it feels like it is going to rip out of your chest. It seems like time freezes until you finally hear a little cough and cry out with relief.
“She’s alive!”
Pa gently sits Ma up. She has a cut on her head that is bleeding and she looks confused, but other than that, she seems okay. Ma hit a rock when she fell out of the wagon. It knocked her unconscious, and she would have drowned if Pa hadn’t acted so quickly.
“Can you handle the oxen?” Pa asks, as he dresses Ma’s wound.
“Yes,” you say, glad that there’s something you can do to help.
“Let’s keep moving,” Caleb says, his face filled with emotion. “That was a close one.”
You reach the island safely and take a rest before continuing on to the next crossing. Looking at the second island, you shudder, realizing that you will have to do this all over again.
Pa takes the ropes again and leads the oxen during the second stretch of the crossing. He looks at you from time to time and gives you an encouraging nod. You expertly steer the oxen with Caleb, and before too long, you make it to the other side of the river.
“We did it together,” Pa says, smiling at you proudly. You smile back at Pa, and look at the rest of your family, realizing how grateful you are for every one of them.
You’ve overcome so many obstacles on this journey so far, and each time you feel even closer to the people who survived them with you. Three Island Crossing is behind you now. Since you left Devil’s Gate, you’ve had plenty of adventures and challenges, from rattlesnakes to the Big Hill. You’ve had good times with friends like Eliza and Joseph and made new friends like Roaring Cloud. You’ve tasted foods like Pacific salmon and even drank soda water from the ground!
It’s been almost half a year since you left your home in Kentucky and headed to Missouri to start the journey out West. Your old life seems like a distant memory, and all you know now is life on the Trail, with all its hardships and joys. But you are almost three-quarters of the way to Oregon City.
In the weeks ahead you will have to cross rugged mountains. Luckily your family has made good time since you started out on the Trail in May, so you won’t still be trekking in the heart of winter. Even so, you know that the next part of the Trail will be the most difficult. But you’re not worried. You’ve gotten this far, and you’re ready for whatever is next. Because you are a tried-and-true pioneer!
THE END
Return to page 117
Guide
to the Trail
Get Ready to Explore!
You have completed half of the Oregon Trail, pioneer! You’ve relied on your wits, good judgment, and resources like this travel guide to get this far. Making it through the rest of the journey requires you to stay alert and to watch out for dangers, from wild animals and harsh climates to swindlers looking to profit off of you. The next part of the Trail also involves difficult decisions on how best to navigate, so be careful and choose wisely.
Dangers!
FLASH FLOODS
Floods can wipe out entire camps, if you aren’t careful to make camp in the right spot. Avoid sites next to rivers with overflowing banks and damp ground.
SNAKEBITE
Snakebites are common on the Trail and can be deadly if the snake is venomous. If you encounter a rattlesnake, do not make sudden movements or strike it. If it rattl
es, it is scared. Stay as still as possible and it will probably leave you alone.
DISEASE
Staying healthy on the Trail can be difficult. Eat the cleanest and freshest foods you can in order to avoid dysentery. If you get diarrhea, drink water mixed with salt and sugar. Another serious condition is scurvy, which is the result of not eating enough fruit and vegetables. Symptoms include weakness, paralysis, bleeding gums, and loss of teeth. The condition can be reversed by eating citrus fruits or citric acid.
HEAT
If you find yourself in desert-like conditions on the Trail, it is safest to travel by night. Stock up on water and ration it carefully. Watch out for signs of heat stroke or exhaustion, such as rapid breathing, nausea, and headaches in yourself and others. You can hallucinate if you are dehydrated, so if you see something strange, ask a friend if they see it, too.
FOREST FIRES
A real threat on the mountains, forest fires are swift and deadly. You may not be able to safely outrun a fire, but climbing out of its reach is an option.
POISONING
Avoid buying any medicine, called “tonic” on the Trail, from people you don’t trust or know. When you feel sick, always check with an adult for the right amount of medicine, so you do not poison yourself or fall ill from accidentally taking too much.
Finding Your Way
Walking 2,000 miles (3,200 km) from Missouri to Oregon City in 1850 means there aren’t roads or many signs. You have to navigate by landmarks along the way.
SOUTHPASS
This gently sloping pass marks the halfway point on the Oregon Trail and the location of the Continental Divide.
GREENWOOD CUTOFF
This shortcut saves a week of travel, but takes you through a scorching desert. The longer trip is advisable but the longer you are on the trail, the more risks you potentially face.
GREEN RIVER
This is one of the most dangerous river crossings on the Trail. Take the ferry instead of fording the river.
BIG HILL
Big Hill is one of the steepest hills on the Trail. A windlass, which allows you to mechanically crank up wagons without straining your animals, may be a good option. But a windlass has risks of its own.
SODA SPRINGS
A marvel of the Trail, Soda Springs is a fascinating place filled with naturally bubbling pools of carbonated water. Be careful though; some of the hot springs are extremely hot and can cause you serious burns!
SHOSHONE FALLS
You can hear these impressive and spectacular waterfalls from miles away.
THREE ISLAND CROSSING
This path across the Snake River involves strong currents and high waters. One option is to float your wagon across piece by piece, but that is a risky and often disastrous undertaking.
Look for these landmarks between Devil’s Gate and Three Island Pass
DISTANCE FROM INDEPENDENCE, MISSOURI:
SOUTH PASS: 914 miles (1,471 km)
FORT BRIDGER: 1,026 miles (1,651 km)
SODA SPRINGS: 1,155 miles (1,859 km)
FORT HALL: 1,217 miles (1,959 km)
SHOSHONE FALLS: 1,337 miles (2,152 km)
You dip your hands into the warm water and splash it over your hot, sweaty face. It’s so refreshing to wash the grime off your skin after being on the dusty trail that you can’t help but smile.
The water is lapping at you like a soft, wet tongue . . . until suddenly you wake up, reach out, and feel something furry.
“Archie! Yuck!” you groan, pushing your dog away from where he’s been licking your face.
Archie just looks at you with his big brown eyes and wags his tail.
“It’s all right, boy.” You laugh, scratching him around the ears as the five-a.m. bugle sounds. It’s barely light outside your tent, but it’s time to start the morning chores, eat breakfast, pack up your wagon, and get back on the Trail.
It’s already been almost four months since you started your journey from Independence, Missouri, back in May. But every morning, it’s a little harder to get up
“Wake up, Samuel.” You nudge your little brother, fast asleep beside you. “You need to milk Daisy.”
“You do it,” Samuel moans, rolling over on his feather mat.
Hannah, your little sister, marches into your tent. She’s always been the earliest riser among you. Samuel used to be more energized in the morning, but as you’ve made your way through the difficult Rocky Mountains, he’s needed more rest. Plus, instead of traveling fifteen miles a day, your wagon train has been covering only about ten to twelve miles because of the rugged and treacherous terrain.
“Ma says to hurry up,” Hannah says, her bonnet sliding halfway over her eyes as usual. “She needs you to get fuel for the fire, and Sam to milk—”
“Daisy,” Samuel mutters, cutting her off. “I know, I know. I’m coming.”
Hannah rolls her eyes at him and goes back to help Ma prepare breakfast. You don’t blame Samuel for being grumpy as he packs up his bed and carries it out of the tent. Your body longs for more rest too. But you know you don’t have that option. The wagon train will roll out in about an hour and a half, and you need to help Ma and Pa get everything ready.
Your stomach growls as you anticipate breakfast, which will probably be flapjacks and bacon . . . again. Since you’ve left Independence with a wagon led by a team of oxen piled high with everything you own, you’ve eaten more bacon than you ever dreamed was possible. Ma has been pretty creative with the few other foods you’ve carried with you for more than 1,400 miles so far: flour, cornmeal, sugar, coffee, salt, and beans. But it’s still gotten boring. Luckily, you’ve also eaten whatever you have been able to catch along the Trail, including rabbits, squirrels, deer, and buffalo, along with fruits and berries.
“I can’t wait to get to Oregon City and eat at a tavern again,” Hannah says as if she is reading your mind.
“Me too, Hannah,” you say. “If there even are any taverns.”
Your family is traveling out West to claim the land available to anyone willing to make the trip. Other emigrants like you have already made it to Oregon City and started their lives. But you don’t really know what to expect when you get there.
You’ve covered two-thirds of your trek, through prairie, desert, and now mountains. The sights along the way have been incredible, from steep cliffs to massive waterfalls to enormous rock formations, and more. And you’ve overcome a number of challenges, including dangerous river crossings, ferocious animals, and serious illnesses.
“Good morning,” Caleb says as you walk past him with an armful of brush for the campfire. Caleb has proved to be an excellent wagon captain over the journey. His son and daughter, Joseph and Eliza, have become the best friends you’ve ever had.
“Good morning,” you reply. “What’s ahead on the Trail today?”
“We are going to have a meeting after we all fuel up on breakfast,” Caleb replies. “There’s a big decision to make.”
You feel a familiar tinge of excitement, wondering what the decision will be as you hurry back to your campsite and help Ma start a big fire. As the bacon starts sizzling in the iron skillet, you grind coffee beans and make a strong brew that everyone, even Hannah, drinks. You’ve all grown accustomed to drinking coffee on the Trail and are grateful it masks some of the bad-tasting water you are forced to use along the way.
Pa fixes you a plate of flapjacks, and you sink your teeth into a thick, buttery pancake. You wish there was some syrup but are grateful for your cow Daisy’s steady supply of cream that Ma churns into butter by hanging a bucket on the side of the wagon as it bumps along the rocky terrain.
“Pa, do you know what big decision we have to make today?” you say.
“Yes. We need to choose whether or not to cross the Snake River two more times and head toward Fort Boise,” Pa starts.
“That river again!” Hannah interrupts.
You shiver, remembering the ordeal you just went through at Three Island Crossin
g. You had never been more terrified than when Ma fell into the water, but luckily Pa was quick to save her.
“What’s the other choice?” Samuel asks.
“We would take the South Alternate Route,” Pa explains. “It goes south of the Snake River but runs along it, so you don’t have to cross.”
“Isn’t that better, then?” Ma asks.
“I don’t know,” Pa answers. “It would take us through the Bruneau Sand Dunes. They are hot, dry, and dusty.”
Your family sits quietly and ponders the options.
“I’m afraid to cross the river again,” Ma says.
“Me too,” adds Hannah.
“I’m worried about the dry conditions of the alternate route,” Pa says. “It might be hard on the animals.”
“And I hate being thirsty,” Samuel adds, agreeing with Pa.
Everyone looks at you.
“It looks like you have to be the one to help us decide what we tell Caleb,” Pa says. “What do you think we should do?”
You consider everything carefully. Even though the river crossings are dangerous, at least you know what to expect. You’re not sure what the dunes will be like. On the other hand, the idea of two more crossings is daunting.
What do you say?
