Camping Along the Trail

Camping Along the Trail. . , Camping was not recreation as it is today. It was a way of life from the time immigrants left their old homes until they reached the new ones in the West. Freighters and drovers also lived outdoors as they moved their goods along the trail. , Both immigrant trains and freight trains usually contained about twenty-five wagons. This created a large enough group of men for protection but few enough animals to find sufficient grass for them. At night these wagons were arranged in a hollow circle or square, forming a protective wall for the little "city" inside. , Men took care of the animals while women cooked on stoves or over open fires. Meals were simple because only the most important foods would be taken on the journey. Bread, bacon, and beans were the most common. Biscuits and pancakes were popular because they were easy to prepare. It was a treat when berries were found or when special foods could be bought at stores such as Hollenberg's. , Women washed dishes or clothes while men repaired harness and did other chores. Children gathered firewood or looked for those sweet berries. When the work was finished, children played and adults made music, told stories, talked about business affairs, or rested up for the next day's journey. , If room allowed, entire families slept in the relative comfort of their covered wagons. But often the men and older boys slept outside on the ground. , Here you see some of the equipment that made life on the trail possible. The wagon carried goods and sometimes people. The very young, very old people, and the sick were allowed to ride, but most adults and children walked in order to save the strength of their draft animals. , Cooking utensils were basic. A Dutch oven or a skillet might be used to cook everything. A cooking spoon or fork was helpful, but a simple stick also would do the job. The "stove” usually was a small pit containing a fire. Many people started out with cast iron stoves but often discarded them because of their heavy weight. , This type of cooking was much more primitive than that done on the box stove or the later kitchen range in the station. , Trail cooking demonstrations are conducted at this campsite whenever possible. If you have questions at other times, please ask an attendant in the station or in the visitor's center.