Powder River Valley by auntietk
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
Looking across the Powder River Valley from Flagstaff Hill to the Blue Mountains. Baker City, Oregon.
Flagstaff Hill is the site of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center outside Baker City. We stopped by the roadside at a historical marker where we were able to walk down into that scrubland you see in the foreground and actually walk along the Oregon Trail.
It was compelling. I found myself wanting to continue walking ...
I've seen the trail ruts at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where the emigrants crossed the Missouri River on a ferry and then climbed the hill to begin their journey west. Seeing the trail in eastern Oregon was quite an experience!
Book Review:
If you have any interest at all in the Oregon Trail, there's a book by Keith Heyer Meldahl called Hard Road West ... he's a geology professor and a "rut nut," and he follows the Trail from the Missouri River to the gold fields of California. The focus of the book is how geology shaped the Oregon Trail and determined the experiences of the emigrants. Fascinating reading, if you like that sort of thing! I ate it up with a spoon. Excellent book!

Comments (26)
A super landscape and lovely mountain backdrop Tara. I saw part of the Oregon trail ruts in Wyoming when there in May 2011 and have a couple of pics.
What an amazing landscape Hun! I love the snow capped mountains - something we do not often get here down South!
Funny you posted this I watched a movie about the Donner Party. Never been that hungry...Hey why is the valley so dark? I don't see any cloud shadows and a very clear sky! Lots of snow on those mountains. Looks like there is lots to see and do there!
Snowball fight!! I love the snow. Okay, everyone meet at the second mountain from the left. Awesome capture.
Your forbears were amazingly brave folk with great fortitude. I am intimidated by such a huge vista, never mind the journey they made!
Beautiful photo.
Beautiful capture!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great landscape shot.
Nice capture...
Beautiful shot!
Fantastic photo and cool information
What a grand and fantastic shot. Super image.
I just realized, I've been taking you on trips for the better part of four years and now here you are returning the favor. A stunning landscape. I can see what attracted the settlers. Thanks for the book reference.
I love walking on historical trails. It really is kind of an eerie feeling isn't it? A great sweep of landscape here.
Wonderful capture Tara!Thank you!
Great capture – even more amazing knowing this is what settlers would see and have to face on their journey west – thanks for the history!
wonderful scape !!
Superb capture Tara. God bless.
Neat shot...I like to picture the valley without trace of settlement to further imagine what the emigrants must have seen. Maybe I should go to work with photoshop and see what happens:)
and what a huge, flat and beautiful valley it is
Such a lolvely view, Tara. It looks so flat down there, like if it was bounded. I just cant see the meaning in bounding in such a huge country ;-)))
Nice image Hugs Susan I know you like to write and I did an Happy Easter Acrostic poem wish you drop by and give it a read...... Hugs Susan~
I've seen those in Eastern Oregon, it's really something to make you think. Wonderful view here!
superb
Impressive vista indeed Tara! Great looking shot, thanks for showing us.. Sorry, just got back from Hospital, first time on Rendo, will catch up with comments ASAP.. Rob
OK - now this is spectacular, Tara! Wow! You're inspiring me to see if I can put together a scene like this in Vue....