Westward HO!

1. Westward HO! Our trip to Oregon TEEL

2. Date: April 28, 1852 Place: You decide Meet your families. Journal entry number one. Introduce yourself, include some details about yourself, likes, dislikes. Write why your family has decided to head west. Include how you feel about it Whose idea was it What you would like to do when you head west

3. Supplies Supplies Jumping Off Power Date: 1852 Place: Independence • What will you be taking on your journey? • Write about the supplies you ordered. • Did your family choose oxen or mules? • Did you get to take any luxury items? • What will you be leaving behind or doing without on the trail? • Are you going to have to leave something behind? • Will you be leaving someone behind that you really miss?

4. Independence SpringIndependence, MissouriBeginning of trail , May 1 Independence Cholera • Your pack horses are rubbed down and ready and your oxen team in place. Your belongings are packed. Your food rations carefully secured. Many of the parties in your wagon train are already lined up and ready to move out. But you still have to get one more vital item: your drinking water! • Will you top off your kegs from the drinking water available here at Independence Camp? Or wait until you get to the next stop this evening? • Fate: If you decided to top off your kegs this is your fate: Moments after topping off your water kegs you notice a mud splashed sign: "Contaminated Water! Cholera!" Now you must dump your supply and travel until evening before refilling your keg. Will any families share their supply? Move to reveal fate

5. Independence, MO • May 1 . 1852 Independence, MO • What choice did your family make about the filling up the water kegs? • Was it a good decision, why or why not? • Did you agree with the decision? What hardship are you dreading the most? Explain why you are dreading it.

6. Shawnee Mission Alcove Spring Observation Bluff (A ridge west of Captain Creek, Kansas) Mile 47 May 4 You've heard the stories. You've read about it in the Newspapers and emigrant guide books. But now you're here. This is the spot where a climb to the top of the bluffs will reveal a view of the trail that winds for weeks into the distant plains. They call it a "close look at infinity." Do you climb the bluffs to see what lies ahead? Or keep moving to make precious miles on the trail and keep the future a surprise? Fate: Those families who had family members climb the bluff lose 4 hours of travel time along the trail and will arrive in camp late, tired, and hungry. But it was worth the delay! Move to reveal Fate

7. Observation Bluff May 4, 1852 Did your family decide to climb to the top? If your family did decide to climb, write about the view from the top Was it worth the climb? Describe how tired you were when you finally made it into camp that night. Describe the reactions of the other families Did your family decide to not climb to the top? Do you regret not stopping How did you feel about the other families making such an irresponsible decision? How did you treat them when they finally came dragging into camp? Observation Bluff

8. Independence Crossing Marshall County, Kansas Mile 165 May 14 As is often the case, the speed with which you can make your journey is out of your hands. It is truly in the hands of the fates. Though you are now almost half way to Fort Kearny, a sudden summer prairie rain storm has brought your train to a grinding halt. High winds (and occasional funnel cloud sightings) have forced you to take refuge in or under your rigs. And the broiling waters have made this crossing impossible. (Your fate is out of your hands. Read it anyway.) Fate: You and the contents of your wagon are soaked to the bone. You and the members of your family end up spending a miserable cold and wet night near the river bank and wait until the storm passes and the water level drops. Are you sure you want to take this trip? Move to reveal fate

9. Independence Crossing Marshall County, KansasMay 14 ,1852 Journal entry Describe your miserable night in the storm Do you still want to go on west? Describe an aspect of camp life, you may either talk about how you like it or about how you dislike it.

10. The Narrows (1.5 miles northwest of Oak, Nebraska) May 20, 1853 Progress has slowed to a crawl in this bottle neck between the Little Blue River and the bluff on its east bank. There is barely enough room for a single wagon to pass. Even the cattle have to go through in single file. One of your party has been bit on the ankle by a rattlesnake. Is it deadly? You've tried every know remedy to try and heal the wound in a frantic attempt to keep his leg. Should it be sawed off with a common handsaw to be saved? What is your remedy?. Time to research the answer!!! Home remedies Write down your plan. Fate: For those family members who have gone to the trouble to find a remedy to rattlesnake bites your leg is saved. Alas those who did NOT do the research lose the use of their limb. Will you have to limp to Oregon or can you ride in the wagon a few days to recuperate? Move to reveal fate

11. The Narrows (1.5 miles northwest of Oak, Nebraska) May 20, 1853Journal entry Write about the snakebite and the effects it had on your family. What ideas were discussed to remedy the situation. Describe some of the sites you have seen along the trail so far. Such as… Chimney Rock Courthouse Rock Scotts Bluff Sites along the way

12. Windlass Hill (Garden County near Ash Hollow, Nebraska June 25 A 25Õ drop for 300 feet. Brakes won't work. And you don't have skis on your wagon either. What equipment (supply list hint: that you haven't had to use yet) do you need? How are you going to use it? And how much time will you lose? (After you reach your decisions, read the fate.) Fate: (NO chains or ropes) If your decision to secure your wagon doesn't include chains and rope, your wagon and all its contents will slip away. You will need to stop and make repairs and pick up all the things that are scattered everywhere! (YES chains or ropes) If you did include chains or ropes in your decision, you and the contents of your wagons make the descent down the deep ravine safely in about three hours. Ash Hollow, NB Move to reveal fate

13. Windlass Hill (Garden County near Ash Hollow, Nebraska June 25 • How did you decide to get down the hill safely? • Was everyone is agreement? • Did you lose any of your supplies? • How did you feel about that?

14. Horse Creek Crossing (4 miles southwest of Morril, Nebraska) July 6 Trail decision • How did you feel when you first heard about the Indians. • How do you feel about the decision your family made? • Explain the outcome of your families’ decision and how it has affected you. • Describe some of the landmarks you have seen on the trail so far. • Fort Kearney • Ash Hollow • Courthouse Rock • Chimney Rock • Scott’s Bluff

15. Register Cliff(2.8 miles southeast of Guernsey, Wyoming)Mile 658July 12 Phew! Breathless, hot, and sweaty... Here you've been following the "hill" road outside of Fort Laramie. Finally, your wagon captain has decided to call a short halt to rest your animals at the base of this landmark named Register Cliff. Hey kids, while the parents are busy watering and grazing the stock, Carlene invites all of you between 8-14 years old to scramble up the cliff and engrave your initials into the soft rock at the top. Will you stick close to the wagons or follow the others up the hill? (Discuss and decide what you will do, then read the fate) Fate: (For those who stayed close to the wagon) You safely and promptly begin walking along side the dusty trail. You will be safe tonight. (For those who decided to follow Lucy) You never asked your parents for permission to climb to the top! They didn't even know you had gone. So when the wagons begin to move, nobody misses you. They just think that you will fall-in beside the trail as you've always done. But, of course, you don't. You're accidentally left behind - lost with Carlene and the rest... Considering the danger from local Indians what will you do? How will you find your families again? You must all meet and decide your plan. For Fate move

16. Register Cliff, Wyoming July 12, 1852 Children: Did you decide to go with Carlene? If you did describe how you felt when you came back to camp and discovered everyone gone. What plan did you come up with to find the others? If you didn’t how did you feel about going off and leaving those that did? Why didn’t you join up with Carlene? Parents: How did you feel when you found out that some of The children were missing from the wagon train? Are you in favor of looking for them? Are any of your children missing?

17. Saleratus (Playa Lake) (1 mile northeast of Independence Rock, Wyoming)Mile 814 July 22 There's a curious natural feature here: the ground appears to be covered with ice, but on closer inspection, it's really the dust of carbonate of soda. You gather up pailfulls of this white bicarbonate soda and (since provisions are very low) decide to spend the day using your newfound ingredient to bake bread. (Speculate the effect, then read the fate) FATE:#1 You guessed it, maybe. The bread you bake has a "suspiciously green cast" Will you eat it? Or throw it out? (Discuss and decide on this one, you only get one chance! Then read Fate#2) FATE #2 Well, if you tried it, you will find that it tastes a bit odd, and you learn that you must use just a small quantity of it. If you threw it out, you end up wasting a sack of your flour, and since your rations are low, you have no bread to eat this week. Why did this happen? Independence Rock Move to reveal fates

18. Saleratus (Playa Lake) (1 mile northeast of Independence Rock, Wyoming)Mile 814 July 22 • Tell about baking up the bread and finding out it had a green cast to it? • Did you or your family eat the bread or throw it out? • If you ate it how did your belly feel? Describe your tummy ache? If your family threw it out, are you worried about the flour supply running low? Are you now anxious for the next Fort to buy supplies? • Independence Rock Celebration • Did your family celebrate at Independence Rock • How does it feel to be half way? • Some of you wanted to go back earlier, do you still want to?

19. Devil's Gate(Natrona county, Wyoming) Mile 820 July 23 What looms just ahead of you now? The two 500 foot high perpendicular sandstone walls of Devil's Gate. Its opening is just 30 feet wide. So of course you organize your wagons in single file. Suddenly, the earth trembles...You hear the nearby roar of buffalo stampede. Now what should you do? Do you have a plan? (Discuss and decide on a plan, then read your fate) FATE: No one dies! It was really tough to get through this one because stampedes are never planned. They just happen. Your men on horseback were able to save the wagons by turning the stampede away, but your livestock ended up scattered for miles around. You lose a traveling day on the trail rounding up the stock. Devil’s Gate Click to reveal fate

20. Devil's Gate(Natrona county, Wyoming) July 23 How did you feel when you heard the buffalo stampeding? What was your first thoughts? What did your family decide to do about it? What was the result of your decision? Describe Devil’s Gate. What was you expecting to see when you heard the words “Devil’s Gate”?

21. Trail decision 2 In your journal write about… • Describe what it was like to meet with other members of the trail now that you have been on the trail for so long? • Which route did your family decide to take? • How did you feel about this decision? • What was your personal decision?

22. Massacre Rocks Power County, Idaho Mile 1250September 8 You see the evidence of recent Indian hostilities. Burned wagons. Oxen sculls and a few graves. You almost had to turn back, but you didn't. There were several violent attacks here in the past few months but things may have calmed down. You hope. You pray. This area was named because of its two rock masses that leave just enough of a gap between them to allow the passage of emigrant wagons in single file. It's a natural place for an Indian ambush. What will you do? Don't try to cross without a plan. Did you make one at Fort Hall? Fate: If your plan included any of the following strategies you got through safely: 1.) Scouts sent up ahead to check the trail. 2.) Armed travelers on the driver's bench or even on top of your wagon. 3.) Armed riders on horseback bringing up the rear for protection. 4.) Any other idea that your teacher thinks is really original. Move to reveal fate

23. Massacre Rocks Power County, Idaho Mile 1250September 8 How did you feel when you first saw signs of Indian attacks What plan did your family come up with to get through the gap What was your fate? Explain.

24. Three Island CrossingElmore County, Idaho September 20 The trail you've been following on the South side of the Snake has turned dry and rough. The banks on the other side, however, are lush and smooth, which is why you all decide to take a chance with this treacherous crossing. The river is swift and deep here. But at least there are three islands in the middle of the river to offer a break to both man and animals. What will you do here to get safely across and avoid losing supplies animals or even lives? Do you have a plan? Fates: 1)Those who chain their wagons together, make it across safely against the swift currents. (This is a new strategy) 2)Those who try to cross in a diagonal, find the water is too deep. You lose 1 provision. Subtract something of your choice from your food supply list. (Sorry this time this plan didn't work.) 3)Those who try to build a ferry, lose an ox. It drowns. There wasn't enough wood to build a proper ferry and you were paying more attention to the ferry than to your animals. 4)Those who had no plan, lose a member of their party to the wild Snake River rapids - the body never to be recovered. Three Island Crossing Move to reveal fate

25. Three Island CrossingElmore County, Idaho September 20 • What plan did your family come up with to cross the river. • How did your family fare? • Personally, how did you feel and what happened to you? • Did you ever get to play in the water? Go into details

26. Ladd Canyon Hill Union County, Oregon Mile 1633 October 5 You've reached the area near the base of Blue Mountains safely. Compared to the Rockies, the Blue Mountains seem gentle, serene, and welcoming. They should be welcoming. Because you have only 400 miles left to go! But much of it will be treacherous. In fact, today's precipitous descent into the Grande Ronde Valley won't be no easy pickin's. You've managed these steep descents before. How will you do it? Do you still have the proper equipment? Can you remember what to do? Decide on a plan for getting down this steep drop. You've had lots of experience with this trip. (Make a plan, then read your fate.) Fate: If you decided to use chains, ropes, and pulleys, you get down safely. But it's a long painstaking process and your lose a day of travel. If you decided to keep you animals rigged on the way down, your wagon overturns and somersaults down the canyon. You manage to collect almost all your provisions (which have been scattered high and low). But one of your pack animals breaks a leg and you have to have it put down. However, you do make it down the canyon faster! Move to reveal fate

27. Ladd Canyon Hill Union County, Oregon Mile 1633 October 5 Describe the scenery—Don’t you just love the mountains? What plan did your family come up with to make it down the hill? How did it turn out? Describe any new friends you have made on the trail.

28. Last trail meeting What route did your family decide to take? What were some of the factors that led to this decision? Tell about the route your family took. Was it a good decision? How did some of the other families fare? In your opinion was the journey worth it?