Climb onto the rock – there is a low saddle on the east side that’s easy to climb, but it’s harder to get to the best signatures at the front (north) end of the rock.
It’s an easy climb if you come up from the front east side past the fence
. On top, look all directions.
How tall is the Independence Rock?
Like a great stone turtle, Independence Rock sprawls over 27 acres next to the meandering Sweetwater River. More than a mile in circumference, the rock is 700 feet wide and 1,900 feet long. Its highest point, 136 feet above the rolling prairie, stands
as tall as a twelve-story building
.
Does Independence Rock still exist?
The site was designated a National Historic Landmark on January 20, 1961 and
is now part of Independence Rock State Historic Site
, owned and operated by the state of Wyoming.
Why is it called Independence Rock?
Independence Rock was the most-noted landmark of the wagon trails west of Fort Laramie.
The rock derived its name from a party of fur trappers who camped and celebrated Independence Day near the rock on July 4, 1830
.
Can you climb Independence Monument?
Every 4
th
of July you can watch climbers carry the flag up Independence Monument and then proudly stake it at the top
. Safety gear has come a long way in the past 100+ years.
Where is Independence Rock in Colorado?
Mesa County, Colorado, U.S. Independence Monument is a 5,739-foot-elevation (1,749 meter) sandstone pillar located in
Colorado National Monument, in Mesa County of western Colorado
, United States.
How many people didn’t survive the journey west?
According to the Oregon California Trails Association,
almost one in ten
who embarked on the trail didn’t survive. Most people died of diseases such as dysentery, cholera, smallpox or flu, or in accidents caused by inexperience, exhaustion and carelessness.
How many people died on the Oregon Trail?
Combined with accidents, drowning at dangerous river crossings, and other illnesses,
at least 20,000
people died along the Oregon Trail. Most trailside graves are unknown, as burials were quick and the wagon trains moved on.
What state is Fort Bridger in?
Wyoming
How long did it take to get to Independence Rock on the Oregon Trail?
Initially, the journey from Independence to the Willamette valley had taken
five to six months
. As the trail became more heavily used, however, ferries and bridges sprang up at river crossings, and more trading posts and forts were built.
What was the biggest threat on the Oregon Trail?
Disease
was the greatest threat on the trail, especially cholera, which struck wagon trains in years of heavy travel.
What happened at Fort Bridger?
The settlers reported that
Bridger was selling liquor and ammunition to the Indians, in violation of federal law
. Brigham Young, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and a federal Indian agent, responded by sending the Mormon militia to the fort in 1853.
Why is Devil’s Gate called Devil’s Gate?
The dam was built in the 1920s and named Devil’s Gate
because of the rock formation’s resemblance to Satan
. In the 40s the area became a ritual magnet, bringing in a group of occultists (spearheaded by L. Ron Hubbard and some early disciples of Aleister Crowley) who attempted to evoke an antichrist from within.
What animal did many see for the first time on the trail?
Elephants
on the Overland Trails. The first references of elephants in trail narratives and letters are positive allusions. The reference appears primarily in the Oregon Trail, California Trail, and Mormon Trail.
What dangers did the pioneers face?
Major threats to pioneer life and limb came from
accidents, exhaustion, and disease
. Crossing rivers were probably the most dangerous thing pioneers did. Swollen rivers could tip over and drown both people and oxen. Such accidents could cause the loss of life and most or all of valuable supplies.
Can you rock climb in the Colorado National Monument?
Colorado National Monument offers enjoyable sandstone rock climbing for all ability levels
. The top roping areas in Lower Monument Canyon are a great place for beginners to try rock climbing. Intermediate and advanced climbers will enjoy a climb of Otto’s Route on Independence Monument.
When was the independence monument built?
The Independence Monument (Khmer: វិមានឯករាជ្យ [ʋimiən ʔaekariəc]) in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, was built in
1958
to memorialise Cambodia’s independence from France in 1953.
Who built the Independence Monument of Uganda?
The Monument was part of celebrations to mark the independence and signify a new born country let free from the bonds of colonization. It was built by
Gregory Magoba
, one of Uganda’s first professional sculptors.
What were the 3 real enemies of the settlers?
The real enemies of the pioneers were
cholera, poor sanitation and–surprisingly–accidental gunshots
. The first emigrants to go to Oregon in a covered wagon were Marcus and Narcissa Whitman (and Henry and Eliza Spalding) who made the trip in 1836.
Why didn’t most pioneers ride in their wagons?
People didn’t ride in the wagons often, because
they didn’t want to wear out their animals
. Instead they walked alongside them, getting just as dusty as the animals. The long journey was hard on both people and animals. It was even hard on the wagons, which usually had to be repaired several times during the trip.
How many pioneers died traveling west?
Up to 50,000 people
, or one-tenth of the emigrants who attempted the crossing continent, died during the trip, most from infectious disease such as cholera, spread by poor sanitation: with thousands traveling along or near the same watercourses each summer, downstream travelers were susceptible to ingesting upstream …
What was the main item that pioneers brought with them in their covered wagons?
The pioneers would take with them as many supplies as possible. They took
cornmeal, bacon, eggs, potatoes, rice, beans, yeast, dried fruit, crackers, dried meat, and a large barrel of water
that was tied to the side of the wagon. If the pioneers could take a cow, they would.
Can you walk the Oregon Trail today?
The 2,000-mile Oregon Trail was used by pioneers headed west from Missouri to find fertile lands. Today,
travelers can follow the trail along Route 66 or Routes 2 and 30
.
What did the pioneers eat on the Oregon Trail?
Cornmeal Pancakes
Like flour, pioneers brought along tons of cornmeal for the trail. Cornmeal was easy to make and transport, so travelers got creative with how they used it in their meals. A favorite food on the Oregon Trail was cornmeal pancakes, which could easily be fried up over the campfire.
