Chimney Rock served as a landmark for pioneers along the Oregon Trail, the California Trail, and the Mormon Trail, which ran along the north side of the rock.
Rising nearly 300 feet above the surrounding North Platte River valley, the peak of Chimney Rock is 4,226 feet above sea level.
"The landmarks indicated our progress and helped to break the monotony."
-Phoebe Judson 1853
The north Platte River flows by my campground near Scott's Bluff.
From Independence, Missouri, the pioneers followed the Little Blue, Platte, Sweetwater, Snake and Columbia Rivers through Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Oregon. They traveled about 12 to 15 miles per day and it took four to six months to travel the two thousand miles.
Scotts Bluff which rises over 830 feet above the plains in western Nebraska on the south side of the North Platte River was an important milestone for the pioneers
The monument has five rock formations named Crown Rock, Dome Rock, Eagle Rock, Saddle Rock, and Sentinel Rock.
The Visitor Center has been here since the 1930s.
Oregon Trail through Mitchell Pass.
Around 4:00 a.m. The wagon leader sounded the trumpet or fired a rifle and everyone woke up.
By 5 a.m. breakfast was being prepared while the cattle were rounded up after grazing overnight.
By 6 a.m. the men & boys hitched the wagons and everyone ate breakfast.
At 7:00 a.m. The bugle sounded and the Wagon Master shouted "Wagons Roll",
and they started off for the day.
There was an hour lunch break referred to as nooning.
At 6:00 p. m. They would circle their wagons and start the campfires burning.
William Jackson's painting of the Oregon Trail with Chimney Rock and Scotts Bluff ahead in the distance.
A view from the top of the bluffs.
" We have a great deal of sickness on the road at this time. We pass companies every hour of the day waiting for someone to get better or to die. Passenger trains hardly ever wait."
-John Clark, May 29,1852
Looking down on the Visitor Center complex and the climbing road which goes through three tunnels to reach the top.
"A great deal of alkali water in pools injurious to sheep; lost three head on account of drinking it. Crossed numerous creeks and sloughs. A severe tempest
about 6 o'clock with hail as large as apples. No campfire for the buffalo chips were wet and no wood."
-Thomas Flint, July 1, 1853
Hiking path at the top of the bluffs.
A view through the wildflowers.
Conestoga wagon to carry all your worldly goods.
Pioneer left behind. :-(
When I Am Among the Trees
by Mary Oliver
When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness,
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.
I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, and bow often.
Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, "Stay awhile."
The light flows from their branches.
And they call again, "It's simple," they say,
"and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine.
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