To see the route that changed the West forever, drive east of Boise, Idaho, past the riverside town of Glenns Ferry, to Bureau of Land Management-administered public land. Here, amid the rolling hills and wide-open skies, you’ll find a diminutive dirt trail that crosses the vast rangeland. At first, you may not think the Oregon National Historic Trail looks like much — just another dirt road snaking its way into an endless sea of sagebrush. But look closer. This unassuming path began a transformation that brought Washington, California, Nevada, Utah and Idaho into the United States of America. More than 150 years ago, this route led Native Americans and nearly 500,000 emigrants across the arid western basin as they pursued their futures out West.

 “It’s very interesting, because you can still see the wagon ruts in some places along the Oregon-California trail,” said Susan Giannettino, BLM deputy state director. “Seeing the tracks makes you think about how arduous their journey must have been, and how amazing it is that these people endured such a trek.  Preserving this trail is an integral part of preserving the heritage of the American West.”

For this reason, Idaho and Oregon BLM archeologists and managers have been working with the Oregon California Trails Association to preserve this important piece of history. On August 6, Idaho and Oregon BLM employees participated in the OTCA National Convention banquet in Nampa, Idaho, to recognize Oregon-California trail efforts.

During the awards ceremony at the banquet, OCTA honored four BLM archeologists with its "2008 Friend of the Oregon-California Trail Awards" for their work:

• Jeff Ross, Idaho Jarbidge Field Office   - Ross received the award for his devoted efforts to preserve pristine,   historical wagon ruts near Glenn’s Ferry.    He worked closely with OCTA, user groups, and BLM managers to   implement an administrative closure of the area where the wagon ruts are   located. His actions have helped   prevent off-highway vehicles from further impacting the wagon ruts.
• Dick Hill, Idaho Upper Snake Field   Office - Hill’s award recognized his ongoing commitment and support of   OCTA efforts to designate and monitor use of the Jeffrey-Goodale segment   of the Oregon National Historic Trail.    He has worked to preserve the Lander Road, which provided safe   passage for more than 13,000 emigrants through southern Idaho.    Hill has strived to save other important segments of the Oregon   National Historic Trail as well.
• Mary Oman, Oregon Baker City Field   Office - OCTA recognized Mary   Oman for her support of early efforts to preserve the remnants of the   Goodale's Cutoff trail in Idaho. Oman   was also present when OCTA members rediscovered nearly five miles of   pristine, well-preserved historic trail east of Ruckles Creek, Ore. 
• Dean Shaw, Idaho Four Rivers Field   Office – Shaw, who accepted his award at a later BLM employee meeting,   received recognition for preserving historic trails in southwest Idaho and   supporting OCTA’s research of Goodale’s Cutoff. He was also instrumental   in organizing a BLM display and information booth at the OCTA convention.

Giannettino also presented awards to two Oregon-California trail preservationists on behalf of BLM’s Idaho State Office during the banquet:

• Idaho   Chapter of the Oregon Trail Association - The Idaho Chapter of the Oregon Trail   Association received its award for service and volunteer efforts to mark,   monitor and protect the Oregon   and California National Historic Trails.    Its president, Doug Jenson, accepted the honor, receiving a   standing ovation from the audience.   
  

• Jim McGill, IOCTA preservation officer   -   BLM recognized McGill for   his tireless efforts to identify, mark and monitor the Oregon NHT. In addition, he has conducted extensive   archival and field research to locate remaining segments of the trail in Idaho and Oregon. McGill has studied the chronicles of Oregon Trail pioneer Tim Goodale. In the 1860s, "Goodale's   North" route led miners and emigrants on an alternate route of the   Oregon Trail across the Snake River into Oregon via ferries westward. This led to new mining discoveries near   Baker, Ore., in proximity to what is now   Brownlee Dam in Idaho. In accepting his award, McGill, too,   received a standing ovation from the audience.

“The Oregon trail has so much historical significance for the West,” Giannettino said. “It’s important to recognize individuals who have worked hard to preserve the trails for future generations.”

The awards ceremony was part of a much larger, weeklong convention, which OCTA members had organized. As part of the conference, attendees toured more than 10 historic trails in southwest Idaho.. In addition, they heard from experts on topics such as trail preservation, education, botany, emigrant culinary and the lives of settlers on the trails. The conference culminated in an adventurous, true reenactment of the Three Island Crossing at Three Island Crossing State Park near Glenns Ferry. A famous spot on the Oregon NHT, the crossing marks where westward emigrants traversed the deep, swift Snake River to the Boise Valley. Now in its 23rd year, the reenactment, which actors in period dress perform, uses oxen, horses, and wagons to display the extreme challenges emigrants faced more than 150 years ago.

Idaho BLM will continue working with organizations like the OCTA to preserve these remarkable trails and provide education about their historical value. “It’s very fortunate that we still have opportunities to preserve the Oregon-California trail and to ensure that it will be around for people to enjoy for many years to come,” Giannettino said.  

For additional information on OCTA and Idaho BLM trail programs, visit:

http://www.octa-trails.org/index.php

For more information on the National Scenic and Historic Trails that BLM manages, visit:

http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/blm_special_areas/NLCS/Trails.html