Community Chat

[Kachina624]

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@Scooby Doo wrote:

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@Tinkrbl44 wrote:

I've driven cross country a few times and would always think about the settlers trying to move their families for hundreds (or thousands) of miles over rough terrain.

People in these caravans died on almost a daily basis.  I assume at the end of the day they'd dig graves, bury these people and go on in the morning.  I doubt they kept the bodies and moved on.

Talk about hardship!  

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True.  My great grandmother left Wales around the age of 70 to join the pioneers in Utah, where her son was waiting for her.  She traveled the sea then joined a wagon train cross country.  Unfortunately, she died at the mouth of the canyon just 10 miles from her destination.  One more day and she would have made it.  Her son borrowed a horse and went to the canyon but could not find her burial spot.  

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@Scooby Doo.  That's so sad.   Hard to imagine undertaking such a journey at age 70.

[kaydee50]

People will endure a LOT in the hopes of a better life.

[shoekitty]

They buried the bodies along the way. Most today are marked, and managed by the BLM.  Some are on private property. There are maps and lists available to the public where graves are marked.  I belonged to OCTA. The Oregon  California Trail Association. You can find them online, lots of info!   You can even ask about ancestors.  They are a great group of people. And have regular  events and chapters in many states.  Go to,   OCTA-trails dot org

[SilleeMee]

Even today Ute Pass can get backed up with traffic especially if there has been an accident. There's no way around it. One road in and one road out with no detour roads to take. Can be a pita during a snowstorm. 

[Kachina624]

@SilleeMee.  I don't think I've ever been over Ute Pass.  Kind of out of the way.

[shoekitty]

The women were total hero's.  What they had to endure, and what they got thru is amazing. Raising kids, giving birth, cooking, helping with driving the hard life. I almost whine thinking about it. Going to the bathroom, and personal matters were hard. The woman had to go off with other women, spread their long skirt out around them as to not miss or soil dress most stood up while going.  Rarely a bath or full body clean up. They had sores, skin conditions. Etc,  They gathered leaves, brush, what ever they could for toilet paper. Yikes.   Never fresh food on most of journey, salted, cured meats, legumes and such.  Maybe some game.  But mid thru the migration, game was gone in most places and the land so filthy with garbage and waste.  

[Desertdi]

My grandmother ESCAPED from Russia when she was a teenager.   I think about that...A LOT...

[Pittfanatic]

You are so right. My grandmother emigrated from Italy through Ellis Island. Every time I see a picture of those immigrants sitting there waiting to be processed with everything they own in bags on their laps I am amazed at their courage and perseverance. I can't imagine crossing the ocean on one of those old ships the way she did and I certainly can't imagine going across the country as part of a wagon train. But you said it best, the hope and dream of a better life is very powerful.

[Desertdi]

There WERE pre-Columbian explorers...

[Elodie2]

Love old photos like this.  Our ancestors were a tough bunch.  The terrain is treacherous and the guard rail doesn't look too promising. Brave souls created and traveled that path.