The Oregon Trail Journal

June 18 – We traveled to Boot Hill cemetery. I took several photographs including couple of a time capsule (Waymark Code: WM1RYE). We traveled to California Hill where the Oregon Trail wagon ruts cut deep into the hill as they pulled up out of the Lower California Crossing of the Platte River. We walked the trail to the top of a hill where there was an Oregon Trail marker on the horizon. By the time the emigrants reached California Hill, more than three-quarters of their journey remained.

The bus got stuck when the driver tried to find a place further up the remote dirt road to turn around. Its right rear tire hit a mud bog on the dirt road and slid into a ditch. The bus was canted at an angle. We had to wait a long time for a big orange tow truck to pull it out. There was no shade from the searing sun. We had very little water – it was all on the bus except for a couple bottles.

We did not get to stop at Windlass Hill or Ash Hollow to make up for lost time. A sod house replica marks the entrance to Windlass Hill. We just did a drive-by. Windlass Hill was the steepest descent yet encountered. Here they tied ropes to their wagons, used various methods to slow them down, and hoped for the best. The hill was scarred by deeply eroded ruts cut by thousands upon thousands of wagons.

Then it was on to Ash Hollow for the emigrants - among the most favored spots along the Oregon Trail. Here, they found shade trees and firewood, abundant grass for animals, fruits, berries, and pure drinking water. Many rested a day or two at this place. I was deeply disappointed that we did not stop at Ash Hollow either.

We did stop briefly at a small cemetery on the left side of U.S.-26 just past Ash Hollow park exit. It is notable as the burial place of Rachel E. Pattison, who died June 19, 1849, at the age of 18. The dreaded cholera had struck again, this time claiming a bride of just two months. Her original headstone is encased behind glass at the grave. Her trailside grave was the beginning of this pioneer cemetery.

We stopped at the Oregon Trail Trading Post in Lewellen, Nebraska for lunch. I had a BBQ Beef Sandwich, Cole Slaw and Fries. I purchased a Hershey Bar for dessert and a disk (“Hard Headed” by Jim Rice.

We saw two of the best-known high rock formations of the Oregon Trail--Courthouse Rock and Jail Rock--from afar. Many emigrants carved their names on the sandstone and clay rocks, but these have long since worn away. These rocks are at the eastern edge of a region known as the Wildcat Hills.

We traveled to Chimney Rock near Bayard, Nebraska. It was an awesome sight! Of all the natural landmarks along the Oregon Trail, Chimney Rock is probably the most famous, mentioned in more emigrant diaries than any other. Rising almost 500 feet above the North Platte River, Chimney Rock can been seen from 30 miles away. We stopped briefly at the Visitor Center located about 0.75 mile east of the monument. According to the information plaques, Chimney Rock is mainly composed of Brule clay, with horizontal layers of volcanic ash and sandstone. The same type of sandstone (called Arikaree) found in Chimney Rock is also abundant in a Courthouse Rock and Scotts Bluff.

We traveled to Scotts Bluff, another famous landmark. We rode to the top of the bluff through a couple tunnels. One of the finest views on the Oregon Trail can be found atop Scotts Bluff National Monument. While the group admired the view, I took several photographs including a few of the benchmark: MN0634. The benchmark was located on the highest point of Scotts Bluff, on bare, soft, chalky rock near precipitous cliff to the northeast. The sandstone has worn away from the benchmark leaving the cast-iron pipe exposed about six or eight inches above the ground.

We traveled on to the Microtel Motel in Gering, Nebraska where we were staying the night. After a brief stop in our rooms, we boarded the bus and traveled to the Oregon Trail Wagon Train for a 20-minute covered wagon ride and steak dinner with baked potato and green beans. We had homemade ice cream cones for dessert. There were songs around the campfire as the sun set. I was glad to get back in my motel room as I was really exhausted. I wrote in my journal before going to sleep.