Ft. Bridger
Last spring, I had the good fortune to retrace the steps of the Donner Party. This post is part of the story of my journey. If you want to begin at the beginning, go here first. Big thanks to the Indiana Arts Council for helping to make this happen.
Fort Bridger was an important stop for the Graves family. It was the last chance they had to buy any supplies before they arrived in California—before they crossed the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Most emigrants traveling west that year didn’t stop at Ft. Bridger. Most took a northern route over the Great Salt Lake, staying on the main path that had been carved out by wheels before them.
But the members of the Donner Party had all decided to take a new path, a “shortcut” written about by Lansford Hastings in his newly published guide. The problem with the “shortcut” was that it wasn’t a shortcut at all. It was a greater length to travel and a much harsher path. Taking this route was the major downfall of the Donner Party. It was the choice that ultimately caused about half of them to die, because it added so much time onto their trip.
But anyway, back in 1846, Ft. Bridger was a little stop owned by a man named James Bridger.
James Bridger became a legend. He was a big deal mountain man, expert trapper, and popular guide for pioneers emigrating west. In 1846, he was hoping to make some money selling supplies to people before they crossed the mountain. To do that, he needed people to take this “shortcut” that Hastings was promoting. So he was promoting it too.
He told members of the Donner Party that the road ahead was level and passable and not a problem at all.
He lied.
He also, apparently, had in his possession a letter to James Reed from a friend, warning him that they shouldn’t try to take this route. He didn’t pass that letter along.
So, I guess I had some mixed feelings about this place and this man as I pulled up to Ft. Bridger.
You can see it on my face.
(Okay, actually no. It was cold and rainy and I think I was just squinting like I wanted this picture thing to hurry up and be over.)
Anyway, Ft. Bridger is a really neat place to visit if you’re interested in Jim Bridger and the history of the fort. Like Ft. Laramie, however, most of its buildings and info are from after the Donner Party passed through, so I wasn’t as enthralled.
I was eager to wave good-bye to James Bridger and keep on truckin’. Because we were close. So, so close.
For the next post in this series, go here.