Summary 2003

Our activities for the year began with two Cherokee Trail monument settings by the Daughters of American Colonists: one at Pueblo, Colorado; another at Grantsville, Utah. Late summer was occupied with Oregon California Trail Association (OCTA) activities.

This marker was set in 2003 by the Colorado Chapter of The Daughters of the American Colonists at Pueblo, Colorado

(The Utah Society of the DAC also erected this Cherokee Trail marker in 2003 at Grantsville, Utah.)

At the annual National OCTA convention (August 11-16), in Manhattan, Kansas, the Fletchers delivered a presentation on the Cherokee Trail in Kansas Territory.

On 25 August an OCTA-sponsored Cherokee Trail/Overland Stage and Mail route meeting was held in Rawlins. The meeting, hosted by Linda Fleming, Carbon County Commissioner, was for landowners, ranchers, energy companies, BLM, and others. The purpose was to find out what is known about the Cherokee Trail, and its location. We hope the interest will lead to preservation of important sites and segments.

There were other important happenings in Wyoming in 2003. In June, Ben Kern's 2003 Wagon Train started over the Cherokee Trail at the Green River where last year's train had stopped. Spectacular views were enjoyed by all. On the Hogback ridge, with its precipitous drops both north and south of the wagon-wide trail, they could see west to the Green River some 12-14 miles of trail. From Powder Rim, the Wyoming badlands, Colorado's mountains, and wild horses were prominent as they traveled for miles along Wyoming's BLM wild horse Management area.

The mountain trail crossed Savery Creek at Morgan's Crossing (see photo) a stream well noted bymountain men on their way to Brown's Hole and Fur Trading Fort Davy Crockett. Another noted crossing north of the Colorado border was Lower Shell Creek, (See Photo) a resting place for emigrant wagon trains as well as cattle drives from Arkansas, Cherokee Nation, and Texas. Here are the gravesites of Robert Davidson (cattle drover) and the child of Hiram Allen (emigrant wagon train), both of Pope County, Arkansas. The British Broadcasting Company (BBC) filmed the wagon train crossing and the gravesite. There Pat & I delivered a memorial service.

The two Powder Springs were visited. They are most famous as a hideout for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and approximately 75 members of the Hole-In-the-Wall gang, who spent several of their last summers there.

Baggs, Wyoming turned out in high fashion for an oldtimers night complete with western singers. The wagon train hosted a barbeque. Other events were a Pony Express mail delivery by Quack Grass Sally and her young sidekick Mike. Fletchers gave a presentation on "The First Cattle Drive through Baggs 1854."

At Twin Groves on top of the continental divide Ben Kern performed the wedding of Trail Boss Rod Henderson to Dori Darlin. The wagon train ended in Encampment in time to participate in their annual Woodchoppers Festival parade.

Summary 2004

Wagonmaster Ben Kern took his wagon train over the Cherokee Trail from Encampment, Wyoming to Greeley, Colorado. Preceding each of the four years of these treks over the Cherokee Trail, Ben has made arrangements with many private landowners for access to the trail; only one landowner denied Ben entry. The 2004 trek went through rain, hail, and snow, the accompanying mud high on the wheels, and experienced the death of a faithful mule of Ben’s. It was much like emigrants experienced in both 1849 and 1857; long wet, cold springs, summer arriving late.

Our general pattern has been to meet the wagon train at some of their camping places, in period dress, read from the diaries pertinent to that stop, and relate trail stories of the area. We also arrange public presentations along the route. During the 2004 trek, we presented to audiences in Encampment, Wyoming; Walden, Fort Collins, and Wellington, Colorado. 

Before and during the wagon treks, with Chuck and Suzanne Hornbuckle, we field map, GPS, and photograph the Cherokee Trail. In 2004 we began with the 1850 diaries’ noted “Five Buttes”, moving eastward to the Continental Divide at “Twin Groves”, east to Encampment, and east again, to the Laramie River. Back home at the end of the field season, the field data are placed on 7.5 USGS Quadrangle maps, making the information available for subsequent use by BLM, NPS, private contractors, and private landowners.

Photo, Green River background with GPS still forthcoming.  

With Wyoming trail enthusiasts Tom McCutcheon, Bill and Gail Robinson, and the Hornbuckles, Fletchers were out with BLM on the Cherokee/Overland Stage and Mail route, “ground-truthing” the traces and stage station remains. The vigorous energy exploration taking place all over Wyoming demands that we make sure that all remnants are clearly identified; historical and archaeological preservation is our goal. Thanks to Dave Welch, OCTA’s National Preservation Chairman, we are continually notified of permits on and over the Cherokee Trail, and are given an opportunity to present our data.