The main significance of the Oregon Trail was that it was the only roadway into the West. It led thousands of settlers into their future lives in the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains of the United States. The trail spanned two thousand miles from Independence, Missouri to the Blue Mountains. Settlers walked or took covered wagons over the mountains and across the several rivers along the trail. Most settlers waited until late April to hit the trail. April was the month in which the grass had finally grown long enough to support the grazing oxen and other animals brought along for both their brute strength to pull a loaded wagon and for their meat to eat along the way. A typical procedure involved, "In procuring supplies for this journey, the emigrant should provide himself with, at least, 200 pounds of flour, 150 pounds of bacon; ten pounds of coffee; twenty pounds of sugar; and ten pounds of salt." A typical family of four needed 2000 pounds of food.
Food was usually not a problem unless the wagons got stuck on the snow. To dispell a common misconception of the Indians as enemies of the trail goers, often the Native Americans helped cross the deep rivers and aided in finding fresh food. In order to carry that much weight in supplies the emigrants used farm wagons, not the huge Conestoga wagon as many believed. The small wagons were easier to wield around sharp passes and move quickly over difficult terrain. Althought the smaller wagons were easier to drive they were often harder to pull because they were so full. The only solution to the overpacking was to throw the excess weight out on to the trail. Whole wagons full of supplies were collected.
Many people did not make it to Oregon. The weather, disease, deep rivers and rotten food took their toll. Cholera, snake bites, dysentary, and the crushing weight of the wagon wheels took many lives. Over a twenty five year period over half a million people migrated to start their lives anew. The glory years of the Oregon Trail finally ended in 1869, when the transcontinental railroad was completed. Actual wagon ruts from the Oregon Trail still exist today in many parts of the American West, and many groups are working hard to preserve this national historic treasure.
