The Journey West

The Journey West

The journey heading westwas long, difficult and dangerous for the pioneers. Pioneers traveled with alltheir belongings and supplies on covered wagons. The wagons were pulled byhorses, oxen or mules. The trails were often rocky and through the woods.Fast-flowing rivers had to be crossed. The journey could take pioneers as longas six months. The pioneers would plan trips out west during the warmer monthsto avoid the difficult winter weather.

 

The safest way forpioneers to travel was in a wagon train. A wagon train was a group of wagonstraveling together. A wagon master lead the wagon train. The wagon master wouldtry to make the journey as safe and easy as possible. Cowboys came along on thejourney to help pioneers when the journey was difficult.

 

Many pioneers did notsurvive the journey west. Diseases, such as measles, mumps, small pox, choleraand tuberculosis, spread through wagon trains quickly. Often no medicines ordoctors were available to help. Many died of illnesses. Some pioneers died inaccidents that happened along the journey. Accidents like drowning, animalattacks, and overturned wagons took the life of many pioneers. Pioneers wereoften buried right on the trail.