July 6, 2006: Gering & Scotts Bluff, Nebraska. We are in Robidoux RV-Park operated by the city of Gering, Nebraska N41° 48.757' W103° 40.644' phone: 308-436-2046. They have paved interior roads with concrete pull-thru pads featuring green grass overlooking Scotts Bluff the bluff so often mentioned by travelers on the Overland Trail: 50-amps, water and sewer, $15. Joyce and I generally look for a PPA (Pass Port America) Campground but we did not find one in Gering.

We headed north out of Greeley on the 5th of July heading to Scotts Bluff, Nebraska where we plan to meet up with the old Overland Trail (Oregon Trail, Mormon Trail, California Trail). While the Overland Trail started in Independence, Missouri we are going to start following it west from Scotts Bluff, Nebraska.

Scotts Bluff the landmark on the Overland Trail that blocked those traveling west along the south side of the North Platte River

Emigrants traveling west on the south side of the North Platte River were forced to go further south around Scotts Bluff that blocked their way. Emigrants would normally reach Scotts Bluff around mid-June. To give you the significance of Scotts Bluff the Indians called this "bluff" "Me-a-pa-te", or "hill that is hard to go around". That should give you an idea of the significance this landmark presented. In the early years of the trail most emigrants traveled a trail about 9-miles south of Scotts Bluff over Robidoux Pass. Around 1850 Mitchell Pass was widened and improved enough so that wagon trains could go single file over the hill. While Mitchell Pass did not shorten the trip as a whole, it did cut 8-miles off the portion they were away one from the North Platte River. The downside of the Mitchell Pass route was that it was only one wagon wide, forcing wagon trains into a single file. This was not something that the emigrants desired due to the dust that was created.

Overlooking the towns of Scotts Bluff and Gering from Scotts Bluff National Monument

Joyce got this view of Scotts Bluff taken from Scotts Bluff National Monument where we were able to drive to the top of the bluff in Scotts Bluff National Monument, and overlook the towns of Scotts Bluff and Gering.

State Road 92 as it passes over Mitchell Pass today

That is Mitchell Pass in the picture to the left. The trail we walked is only a short distance to the right of the highway. Mitchell Pass has obviously become a much easier path since the mid-1800's.

Visible evidence of the Overland Trail that went across Mitchell Pass

While there we walked part of the Overland Trail that went through Mitchell Pass to get a first hand feeling for what this journey west must have been like. Keep in mind that wagons had to travel in single file over Mitchell Pass thus creating these deep ruts.

Pioneers used a variety of routes to negotiate Scotts Bluff. Over the years different routes were used. Mitchell Pass was the shortest route thus the preferred even though it was a tough climb and very narrow. We walked the narrow part where all wagons were forced to form a single line. The gouge in the soft sandstone in the pass was around 6-feet deep even though the wagon ruts were not visible. Time and erosion of the soft sandstone over the past 130-plus years has erased the ruts and all that remains is the deep gouge across Mitchell pass.

Freight wagon that held up to 5,000 pounds and was pulled 10 or more oxen

Mike is standing next to a freight wagon that would hold up to 5,000 pounds and was pulled by a team of 10 or more oxen. Freight wagons like this were used to supply outpost along the route.

Typical pioneer wagon that would hold up to 1,500 pounds and be pulled by two oxen

To the right is a normal pioneer wagon that would hold up to 1,500 pounds and be pulled by two oxen.

Sunset over Mitchell Pass taken by Joyce from our RV-Park in Gering, Nebraska

We could see the sun setting over Mitchell Pass from our RV-Park in Gering, Nebraska. Joyce was outside to record the event.

Pioneer Graves preserved

Viewing Robidoux Pass was as eventful as experiencing Mitchell Pass. Traveling in a car where pioneers walked with their wagons was a humbling experience. Viewing their grave sites was also humbling. Keep in mind that Robidoux Pass was the early route emigrants used but it took travelers about 9-miles south of the North Platte River and emigrants did not relish getting that far from water.

Preserved gravesite along the Overland Trail

This particular grave site was preserved alongside Robidoux Pass Road but the same events occurred whether the emigrants traveled over Robidoux Pass or Mitchell Pass.

The two days we spent in Gering and Scotts Bluff couldn't have been any better, we visited and experienced a number of historical landmarks including Chimney Rock, the North Platte River, Scotts Bluff National Monument, Mitchell Pass and Robidoux Pass.

Until next time remember how good life is.

Mike & Joyce Hendrix

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Until next time remember how good life is.

Mike & Joyce Hendrix

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