2003 Oregon Trail Trip
In fulfillment of one of my dreams, we traveled the Oregon Trail from Independence Missouri to Oregon City Oregon. To do the trail justice, one should plan no less than four weeks to follow the trail from beginning to end. We had three weeks to do the trail and return to Jacksonville Florida. We spent ten days on the trail. Unbelievable. The adventure of a lifetime. While we did not get to see all of the trail and had to skip some parts, we saw almost all the major landmarks, both the natural landmarks and the mortality landmarks (graves).
These are just a few of the pictures we took on the trip. This is not intended to be a history of the trail. I am certainly not qualified to be considered an authority and I don't pretend to be so. Hopefully I have provided enough info with the photos to make them meaningful but I am just trying to provide the pictures. Hopefully some of the explanations are not more confusing than they are enlightening.
I had an interest in the trail due to my love of American History. I saw a program on television once that told about Independence Rock. I knew I had to see it.
Now I am a trail lover. We have joined OCTA - Oregon California Trails Association. When I retire, we are going to do this again and take about two months to do it using a 4WD vehicle.
If you are interested in the trail, I suggest any book written by Gregory Franzwa. I used his book entitled "The Oregon Trail Revisited" as a trail book and it is excellent. It will take you mile by mile along the trail and has a lot of history about what you will see along the way. Lots of good background.
To Mr. Franzwa, "Thank You" for sharing your passion for the trail. I just hope I can pass it on to my grandchildren.