In 1843, a steady group of emigrants began traveling
the Oregon Trail. The trail started in Indepence, Missouri to Oregon City,
Oregon. The trail started in Indepence because it was one of the farthest
cities west and because it was an easily- traveled pass through the Rocky
Mountains. This main route to Oregon was called the South Pass.
The South Pass was 864 miles west of Indepence, Missouri. The South Pass
was harch for some of the people who had to walk all the way. They walked
because there wagons didn't have enough room. The next 1,000 miles was a
test to see if you had endurance and strength. The journeyin a covered wagon
took six months. Settlers had to cross rivers. Indians attacked the wagon
trains, and cholera and other dieseas were common.
