Carylin' on the Oregon / California Trail - Day Six

Caryling on the Oregon Trail

DAY 6

Though we were gone many more days, this is the last day I'll be sharing here on our incredible, awesome research journey on the Oregon / California Trail. On this day we broke off from the Oregon Trail and went south on the California Trail for the rest of our trip.

Near Fort Hall was where the wagon trains had a parting of the ways, some going north if  Oregon was their destination or south for the wagons going on to California.

We woke up in Pocatello, Idaho, where the actual Fort Hall is now on the Shoshone-Bannock Indian Reservation about thirty miles away and is inaccessible general public without special permits.

But a replica was built in the city in the in 1960s. We visited the public museum there. Once we left, we got to Nevada very quickly.

I finally got to see the actual tracks of the wagons near Wells, Nevada. There'd been lots of places where you could see them before, but since we took our trip in December, our choices were more limited.

We had to drive a ways out of Wells, Nevada, but what a thrilling sight! The double tracks worn into the packed earth almost two hundred years ago by wagon trains passing through.

It looks like an old farm road you might see here in Red River County where I live in a Texas farming community---well, minus the mountains on the horizon. You can see the "California Trail" marker bottom center to verify this is the real deal.

This was one of my favorite places of all the sights we’d seen!

We followed the Snake River, just as the wagon trains did. A part of the actual trail is beneath the highway we rode on.

Soon we got to Massacre Rock, so-called because of the narrow passage between the rocks, only wide enough for one wagon at a time.

The gap was called the Devil’s Gate or Gate of Death. It’s a State Park now.

A little farther on the highway, we stopped at Register Rock.

This place was a wonderful place for the wagons to stop and spend a day or two of rest as it proved to be a prime camping area.


Sojourners carved their names and dates on rocks in this park as so many had on Independence Rock, but here you could get up close.

Though the biggest rocks are behind a chain-link fence and covered with a tabernacle type roof to preserve it, protecting it from modern-day people who would carve their names.

I wondered if those who carved their names so long ago had thought that an author doing research for a book about traveling on the Oregon / California Trail might come by one day and take a photo of their name almost two centuries after they’d done the deed.

With her phone, no less!

By now the settlers had traveled about twelve hundred miles of their two thousand mile journey and the hardest part still lay ahead of them.

I would have hated knowing I couldn’t change my mind and go back where I had come from.
The only option was to go forward.

This is where they entered the ‘Great Basin’, following the Humbolt River that eventually just disappears into the ground. Its water turned very alkaline.

Then they faced the Forty-Mile Desert. The extreme heat was tough on the people but especially on the oxen as they’ve been working hard for many months.

To avoid it, they rested during the day and only traveled at night, pushing to get across the waterless desert in as little time as possible.

To lighten the load, after carrying their possessions all that way, they started emptying the wagons, leaving furniture and precious items behind on the trail along the way.

They thought that was surely the worst of it.

But the weary travelers got through that dreadful place, the Sierra Nevada Mountains stood in front of them.

The Shoshone tribe helped the settlers find water and food once across the desert.

As we drove, I couldn’t imagine how the wagons would have climbed those mountains.

At one of the hardest, highest spots, they took the wheels off the wagons and used great logs to roll the wagons up, oxen pulling from the top, men pushing from below, until each wagon got over the steep climb.

In my Prairie Roses Collection Collection contribution titled REMI! This is the place where they celebrate, looking down over the beautiful California valley on the west side of the mountain.

My characters, Asher and Remi plan on settling in the Napa Valley. They carried grape stock to plant a vineyard there. This is a story you won’t want to miss!

And you meet Remi toward the end of my Lockets and Lace Collection (all Sweet Americana Sweetheart bloggers) title UNIQUELY COMMON.  So read UNIQUELY COMMON first, then REMI! And enjoy! 

Bio: Award-winning Author Caryl McAdoo prays her story brings God glory! And her best-selling novels are blessed with a lion’s share of 5-Star ratings! With forty-three-and-counting titles, she loves writing as well as singing the new songs the Lord gives her—listen to a few at YouTube. She and husband Ron share four children and eighteen grandsugars. The McAdoos live in the woods south of Clarksville, seat of Red River County, in far Northeast Texas, waiting expectantly for God to open the next door. 

Contact Caryl: Amazon  Website  Facebook  BookBub  Newsletter  Influencers Group
   

 

Research Trip To The Past

Last month, my husband and I enjoyed a short, four-day vacation to the Grand Canyon. We’d visited on a car trip with two of our children years ago but found driving through the South Rim frustrating because of the high volume of traffic. Well, lots had changed. Not about the canyon itself--the gorge is still as beautiful and majestic as ever. Plus we were reminded more than once that the Grand Canyon is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. 

The tour package included a night at a historic hotel with dinner and breakfast buffets in Williams (the closest city to the national park), a bus tour of the sights, a night in a hotel inside the park, and the feature we looked forward to most--the train ride. In our minds, the two-hour-and-fifteen-minute ride would pass quietly as we either viewed the scenery or read our chosen books. The ride itself went off like clockwork, but the management of the company must believe the passengers need entertainment for almost the entire ride.

Once I realized the tone, I settled back and listened to cowboy banjo music, entertaining facts shared by the conductor, accordion music by an energetic senior citizen, and a pseudo train robbery. (The conductor even coached us on how to respond and what to say.)  We got into the spirit and played along.

The shuttle buses running within the park allow visitors to see the exhibits at their pace. I enjoyed not hassling with traffic and having to avoid unpredictable pedestrians. Clouds and a cold wind arrived close to sunset so we viewed the spectacular color display from inside a restaurant.

Theoretically, I knew the canyon was long--approximately 275 miles. But listening to the bus guide give the facts and figures made me realize what a shock early explorers must have felt when arriving at the edge. Depending on where in its length they encountered the gorge, they might have had to travel for almost two weeks to get around it. Think of the native peoples and the stories they created to explain such a geological feature.

The Grand Railway Hotel (Williams) is a great example of the accommodations provided to travelers many years ago—high ceilings, detailed woodwork, huge dining room, and efficient, friendly staff. Built in 1905 on the canyon’s south rim, the El Tovar Hotel is a national landmark and was originally a Harvey House (the subject of a future blog post). Just sitting on the porch made me feel like I’d been transported in time--especially as I listened to the Hopi flute player and let the plot ideas float in my head.

I’d love to hear suggestions for great spots to visit in the western states. One lucky commenter wins an ecopy of my only historical romance set in the same state as the Grand Canyon: Libbie, Bride of Arizona.

connect with me on Facebook

or Twitter

or register for my occasional newsletter

FORT UNION NEW MEXICO

Post (c) Angela Raines/Doris McCraw

View of Fort Union looking West/Northwest

Fort Union, in New Mexico, was the terminus of the Santa Fe trail where the Cimarron and Mountain Branch met just north of the fort. From Fort Union is was 75 miles to the town of Santa Fe.

Guardhouse

The first Fort Union was located near the bluffs about three miles from the present location. This fort, built to protect travelers on the Santa Fe Trail and locals from Indian attacks was built in 1851 and abandoned in 1861. The Ninth Military Department soldiers called it "Fort Windy" for the constant winds blowing through the area.

Living Quarters

The second Fort Union was a massive earthwork affair built to defend the Trail from Confederate invaders. This fort, was only in use from 1861-62 after the Confederates were driven from the area.

The third and final fort was a massive affair, built by contractors as opposed to the other sites build by the soldiers themselves, was like a city. This fort was in use from 1863 to 1891 when the railroad service to the area caused its demise.

During the heyday of the third fort, it was the main supply base for the Military Department of New Mexico, supplying the other six forts, Fort Sumner, Fort Crag, Fort Stanton, Fort Seldon, Fort Bayard and Fort Cummings, with their supplies. There was a hospital that not only treated the soldiers and their families, but the residents of the surrounding area along with the travelers along the Santa Fe Trail.

Ruins of the Hospital

The hospital had six wards and over its lifetime had between 10 to 126 beds. It was staffed by two doctors, two stewards, a cook, two nurses and three matrons. In one month they could treat upwards of 425 people, approximately 160 who might need hospitalization. About 40% were civilians who payed 50 cents per day for treatment.

Another interesting fact, the third fort had flagstone walkways throughout the interior, which you will notice in some of the photos.Additionally this fort did not have outside walls.

For further information this link will give you a larger overview:  http://www.legendsofamerica.com/nm-fortunion.html

You can learn even more about the Santa Fe Trail and Fort Union here: http://www.kansasheritage.org/research/sft/ft-union.htm

Angela Raines is the pen name for Doris McCraw. Doris also writes haiku posted five days a week at – http://fivesevenfivepage.blogspot.com and has now passed one thousand haiku and photos posted on this blog. Check out her other work or like her Amazon author page:  http://amzn.to/1I0YoeL

http://amzn.to/2bHg1Wq

http://amzn.to/2bnlhh1

http://amzn.to/1P4JVV8