2,170 MILE HISTORIC TRAIL

OREGON TRAIL

DANGERS

• It is estimated that 5% of migrants died along the Oregon Trail which would be approximately 15,000 people
• Dangers along the trail included swollen rivers that could drown oxen or people and overtop wagons
• Heavy rains could turn the riverbeds into quicksand that could swallow a wagon or oxen up in minutes
• Poor sanitation along the trail was another danger which could cause illnesses such as cholera
• Cholera is an intestinal infection caused by ingesting bacteria through contaminated food and water
• Cholera was the number one cause of death on the trail

DISTANCE

• The pioneers traveled approximately 15 miles per day
• Wagons were drawn by mules or oxen and the journey took 4-6 months
• Many people do not realize there were several different paths. It was not just 1 trail
• They were the California, Mormon, and Bozeman Trail

LIFE ALONG THE TRAIL

• Meals typically were bacon,beans, bread, and coffee
• Because there was little timber along the trail, buffalo chips (buffalo poo) was used to make fires to cook
• Because their diets had little fruit. The pioneers lacked vitamin C and often times got scurvy

FUN FACTS

• A lot of the pioneers painted messages on their wagons and carved their names and hometowns into large stones along the trail
• Independence Rock in Wyoming is one of the most famous rocks along the trail. It stands 128 feet tall and has 1000s of markings from the travelers
• There was an Oregon Trail video game