How did people survive on the Oregon Trail?
How did people survive on the Oregon Trail? Life on the Oregon Trail By far, the most important item for successful life on the trail was the covered wagon. It had to be sturdy enough to withstand the elements yet small and light enough for a team of oxen or mules to pull day after day. Most wagons were about six feet wide and twelve feet long.
What did people on the Oregon Trail do for fun?
Traveling on the Oregon Trail would get boring after some time. Settlers walked all day and ate the same food for months. To keep themselves entertained they brought instruments and told stories. Children would play games with their friends.
Why didn t pioneers take trains?
Some travelers continued to take wagons over the old trail as late as the 1920s. Why? Usually because they didn't have the money to buy train tickets to take their families west, or they had livestock that needed herding along, but sometimes just because they loved the old-timey adventure of it.
How did people sleep in covered wagons?
The families either camped in the open under the stars or slept on the ground beneath the wagon. The Prairie Schooners had to be packed carefully with the heaviest items at the bottom. Wagons were prone to tipping over because they had a high center of gravity. Conestoga wagons were the riskiest for tipping.
How common were Indian attacks on wagon trains?
Surprisingly, considering how many wagons went West, very few faced attacks by the Indians. A well-led and disciplined train was more likely to get through without problems. The opposite was often true for small trains where discipline was lacking.