Historic Hood River
Planting a Marker
1-5-2021
Notes
An important component of Meeker’s journey was identifying signs of the old trail route and planting markers. On this card he wrote:
These two realistic views graphically record the work of recovering the “Lost Trail,” and preserving its identity, better than volumes of written testimony; 1906.
I first saw an Oregon Trail marker at the Emigrant Springs State Park off I-84 near Powder. Seeing physical signs left by ox drawn carts carrying heavy loads across the continent really helped me appreciate the nature of the journey. I followed it with a visit to the Oregon Trail Museum near Baker City. Meeker planted a monument in the Dalles, though I confess I’ve never seen it. Is it still there?
Kyle
The trail in the top photo looks too steep for oxen carts?
L.E.
There is a fairly recent book titled “The Oregon trail: A New American Journey”. The author is Rinker Buck. Rinker and his brother followed the trail with a team of mules. He made a comment something like….the trail followed where people want to go and people still want to go there…..
I thought of that when I was traveling through Idaho and would come across the Oregon Trail. Highways still follow much of the Oregon Trail.
I also remember taking Amtrak to Chicago one summer. The midwest tornados had been numerous before I left and I was concerned about sitting on the train and watching a tornado approach. I finally told myself to put my big girl panties on. I wasn't riding in a covered wagon out in the middle of nowhere like the early pioneers.
nails
Animals find the easiest way to traverse an area, as did the native Indians also. Trappers and wagons would use and follow these obvious tracks and trails. And so would later road and highway builders. Only in more recent times have engineers taken to blasting their way through any mountains that get in their way.
ArthurB
And today, the Oregon Trail seems to follow the cell phone towers.
Will
http://placespages.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-dalles-49-dalles-city-park.html
Charlott
One of my ancestors and his family came via the Oregon Trail to Oregon. He wrote a book about his trip west, called “Pioneer Campfire” I believe it is. He became Rev. Kennedy and at one time was a minister in Hood River. His place was located down there below Ruthton on the flats. It is a very interesting book.