Pioneers faced many treats and struggles along the Oregon Trail including crossing rivers, falling underneath the wagons, and catching deadly diseases.
One of the most dangerous things the pioneers encountered was crossing rivers. Crossing rivers was very dangerous because overflowing rivers could drown both people and oxen, and animals pulling the wagons could get scared when wading through water and cause the wagon to tip over. Accidents like these could cause a loss of valuable supplies and life.
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According to National Oregon/California Trail Center, "The number of deaths which occurred in wagon train companies traveling to California is conservatively figured as 20,000 for the entire 2,000 miles of the Oregon/California Trail, or an average of ten graves per mile." This evidence shows that the struggles the pioneers faced along the Oregon Trail were very dangerous and took many lives.