More than 100 Sites

With the help of several other members of OCTA, we have created a list of more than 100 trail sites to include on our upcoming virtual trail map. Next we will begin gathering information. This photo shows alkali dirt blowing as we crossed the trail last summer.







When Celinda Hines crossed this area in 1853 she wrote: "Sunday, July 3 --Warm & Pleasant. I rode horse back in the A.M....P.M. crossed Wire creek also Greese wood creek. Likewise Bad Slue & Alkali region. Camped near Independence Rock."

--Candy Moulton

Virtual Trail

I'm spending my time identifying trail sites to develop a virtual trail for the Oregon-California Trails Association as part of the expanded Web site project. With the assistance of OCTA members I've come up with a list of approximately 100 sites. Working with the team assembled by Boston Productions we'll now develop this into a trail for you all to follow.

--Candy Moulton

Back to Work

The last five months have been busy for us as we have continued the work on In Pursuit of a Dream. All of the footage we shot--some 100 hours of film--is now being evaluated by an editor in preparation for producing the final film. I had an opportunity to visit the Boston Productions office in Norwood, Massachusetts, a couple of weeks ago and view some of the footage. We are also beginning a new part of this project, development of Web resources that we hope will help people connect with the trail. Although the work has continued since we wrapped shooting in July, for my part I've been involved in other activities. But now it is time to revitalize this blog and get to work on the next phases of In Pursuit of a Dream.

--Candy Moulton

Sweetwater, Carbon, and Wyoming Support

Tremendous support for this film came to us from the Sweetwater County Travel and Tourism board, Carbon County Visitor Council, and Wyoming Tourism and we thank them sincerely. Some of the best trail remnants in the country are in Sweetwater County, and they are well known sites including segments of the Oregon, California, Mormon Pioneer, Overland and Cherokee Trails. Carbon County has its own sections of trail including many, many miles of Overland and Cherokee Trails.

Of course some of the best known landmarks on the trail--such as Independence Rock, Devils Gate, Split Rock, and certainly South Pass--are all in Wyoming. If you want more informatin about Wyoming trail and visitor services visit the state tourism website...which has links to both Sweetwater and Carbon Counties. www.wyomingtourism.org

--Candy Moulton

Thank you Ranch-Way Feeds

When we were putting this adventure together, I called Ranch-Way Feeds in Wyoming and asked if they would sponsor our horse and mule feed....which they agreed to do. Now, it might not be period-accurate to have a Ranch-Way Feed sack in camp, but it was necessary and we really appreciated the support. Thank you Jack!

--Candy

National Park Service Funding

Howdy. I am at the National Convention of the Oregon-California Trails Association (OCTA) in Nampa, Idaho. Yesterday I drove across the trail, stopping at the Three Island Crossing Oregon Trail Interpretive Center in Glenns Ferry, Idaho. Right now I am at the OCTA National Board meeting. We are listening to reports of trails activities supported by the National Park Service and this gives me a good opportunity to say THANK YOU to the NPS and the Long Distance Trails Office for the support of In Pursuit of a Dream.

We have received more than $55,000 in NPS funding for the filming itself and for development of a new Web site that eventually will have educational curriculum materials as well as photos and video from across the trail. (Keep watching this site for updates!)

Sitting behind me now are many of our NPS partners and we certainly appreciate their continued support of OCTA and more specifically of In Pursuit of a Dream!

--Candy Moulton

Quackgrass Sends Photos

Quackgrass Sally was very busy during our film shoot, setting up the reenactor encounters, working with our caterers, moving camp each day...but she found time to take a few photos and here are a couple of them. One is of Kenedy and Angela in camp in Wyoming and the other is of Teton Trosper (foreground) and Tom Yellow Cloud, who came out to share Shoshone culture with us.

Independence Rock Video

So here are the first of what we hope to be a number of video clips from our trip. This was from our stop at Independence Rock. Everyone is talking about how they are feeling three days in to the trip and lots more.

Bob Noll

In this clip you see the girls doing something with their socks--they are trying to get the needle and thread grass and cheat grass stickers out of them. In her journal Candace, shown in front center of video photo, wrote, "The grass was such a pain today! Omg! I have billions of thorn like grasses in my socks!"

--Candy Moulton

Connor and Candace

Connor and Candace on arrival at Foster Farm.

Adjustments at Home

I've heard from some of our Dreamers, and their parents, and know the adjustment to life at home is almost as difficult as the adjustment to life on the trail. Our two weeks together really bonded us as a trail family and that means we miss each other. I've been asked to present some information about the film at the National Convention of the Oregon-California Trails Association in Nampa, Idaho, in August (The convention is Aug. 5-9 and is open to anyone interested. Visit the OCTA Web site at www.octa-trails.org for info). Bob will put together a short film clip for me to show. I've posted some new photos. Watch for more in the next couple of days.

--Candy Moulton

Images from the Trail

More Photos

Jakob takes aim with Kim Merchant, left, and Doc Bob



Mike and Andrew drive the wagon



Livee and Kenady


Arielle and Lydia liberally use the sunscreen

(Photos by Candy Moulton)

Home Again

Hello Dreamers,

I made it home last evening...no doubt the last of our cast and crew to be back in my own home/office/and real bed. Quackgrass and I traveled together to Mountain Home, Idaho, where we found a campsite in a KOA campground and spent the last night in her trailer (It was a wonderful home away from home). On Monday she split to the north and Montana (arriving there about 6 p.m.). I followed the trail back to Casper. I was on South Pass when she called to say she was pulling into her driveway. Although it was a very long day on the road, I truly enjoyed my drive through the Sweetwater Valley, reliving the special moments we all had there just ten days earlier. The light was filtering across the Rattlesnake Range, there were few vehicles and it was good to be on the trail with my own thoughts.

Just as soon as I catch up on the more than 500 e-mail messages that came in while I was out of touch, I'll be putting more photos up on this site.

And then I'll go unpack my car and shake the spiders out of my bedroll once again...so I can be ready to go back on the trail sometime soon.

--Candy Moulton

Yo!

hey everyone! Thanks to all the great people on this trip, it truly made it an awesome experience! The trials we all went through made us all closer than a family in such a short time, so hey fam (wifey) hit me up sometime ( gusterdispatch@gmail.com )! Hope someday ya'all get the chance to experience the softer side of ol' Wyo! Be easy and my thoughts and prayers are with you all!


- Connor

Note from Susan (Scampering Soundie)

On the 21st century trails that crisscross this country, billboards busily bombard trying to sell me stuff I don’t care about, TVs in the airport (a jumping off point for 21st century crossings of the continent) blare biased anti-immigrant reports with exagerrated urgency, and flat screens in the local watering hole draw my eyes glassily up and away from making contact with my fellow travelers. It’s a cold contrast to the tactile experience, our fuzzy friends the mules, the pineneedles, the campfire smoke, our tightknit group, and our progress along the trail, even for those of us who were bound up with batteries, headphones, and transmitters during the expedition. ‘Twas a pleasure to be there. Hope to receive everyone’s contact info and see photos soon.

--Susan Bryant, Scampering Soundie writing July 13 from Hotel in Rapid City, SD with cockroach climbing across the number on my hotel room door.