D i s c o v e r y T r a i l s 2010
The Pioneering Travels of Alexander Hamilton Willard
Accessible Arts, Inc.
The Kansas State School for the Blind
Our 2010 Trek is organized around the pioneering adventures of Alexander Hamilton Willard. Willard served as blacksmith’s assistant in the Corps of Discovery with Lewis and Clark 1804-06. Upon his return to Missouri, he married and lived near St. Louis, serving as courier for General Clark and as blacksmith among the “removed” Indians. After the War of 1812, he settled in Wisconsin Territory and raised a large family. In 1852 he and his extended family traveled by wagon to California. He lived his final years in the Sacramento Valley.
Our Westward Journey--The Oregon-California Trail, 1852
Saturday June 5
Teens and staff gather at the Kansas State School for the Blind (KSSB). We spend the afternoon checking everyone's gear and packing the vans; evening becoming acquainted. Sleep in the KSSB dorm.
Alexander Hamilton Willard makes his appearance, inviting all to join his family wagon train to California. Native American voices are also present, to help us see the westward expansion from the perspective of the occupants of the land. Everyone signing up for the journey adopts a character from among the authentic pioneers of 1852.
Sunday June 6
Leave Kansas City at 4 am along I-29 to Council Bluffs, Iowa. From this “jumping off point” we drive directly west to Ft. Laramie, Wyoming, in time for supper. Set up "camp" in the Presbyterian Church. (720 miles)
While traveling westward, our wagons also travel back in time. Throughout the day, we meet more of the pioneers traveling to California and Oregon in 1852: the Scott family from Illinois, the Meekers from Ohio, the McAuley’s from Iowa. Our artist educators introduce the music, handcrafts, and dramatic arts we’ll use throughout the trip. Alexander Hamilton Willard visits each of our wagons, reminiscing the land, the animals, and especially the Indians, as he experienced them with Lewis and Clark. The Native Americans also rotate among the vans, interpreting the times from their points of view.
Monday June 7
Spend the morning at Ft. Laramie. Stop at the Guernsey Ruts, then follow the Oregon-California Trail to Independence Rock, south and west of Casper. Set up camp at the foot of the Rock. (180 miles)
We experience the sounds, activities, and artifacts of Fort Laramie. The Horse Creek Treaty of 1851 is a major interest and Native American voices around our campfire put it in context. We also incorporate this site into our pioneer drama as a place where the Willards and the Scotts could have met around a campfire and compared notes on their various experiences of Indians--Willard remembering the various tribes encountered by the L&C Expedition, and both families sharing their history of fighting Indians along the Mississippi, before and during the Black Hawk War of 1832.
Just beyond Ft. Laramie, we stop to walk the Guernsey Ruts and tell the story of the Scott family’s loss of their mother not to far distant. At Independence Rock, we search for Ezra Meeker’s 1906 carving on the Rock memorializing “The Old Oregon Trail-1843-57”. All of us dance as though we were celebrating a patriotic Fourth of July and climb the Rock just as our pioneer characters did.
Tuesday June 8
Drive to the area of South Pass, walk for two or three miles over the Continental Divide at South Pass to Pacific Spring whose waters flow westward. Camp on the western side of the Divide at the Parting of the Ways. (150 miles)
All this day we explore the Trail at South Pass where Ezra Meeker set a Trail marker in 1906. Our walk over the Continental Divide will be guided by hand-held GPS talking devices designed for hikers who are blind. Our goal is to develop and record audio interpretations to add to the latitude/longitude data stored in the GPS devices. Our interpretations will highlight what we are learning about pioneers like the Willards, Scotts, McAuleys and Meekers. At our camp at the Parting of the Ways (Sublette Cut-off), we recall the fateful story of the Donner Party and consider the matter of shortcuts.
Wednesday June 9
Drive through the Rocky Mountains to Soda Springs, Idaho. Camp at Lions Club Park at Hooper Springs. (210 miles)
On our way through the Rocky Mountains to Soda Springs, we pause at Big Hill to explore the place where the McAuley brothers stopped for two weeks to build a road around the treacherous hill. Native voices recount the assistance the McAuleys had from Shoshone in the area. Arriving at the springs, we try making carbonated lemonade with the soda waters and visit the gushing geyser in town—a modern and artificial example of the wonders the pioneers found near the same place. At our campfire, the talk is all about whether we’re for California or Oregon, whether to take the Hudspeth Cutoff or go on to the Raft River Parting of the Ways.
Thursday June 10
Heading westward from Soda Springs, stop at Massacre Rocks. At the Raft River Parting of the Ways, follow California Trail to camp at City of Rocks. (170 miles)
At Massacre Rocks, Native voices explore the biases that gave the area its undeserved name; Willard counters with stories of pioneer-Indian skirmishes in general. We may try climbing down the Snake River canyon, discovering how difficult it is to "fetch water for our oxen.” 30 miles farther west, at Raft River, we accompany the Willards and McAuleys as they leave the main trail for the road to California. At City of Rocks, we welcome to our campfire Lucy Rutledge Cooke and other pioneers who have wintered in Salt Lake City and are just rejoining the California road. Sounds of wild animals fill the night air.
Friday June 11
Ranger-led activities at City of Rocks include interpretation of the animals we heard in the night. Return to Oregon Trail, following it westward to camp at Canyon Creek. (195 miles)
Wishing the Willards and McAuleys godspeed, we retrace our path to catch up with the Oregon-bound Scotts and Meekers. Talk around our campfire is all about the harsh road, the jaded oxen, the lack of grass and water. Stories of difficulties abound. Native American voices recount the changes in their land and the availability of game.
Saturday June 12
Follow the Trail into Oregon, long hike at Nyssa in deep ruts. Camp and community service at Farewell Bend State Park. (about 175 miles, including SE detour to Nyssa)
We camp within sight of the Snake River for the last time and look to the Blue Mountains with dread. Like the Scotts and Meekers and so many others, we consider what we will leave behind to lighten the load. A visitor at the campfire recounts the devastation of Indian attacks on wagon trains. Native voices recount the same stories as devastation on their way of life.
Sunday June 13
Follow the Trail into the Blue Mountains, to Flagstaff Hill and the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. Then over more mountains to camp at Emigrant Springs. (120 miles)
The Scotts continue to suffer family tragedy--their little Willie dies and is remembered at our campfire under the tall pines of the Blue Mountains. Within reach of our Trails end, we’ll share stories of the Scotts’ and Meekers’ and other emigrants first winter in the promised land. Again we hear from Native voices the experiences of change as more and more emigrants pour into the region.
Monday June 14
To the Umatilla Reservation and Tamastslikt Cultural Institute (25 miles) for a half day of teepee raising and other cultural activities. Then through Pendleton to Ft. Vancouver and the end of the Trail. (220 miles further)
At Tamastslikt we encounter the Native peoples of the Columbia valley on their own terms and learn from them crafts and skills basic to their traditional ways. The numbers and varieties of Indians in the area in 1852 are not so great as in the earliest days of emigration, yet still startling, and their customs unlike any the pioneers experienced on the plains. Finally, like so many early emigrants, we find ourselves gratefully recruiting ourselves at Ft. Vancouver at the Trail’s end.
The Eastward Journey--The Lewis and Clark Expedition, 1806
Tuesday June 15
To the Pacific Ocean at Seaside where we will enjoy the ocean and camp among Clatsup Indian spirits. (95 miles)
The Clatsop of the coastal region speak to us through two contemporary members as we try to sense the ways of indigenous peoples at the start of American exploration in the 1790s.
Wednesday June 16
Exploring Ft. Clatsop where our Lewis and Clark adventures begin, learning about the daily camp life of the members of the Corps of Discovery. (15 miles) Then eastward to camp in the Columbia River Valley at Beacon Rock State Park. (another 130 miles)
We assign Corps of Discovery roles to everyone and begin to operate as though we were a military expedition. In the vans, we catch up with the story of the Lewis and Clark’s westward progress. Where we camp is near the place where Clark first noticed the Pacific Ocean influence and exclaimed, “Ocean in view! Oh, the joy!!”
Thursday June 17
To Lapwai, Idaho, the Nez Perce Reservation, to camp at Winchester State Park. (355 miles)
On our drive into Idaho, we bring the Lewis and Clark story up to date and ready ourselves to spend time with the Nez Perce, just as the Corps of Discovery did in the spring of 1806. Native voices in our midst prepare us for the Nez Perce point of view.
Friday June 18
Morning at Nez Perce National Historical Park Visitors Center to experience the traditional culture of the Nez Perce. Evening at the Chief Joseph and Warriors Powwow. Return to our camp at Winchester.
We immerse ourselves in the story of the Nez Perce as they themselves tell it, starting with pre-contact, including the Lewis and Clark period, and concluding with the 1877 flight of Chief Joseph and his people.
Saturday June 19
Horseback riding with Nez Perce youth and the Appaloosa Horse Club in the mountain prairie near our camp at Winchester State Park.
A whole day in the company of Nez Perce tribal members, both youth and adults, who introduce us to the horse culture of the Nez Perce. They teach us to ride, to recognize and gather basic foods in the camus prairie, and to tell traditional stories around the campfire.
Sunday June 20
Following the story of the Nez Perce 1877 flight over the mountains, we travel to Heart of the Monster and along the Nez Perce Trail, over the Continental Divide in the high mountains at Lolo Pass. Camp at Lee Creek near Lolo Trail, 175 miles).
As we drive we hear the voices of the Nez Perce in 1877, as well as the accounts of the dangerous passage by the Corps of Discovery of the Lolo Trail. At our camp, a new Native voice interprets contemporary Indian perspectives on change and moving forward.
Monday June 21
To the Great Falls for a “portage” competition, (from Lee Creek, 250 miles) then to camp at Ft. Benton (another 50 miles or less).
At the site of the 16-mile portage, we experience for ourselves the effort of moving heavy loads up the River bluffs and across the plains, through cactus and rough ground. As we drive to Ft. Benton, Native voices and the young Willard recount the tragic encounter between the Corps of Discovery and several teenaged Blackfeet Indians in 1806.
Tuesday June 22
Carter Ferry to Ft. Benton, canoe trip fourteen miles down the Missouri back to our campsite. Evening campfire.
A great day of canoeing downstream on the Missouri River, as the Corps of Discovery traveled in 1806. To get their 1805 perspective, we try paddling upstream for a while too! Around the campfire the Corps of Discovery tell stories of their trials, troubles, and triumphs, with special mention of bears!
Wednesday June 23
Eastward from Ft. Benton to Bear Paw Battlefield (110 miles). Visit to Bear Paw Battlefield. Continue on to Ft. Buford/Ft. Union to camp. (another 290 miles, losing one hour as we change to Central time.)
During our drive, Native voices prepare us for the visit to Bear Paw Battlefield where Chief Joseph surrendered in order to spare the lives of his people. After the solemn visit, we continue eastward, accompanied by stories of the Corps and of the native peoples they encountered along the Missouri.
Thursday June 24
Ft. Union National Historic Site visit. Camp on the Missouri at New Town (96 miles to New Town- 2.5 hrs driving time because of roads).
Introduction to Hidatsa, Arikara and Mandan youth during the morning visit to Ft. Union. Afternoon and evening of cultural activities with New Town Boys and Girls Club on the Ft. Berthold Reservation.
Friday June 25
East and south for afternoon at Knife River Village (108 miles). Evening camp at Ft. Lincoln. (another 48 miles).
Leave-taking with Boys and Girls Club. At Knife River Village, a new Native voice interprets the culture of the peoples of the upper plains before and at the beginning of contact with Europeans. Stories of Lewis and Clark’s winter with the Mandan and Hidatsa and Arikara Indians are recounted as we drive to our last camp to ourselves on the banks of the Missouri River at the site of still another Mandan Village. This is the Trail Boss’s campfire night.
Saturday June 26
South to Marty, South Dakota, camp with the Yankton Sioux (400 miles)
Native voices mix with Corps of Discovery voices mix as we drive a long 400 miles to join the Yankton Sioux, arriving late afternoon, in time for evening activities with Yankton youth.
Sunday June 27
Homeward from South Dakota to Kansas City in a rush -- as the Corps of Discovery rushed during their final weeks in 1806 (420 miles)
The final leg of our 5000 mile journey, we hear more stories and refine our own storytelling skills in preparation for all the family and friends who are eager to hear “HOW WAS IT? WHAT WAS IT LIKE? TELL US!!”