Rough Trail

We did not get an early start this morning partially because the students had to cook their own breakfast and then pack everything into their wagons. Trenton and Mr. Bill Vixie went grouse hunting, without success. Shortly before we were ready to head out of camp, a scruffy looking character named Wayne rode into camp. He had Bill’s horses! He had retrieved them from some renegades and came to camp looking for a trade. Katie and Mikayla stuffed his saddle bags with potatoes, and Bill got the horses back. Later he and Livee, with the help of the other students, put pack saddles on the horses and the mules, loading their gear, but leaving behind most of Bill’s possessions. He was quite upset that they had let him have only his bedroll and a very few other items.

We finally got on the trail at 11:33 a.m., which is very late in the day when you have to go eight or ten miles to the next camp. Our route was along the Barlow Road, leaving from Forest Creek Camp. The first mile or so was particularly difficult because of a steep climb and the fact that there were many trees down across the road. It was almost three in the afternoon when our trail scouts came back to us and told us we could not continue on the trail we then followed because the snowmelt had been coming out of the area around Mt. Hood due to the recent hot temperatures. The White River is running high and we cannot ford. There also was a very steep hill to climb with some difficult turns. Mr. Bill went up the road with our scouts and came back with the news that we could not make it today is road. We reversed the course of our two wagons and pack animals, and returned for Forest Creek Camp.

We got into camp by about 4 o’clock, and rested until it was time to cook dinner. Mr. Dave Vixie’s family made a strawberry pie from supplies they had traded for at Seminoe Fort back near Devil’s Gate. Mr. Merchant and Mrs. Wragge had ham and some beans for supper. I did not see what Mr. Bill Vixie’s family had for dinner.

Following the meal, we had a talent show with a monologue from “Othello” by Javonna, who was also the emcee, a song by Bailey and Andrew, some guitar music and drum accompaniment by Josh and Jakob, fiddle music by Candace, a song by Marisha, who was accompanied on the drum by Darla. The Vixie family, led by Monte (who has not had much to say all week), shared a song, I’ll call the “laughing attack.” Ranger Jane shared a story, while we had music from the teamsters, and a song by Mrs. Wragge, Ranger Jane, and Joseph. This was a fun night on the trail.

--Candy Moulton