Oregon Trail in Wyoming (Cheyenne, Rawlins: train, eat, farm)

[Clay Lady]

I have enjoyed reading any information about the trail that mostly Highlandlady has posted about the Oregan Trail. I am sure it would be wonderful for all - OK some - of us to have a place to go for more infomation.

After looking at the pictures of the Trail posted in the picture thread I keep wondering why nothing has grown in the ruts after all these years. It would be over a hundred -right? Does anyone know the answer?

[HighlandLady]

Clay Lady...I have often thought on this too. I do know that there have been several journeys made recently on the Oregon Trail (1993 sesquential celebration), the Mormon Trail (uncertain on the date) and the California Trail (1998??) and as often as they can, various wagon train organizations traverse on the same paths. I do know that in some areas here, they encourage travel with automobiles over the ruts to keep the vegetation down. (Or they did when I was hiking it...not certain if they still encourage that and I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't).
Then there are areas of the Trail where erosion has come into play, causing ruts to deepen and become very clear. Other areas are not clear ruts, but more swales. Considering the thousands that traveled across the prairie it isn't too difficult to conclude that somehow they impacted the ground on which they traveled. Much like the old highways of the early 1900's - their remnants still can be seen.
The Oregon Trail traveled over old Indian Trails for the most part...through much of Wyoming even. I suppose use and time would insure that they still can be seen.
What struck me odd when I first began with nothing more than having read a few chapters here and there in books...and fed by an obsession...was some of the areas the Trail runs, seemingly running amuck from anything. Of course, I was looking through eyes of a 20th century traveler, not a 19th century one. Rivers alter course, and the North Platte was no exception, nor the Sweetwater.
And then there are certain areas where the Trail spread out to 20 miles wide in some spots, when the emigrants could, to avoid eating dust from the wagon ahead.
I will post some links in a little while and some more book suggestions. I have to make a trip into town first - the offspring believes he is starving and of course to him, we are completely out of food

[HighlandLady]

Just a thought...then I have to run....
With the winds of Wyoming, wouldn't it be plausible that the topsoil would be blown away as the Trail began in earnest? Wouldn't that encourage growth of different vegetation than what is in the surrounding area? I am not a geologist and possibly do not know what I am talking about - but it seems to me a good reason i.e. sagebrush and native grasses don't grow in the ruts.

[Clay Lady]

I can understand the ground being compacted and top soil being blown away. However, considering the number of years that have past I would think the same wind would blow soil and seeds onto the trails. Compacted soil may not recover - maybe that is it. Perhaps someone who knows will see this thread.

I wondered why they would follow each other in a line all the time because of the dust issue. I guess actually seeing the areas would give you visual clues.

Did the people of the Mormon Trail and the California Trail follow the same route as the Oregon Trail?

It is a good thing I am not a cat! I am always curious about something!

Elkhunter, can you correct my spelling in the title of this thread?

[HighlandLady]

In some areas, i.e. Guernsey, etc...there was no room to spread out. And there the Deep Ruts are visible because the Trail was over soft sandstone. The years of many travelers wore the stone down to 5 ft deep in some areas. It just depended on where the route ran - sometimes there was little room for maneuvering.
I think that also when some emigrants began to reside here in Wyoming, the Trail was utilized as a farm road across their property, so even if the ebb of emigrants dwindled, the Trail was still in use.
Yes, the Mormon and California Trail blended into the Oregon Trail across much of Wyoming until it reached the western portion of the state...when it split into their separate Trails. Oregon Trail went on into Idaho, traveling up through Cokeville, WY, the Mormon and California Trail went their respective ways via Ft. Bridger.
LOL...I am always curious about something as well. Or obsessed, depending on the viewpoint

[ElkHunter]

Originally Posted by Clay Lady

Elkhunter, can you correct my spelling in the title of this thread?

hahaha I had to enlist help. Nobody has ever done that so I didn't know how to fix it. But it's fixed now.

[HighlandLady]

Ahhhhhh...my hero

[HighlandLady]

I have been trying to research a little more in depth the reason why ruts are visible after 165 years. The Oregon Trail was an extremely busy one with much traffic. The Bozeman Trail and Overland Trail weren't as busy, but there are still traces that can be seen:

Bozeman Trail swale outside of Kaycee, WY:


Overland Trail ruts around Rawlins, WY:



And ruts of the Cheyenne-Deadwood Stage Route is still visible as well...Lusk, WY



None of these other Trails saw the influx of traffic as the Oregon Trail.

[jdavid93225]

I found this site a while back with some pretty good info about the Oregon Trail in Wyoming, as well as some of the other trails, too. On the "Oregon, California, Mormon, Pony Express" link there is a "Travel The Trail" link that takes you across the state from east to west along the trail. It's a neat trip through history. Here's the link:

The Emigrant Trails in Wyoming

[HighlandLady]

jdavid...thank you for that. I have a billion bookmarks (slight exaggeration, but anyway...) and haven't gotten all of them organized. I was looking for that one

Here is another, very informative guide for an auto-tour of the Trail across Wyoming. It is in PDF format:
http://www.nps.gov/cali/planyourvisi...TRIG%20Web.pdf