Day 2 - Arriving at the end of the trail, and continuing east

After a very pleasant night under the stars, so to speak, in Cottage Grove, we drove the rest of the way to the end of the Oregon Trail in Oregon City.  There to begin our trek to the east.  Oregon City, one of the oldest cities in the west, was established kin 1842 by John McLaughlin who had come tot he area as a representative of the Hudson's Bay Company in 1829.

 In Oregon City there is a nice visitor’s center, which was only partially open after a years worth of renovation. They did have some interesting displays demonstrating the trials and tribulations of those who came to Oregon along the Oregon Trail. We inquired of the young woman who was at the desk if we should begin our trip along the Branch of the Oregon Trail that follows the route of the Columbia River, or the alternative that is somewhat south and which goes along the base of Mt. Hood.  She advised the former, saying that there was still snow along the southern road, known as the Barlow trail.

The Barlow trail was developed by the Barlow family which had had come to Oregon in one of the first emigrant trains in the early 1840s.  They traveled along the Columbia River and when they arrived at the rapids located where the river begins is rapid descent to the Pacific they traded their wagons for some boats = probably, like many others, converting the beds of the wagons into makeshift boats – not the most seaworthy craft. Unfortunately, the boats were not up to the violence of the Columbia and several of the party were thrown from the boats and died. The Barlow party survivors were so distraught by this sad turn of events they vowed to find a better route to the Pacific, or at least the Willamette valley where they settled - a route that avoided the Columbia River.  They developed their alternative route, but still the Columbia River Route was referred because it was shorter.

After spending some time at the end of the trail at the visitor’s center we followed the advice of a very friendly and loquacious man from the local Parks department who directed us to an overlook a mile or two down the road where we could get a good view of Willamette Falls on the Willamette River.  These falls, according to our informant, are the U.S. by volume.  They are not very high, at least now, but the do seem to have a lot of water flowing over them.  From the falls we followed more advice from the informant and went to the Pioneer Cemetery which was up on the hillside above the river.  Located at the end of what literally appears to be a modern wagon road, just one vehicle wide with the tire groove well developed and the median plants seeming to flourish.  Rather than straight rows of grave markers on a well-manicure lawn, the Pioneer Cemetery consists of numerous grave scattered among the pristine forest.  There were a few family groups an we spend some time trying to figure out relationships between the people who were buried their, and some who had grave markers but apparently were still alive.

    

Ultimately a second road was developed along the cliffs on the south side of the Columbia.  This route is approximately the same route as current Oregon Route 30, we followed that road from the point that it diverged from IS84 which runs right long the river, to the point where it rejoins IS84. We did not get that far, but only to the town of Cascade Locks. Since there were no camp grounds in the vicinity we spent the night at a local motel.  

Here are some pictures.