Monday
Our reason for meeting at Baker City was to visit the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center (OTIC). We have crossed the path of the Oregon Trail several times on our travels. The Dalles on the Columbia River, Idaho Falls and Twin Falls, The Craters of the Moon NP amongst them. The OTIC is a museum which is dedicated to the Trail and the emigrants who travelled on it in the 1830’s – 1850’s. Clear blue skies beckoned as we climbed out of Baker City to the Center. It is built right beside The Trail and one can still see the old track, complete with ruts for the wheels, which passes right by the centre. The OTIC is built on a hillside which overlooks the Powder River Valley, at the place where the trail comes down from the barren, desert like hills and emigrants would have got there first view of the relatively lush valley, it must have been a welcome sight, although across the valley they could see the Blue Mountain Range stretching North and South and they would know that that was a trail yet to be conquered before reaching the Columbia River. We had a fascinating day there and learned a lot about the emigrants travelling the Trail and the hardships they endured. I am sure that we will see more of this epic trail way across the heart of the American West.
No comments:
Post a Comment