The origin of the Oregon Trail can be traced back to the Native Americans and early trappers. Roaming the frontier, both groups frequently crossed sections of the trail. In 1742, a Canadian explorer named Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, ventured upon sections of the trail in Wyoming. Sixty-two years later, the Lewis and Clark Expedition would return with accounts of the trail, making it more known. Finally, in eighteen-twelve Robert Stuart and a party of explorers traveled along the trail, backwards. Stuart's party discovered South Pass, which would provide a route of travel through the Rocky Mountains. This discovery opened the door to the West for thousands of settlers. Stuart's discovery of the South Pass did not immediately cause a massive migration west. The first group to travel west was the missionaries. Sent by chur

Leaving Scotts Bluff and Chimney Rock behind, the settlers could look forward to camping at Fort Laramie. This was the settler's last chance to re-supply and repair their wagons before heading into the mountains. Departing from Fort Laramie the settlers encountered barren landscapes with hills rising in the south. After traveling for several days the settlers would have to cross the Great Platte River. This difficult task was responsible for many drowning along the trail. Stuart described the Platte River as being very swift and difficult to cross. Later he mentioned the fact that his party had lost supplies while crossing the river. Shortly after crossing the Platte River the pioneers would venture upon a large rock, called Independence Rock. This rock became a landmark to the settlers because it marked the beginning of the ascent to the Continental Divide and the settlers often camped here and chiseled messages in the rock. As the caravans continued to travel west the land began to change. Rather than a flat plain, the terrain shifted to large mountains. Stuart described the Rocky Mountains as having jagged peaks at some points and others having almost flat tops. Grasslands giving way to Pine trees upon higher grounds covered the bases of the mountains. After passing the lower grasslands, water, buffalo, and grass all became scarce. The South Pass became another important landmark along the Oregon Trail. Many settlers failed to realize they had cleared the Continental Divide. One settler noted that he perceived the South Pass as being very narrow and difficult to travel. In fact, it was almost twenty miles wide. The South Pass was essential for the pioneers to successfully cross the Rocky Mountains. Leaving the Rocky Mountains behind the settlers continued west and was forced to make a crucial decision. Those travelers that took Sublette Cutoff traveled across another stretch of dry, barren country lacking water and grass. This short cut, if successful, would save the settlers eighty-five miles and about a week of travel. Many chose to stay on the trail and take the longer, safer route. When Sublette Cutoff and the Oregon Trail re-joined the settlers followed Bear River into Idaho. Stuart described this area as having a soil composed of mainly gravel. The bottoms of the mountains were made from a hard black rock. Scattered about the ground were many large rocks and dead trees. One settler described that he saw mountains on the left and mountains on the right, but the path in which they were traveling contained only short hills. After several days of travel the pioneers would come to a decisive point. Hudspeth Cutoff led to the southwest and would take settlers to the California Road. It was at this point the settlers would have to choose between California and Oregon. One settler described the scene in which many wagons went south and the rest continued west. The settlers continuing west along the Oregon Trail would shortly run into the Snake River and follow this river west. Stuart described this area as being a smooth plain, possessing a parched, sandy soil with dust and gravel. Livestock were able to feed on clumps of grass and the foliage of trees. The land supported trees such as the Worm Wood and the Salt Wood and a few species of berries. The pioneers continued to follow the Snake River west, enduring the sandy plains and the poor vegetation. Stuart noted that in this area it was difficult to walk because the ground was full of grass clumps. Eventually, the settlers were forced to make an important decision. They could cross the Snake River here or stay south of the river and follow it around the bend. The settlers that chose to cross did so at Three Island Crossing. This river crossing was very dangerous. One pioneer explains that two men lost a mule while trying to cross. Both men tried saving the mule and drowned themselves. The bodies were never recovered. Many chose to travel out of there way south, rather than c

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 4806
Approximate Pages = 19 (250 words per page double spaced)