And were completely humbled
Hundreds of thousands of people
Desperate, hopeful, unprepared, running away, running towards, ever westward
2,000 miles
6 months
10 to 20 miles walked every day
Snow, rain, hail, scorching sun, wind
Plains, rivers, mountains, plateaus
Mud, dust, ruts, rocks
Rattlesnakes, buffalo, antelope, bears
Cholera
Indians
20% died…in some areas a grave every 80 yards
Dead and abandoned animals all along the way
These are the people of the Westward Migration, the Oregon Trail, the California settlement, and eventually the gold fever
Today, we visited the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center outside Baker City, Oregon. We actually walked a small section of the trail. It is mind blowing what they endure and conquered for a piece of land to call their own.
