Wednesday in Wyoming -- June 3, 2015

Honoring the Pioneers -- Part 1

Does the name Box Elder/ Alder Clump Spring mean anything to you?  It was a new one for me, too, but I learned that it was an important part of the Oregon Trail in Wyoming.  The combination of a spring (look closely and you can see the water) and a clump of trees made it a welcome place for pioneers to camp or at least take their noon break.

Although the site itself was relatively flat, you can see the rolling hills beyond it. And in the distance, across a deceptively flat-looking prairie, is Laramie Peak.  While the wagon trains skirted the peak, its presence reminded them of the harsh terrain to come.

 Is it any wonder they chose to refresh themselves by a shaded spring?  And, as we'll discuss next week, they did more than camp and eat here.