After watching your other video on this subject, I had to take to Google maps and scout about (virtually) myself. It is mind-boggling to see all the trails and to imagine all the humanity and goings-on about the place. It makes it real. Thank you.
@octatrails I've used satellite images to look for and seek out many Oregon trail ruts and swales in the State of Oregon. Many of which were unmarked. I would like to develop some kind of "overlay" component to Google maps that one could add to their toolbox to help enhance their experience.
But less then 10 years later, there was another surge on the Cherokee Trail of travelers, this time for gold seekers for the Colorado, Montana, and Idaho gold rushes. Some even traveled back from California to participate and seek their riches.
We have evidence all along the Cherokee and Overland Trails of temporary blacksmith and wheelwright shops built next to the trail to service the wagons, just like modern day tire shops or service stations. Honestly, I never drive my car down the Devil's Washboard because it is so rough which says a lot about the gumption of stage and wagon travelers back in the day!
Very cool stuff! Am I correct that there used to be (maybe still is?) wagon ruts of the Overland trail off of north Shields in FoCo? I thought I could make them out years ago but haven't looked lately.
The wagon ruts largely parallel highway 287, but to the west. In Fort Collins that is west of Taft Hill Road in the south and west of Overland as you proceed north until you get to LaPorte where there is a DAR monument near where the LaPorte Overland Stage Station once existed. Then it follows county 54G until it joins 287 up by Ted's Place. The trail is west of 287 on the other side of the first hogback to the west heading due north as it proceeds up through Livermore, around Grayback Ridge and then up through Virginia Dale Station. The 1849 original route did parallel the north bank of the Cache la Poudre from the confluence with the South Platte until it joined the 1850 route in LaPorte. This route was only used the first year, the shorter route up through Fort Collins was used after that. Hope that helps! There are more detailed presentations on the Colorado/Overland routes through Larimer County if you look under PlayLists/Colorado Cherokee on the OCTA RUclips page. There you can find a wealth of short videos and also longer presentations on the trails and OCTA's findings in northern Colorado.
Beautiful land loved the birds chirping in the background
After watching your other video on this subject, I had to take to Google maps and scout about (virtually) myself. It is mind-boggling to see all the trails and to imagine all the humanity and goings-on about the place. It makes it real. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!
And to add to that, the fact that many of the trail ruts still exist today, some 160 years later! I am happy this made it real for you!
@octatrails I've used satellite images to look for and seek out many Oregon trail ruts and swales in the State of Oregon. Many of which were unmarked. I would like to develop some kind of "overlay" component to Google maps that one could add to their toolbox to help enhance their experience.
@@michaelberger8137 you should consider joining our mapping and marking team. More details at www.octa-trails.org.
All those people who went to California from Colorado didn't realize there were more gold deposits there than where they were going.
But less then 10 years later, there was another surge on the Cherokee Trail of travelers, this time for gold seekers for the Colorado, Montana, and Idaho gold rushes. Some even traveled back from California to participate and seek their riches.
I wonder how many wagon wheels broke on that part of the trail. Looks tough.
We have evidence all along the Cherokee and Overland Trails of temporary blacksmith and wheelwright shops built next to the trail to service the wagons, just like modern day tire shops or service stations. Honestly, I never drive my car down the Devil's Washboard because it is so rough which says a lot about the gumption of stage and wagon travelers back in the day!
Very cool stuff! Am I correct that there used to be (maybe still is?) wagon ruts of the Overland trail off of north Shields in FoCo? I thought I could make them out years ago but haven't looked lately.
The wagon ruts largely parallel highway 287, but to the west. In Fort Collins that is west of Taft Hill Road in the south and west of Overland as you proceed north until you get to LaPorte where there is a DAR monument near where the LaPorte Overland Stage Station once existed. Then it follows county 54G until it joins 287 up by Ted's Place. The trail is west of 287 on the other side of the first hogback to the west heading due north as it proceeds up through Livermore, around Grayback Ridge and then up through Virginia Dale Station. The 1849 original route did parallel the north bank of the Cache la Poudre from the confluence with the South Platte until it joined the 1850 route in LaPorte. This route was only used the first year, the shorter route up through Fort Collins was used after that. Hope that helps! There are more detailed presentations on the Colorado/Overland routes through Larimer County if you look under PlayLists/Colorado Cherokee on the OCTA RUclips page. There you can find a wealth of short videos and also longer presentations on the trails and OCTA's findings in northern Colorado.
@@octatrails Thanks a lot! I appreciate the information.