Remembering the pioneers, walking in the ruts of the 175-year-old Oregon Trail

A cold wind carries the scent of sagebrush as it whips your face. Each step stirs dust on the dry path in this high desert plateau in eastern Oregon, where hundreds of thousands of American pioneers walked, changing the course of history.

A roadside sign beneath Flagstaff Hill points the way to this path, where you can walk in the actual ruts made during the mid-1800s by wagon trains on the Oregon Trail.

The vista is the same as that seen by the adventurers who made the 2,000-mile, six-month trek to the Oregon Territory. A tan-and-green valley covers the foreground, and the majestic and imposing forested Blue Mountains dominate the sky.

It's impossible to ignore the ghosts of pioneers who walked this way and helped shape America's destiny. With at least a month's journey still ahead at this point, did they appreciate the beauty of the mountain view? Or was it just stark evidence of another nearly impossible task to master?

This year, Oregon is marking the 175th anniversary of the trail, commemorating the first large, organized wagon train that left in late May of 1843 near Independence, Mo.

There were diary accounts made at the time and shortly thereafter, but still, details about that group vary widely. Some say as many as 1,000 people began the trek; others say it was between 500 and 700 people in 113 wagons, with as many as 5,000 head of livestock along for good measure.

What's clear is that the U.S. government encouraged people to make the journey, hoping that a greater population of Americans in the Oregon Territory would help wrest control of the disputed land from the British.

The adventure and challenge of traveling so far and so long into mostly uncharted territory shows fierce determination.

"We can all understand the idea of leaving something you love for the goal of getting something better, and the whole trail thing, the opening of the West, the infinite possibilities," Burns said.

It took between five and six months to make it to Oregon City, the end of the trail, where in later years a man could file papers to claim 320 acres of land or 640 if he was married.

Roughly 400,000 people are estimated to have made the wagon-train journey. About 10 percent died along the way. The peak year was 1850, when some 55,000 traveled the route. The caravans started trailing off in the 1870s when train travel became an option.

What's striking to a visitor is how near the history of the Oregon Trail seems, not just in physical terms but in time. It's not really all that long ago.

Cook said the spirit of the pioneers — one based on hard work and striving for a better life — is still part of the culture around Baker City.

"Every day, we look forward and try to make our dreams happen," he said.

For lovers of American history, a visit to Oregon is a way to follow in the footsteps of the pioneers. Outside Baker City, the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, a 23,000-square-foot facility atop Flagstaff Hill, overlooks the well-preserved ruts from the 19th century.

Engaging exhibits include short movies, dioramas and a spot where children can stock a wagon, deciding on what is most important to bring when packing for a new life. But exploring the outdoor spaces and the actual ruts in the valley might be the most evocative activity.

On the other side of the state, in Oregon City, is the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, a smaller, but similarly well-done facility that also documents the history of the trail.