South Pass

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Arriving at South Pass, the travelers knew that the first half of their journey was over and the most difficult travel lay ahead of them.  Up until now they had been able to follow rivers, but from here on they would find dry stretches of high-altitude desert and a dry climate that caused the wooden wagon wheels to shrink away from the iron rims.

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I am proud to say I have made it to South Pass!
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About 20 miles west of here, lies Sublette Cutoff.  This was known to the travelers as the "Parting Of The Ways" because it was here that the wagon trains would divide, some groups heading for California, some for Oregon, and some turning south toward Utah.
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It was stormy the day we were here and I couldn't help but wonder how the travelers might have felt seeing this scene from a covered wagon.
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