My Dad was the outrider for the Oregon Wagon on the Bicentennial Wagon Train in 1976 when he was 16. It took him 6 months just to get from fort Laramie Wyoming to valley/pigeon forge Pennsylvania. They took the exact trail west to east as the pioneers took back in 1876 (of course east to west) and a lady who was a lil over 100 went along on the journey and shared true stories of her experience in 1876 on the trail. I've never met someone besides my Dad who was on the 1976 Bicentennial Wagon Train. Anyone here have family that was involved in the 1976 Bicentennial??

@robertbrodie5183

8 ай бұрын

was a fife and drumer in 76 and family and i were involved in 1968 bicentenial in my home town of myerstown pa pigeon forge was familiar

@kitefan1

8 ай бұрын

I live in RI. I'm a couple years older than your Dad. I remember reading about those on his trip. And on other trips. We had the Tall Ships come to visit Newport as well as parades and a lot of historic exhibits. In my town, 1974 was a locally bigger deal because it was our town Tri-Centennial. The people on your Dad's trip, did they take Conestoga wagons or farm wagons? In the video he said farm wagons because they were lighter. But if you had the animals to pull them Conestoga were tanks. but apparently they were not used west of the Mississippi because of the weight.

@Slong970

8 ай бұрын

@@kitefan1 @kitefan1 in 1876 and the centennial of 1976 Conestoga wagons were mostly used because they were tanks and super easy to fix on the go. Prairie wagons were also used, but couldn't take the cross country abuse like a Conestoga can. Prairie wagons were also used for smaller journeys for going state to state/territory hopping. The Oregon wagon my dad was on was a Conestoga. He was an outrider for the Oregon State Wagon. He also told me quite a few places they rode through groups of indigenous people had rifles pointing at them and the national guard was called in to escort them through. As you can imagine the Native Americans had mixed emotions about the 1976 bicentennial wagon train. My dad could also whip a 6 shooter out of his holster and put it between your hands faster than you can clap 😎 some Doc Holiday shit right there hahahahaha. More people need to be taught about the bicentennial wagon train of 1976 and what it stood for. I'm surprised no movie has been made on it or documentary. I only found old video clips from news crews which had a certain narrative. Even back then... Thanks for sharing stories and reminiscing about the bicentennial and your states 3rd centennial.

@Slong970

8 ай бұрын

@@robertbrodie5183 Oh wow that's so cool! 😎 Being a drummer in that was a really solid role! I bet you have some epic memories of those historic/western and patriotic moments being brought back to life 🙏

@Slong970

8 ай бұрын

@@kitefan1 btw a team of 6 draft horses were used for Conestoga wagon. Sometimes 8 were used. If it wasn't draft horses pulling them it was Mules. If it wasn't either then it was 2 ox of some kind. I have seen pictures of a team of 10 non draft horses pulling wagons though it was not very common because that way was of course always a pain in the @$$ even with 2 outriders and a shotgun rider. The 1976 wagons rode for 15-25 miles a day and had to switch out horses here n there along the journey. Wayyyy back in the day they didn't have the means to switch out horses/trade for a fresh horse whenever they wanted like my dad back in 1976.

Several years ago, I took the train from Denver to Sacramento. It's one of the best train trips in the U.S. What I didn't know at the time, was that I was going to see the last great undeveloped expanse in the west. It is a stark, unforgiving, and seemingly relentless patch of earth. There is, however, a great beauty that should not be missed! 🇺🇲

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

I'd like to take it back to Chicago someday - cheers!

@jamescarter3196

8 ай бұрын

Lol, that's the very last one in the whole entire 'west' huh? I'm sure it's very nice but we've got a lot of great undeveloped expanses in the Pacific NW, and we'd like to keep it that way. They don't have trains going through them, so that must be why you haven't seen them.

@bryonhogg485

8 ай бұрын

My neighbor works for Amazon - He said 2 people quit right in the middle of their delivery route yesterday - No pioneer spirit I suppose . . .

@1nvisible1

8 ай бұрын

*@**9:05** would that be four graves, two adults two children? Some tragic event no doubt.*

@MagravatorMag

8 ай бұрын

When the sage brush bloom in the fall it's really amazing. I lived in Reno and it took me a few years to discover that there were pink sage brush flowers along with the 2 yellows. The first time I saw the pink, it was a dark overcast early evening and the lighting was surreal. Nevada is a beautiful state and it really has everything from desert, to mountain lakes. Tahoe is the prize there, but Pyramid and Lahontan are great for camping and outdoor rec. Or you can pop up to Frenchmen's or Bucks Lake in Cali, not to mention all the rivers, Truckee, Feather, Yuba. All of those are in gold country and that route is always a great day trip drive even if you don't want to hit the lakes. We used to stop at the old roadside graveyards and read the headstones. You could tell who the elite were vs the paupers. Most paupers and town drunks were buried by the gate. The rich folks were in the back with "deluxe" headstones. Lots of infants and children too. I think we learn more by seeing things than reading it in books. As we know, not all history is real. Most of it has been manipulated by the victor.

Great history lesson. I spent part of the summer of 1971 in the truckey, Incline area decompresing from Vietnam. Love you band and song.

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

Thank for watching and your service!!

Well done for keeping the history alive!!

There was another desert that was equally disastrous, the salt desert part of the Hastings cuttoff. Early in the rush, many still believed it was actually a shortcut.

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

"Don't take no cut-offs and get where you're going as fast as you can." - Virginia Reed Thanks for watching!

@tballstaedt7807

8 ай бұрын

@SteveTRYK I recommend Charles Kelly's Salt Desert Trails. Kelly has compiled many journal excerpts from immigrants who traveled through the Salt desert from 1846 through the early 1850s.

@billythekid3234

8 ай бұрын

@@SteveTRYK Thats just what she said,great job on this history lesson!

@jameshudkins2210

19 күн бұрын

Lansford Hastings guide was one of the most reckless irresponsible publications ever. He had never been over it and apparently didn't care. It was a terrible route.

Thank you for making this video and for making history come alive! Well done!

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

ill never forget in the 1970's i was in winnemucca, and marked on the topo map was the emigrant trail in ' town ' . it was a fenced off squarish piece of land , maybe 20 acres, and the ruts were so deep and hard no grass or brush would grow in them to that day.

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

Cool!

Good video. Even today, with all the public water systems, the water around Fallon and Fernley tastes horrible and you have to add filters to your home system. That water then full of alkali was a killer. Even on foot you will sink into that stuff and all that super fine dust floats up with just a footfall, let alone hundreds of hooves and wagons churning it. A light breeze will make dust clouds and any real wind (this area is known for 30-60 mph winds) would turn it into a Hell.

Very well done. Took some time I’m sure. You do a good job. Thanks for the Nevada history lesson. Looking forward to the next one.

@SteveTRYK

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for connecting! Appreciate the feedback! More on the way - cheers!

It wasnt just the gold fields. California needed men of industry. Blacksmiths, wheelrights, millrights, etc. My 3rd great grandfather made that trip in 1853. Blacksmith by trade.

That makes 2 of us that got those chills. Absolutely fascinating share

@SteveTRYK

4 ай бұрын

Thanks! Cheers!

Very cool! I've heard, but can't verify, that most of the scrap metal left on the trail was collected during a WWII scrap metal drive.

@SteveTRYK

Жыл бұрын

That could be!

Outstanding! Thank you for producing this. You did a great job of explaining what we are seeing out there. Incredible that we can still see the trail and artifacts nearly 200 years later. Also - your song and slide show are both terrific! 👍

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

I appreciate your comments! We camped out there the second night so I could take the time.

@_marlene

8 ай бұрын

amazing indeed. reminds me of old times growing up in Nevada, old antique old west paraphernalia decorating all kinds of beaten-up casinos. Probably mostly thrown away as the places were renovated. But the desert has a way of preserving things. Loved the musical bit at the end of this video.

You can travel down 20 between where it cuts off of I80 down the ridge into Grass Valley/Nevada City, on the bike trails that follow 20, the wagon wheels cut so deep that the ruts are 4 feet deep exist to this day! I am always amazed how they got those wagons up the clifts above Truckee.

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

I've seen the old wagon road as it winds around the 20 but haven't explored it more- thanks!

It’s amazing you can still see the tracks in the ground. It makes it so much more real.

@SteveTRYK

7 ай бұрын

Those that I imaged stop abruptly before a sandy, sagebrushy area, underscoring how old they are. Cheers!

History, geography, maps, music. Excellent experience! Thanks

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

Many thanks!

@AnniePA1960

8 ай бұрын

And beer!! 😂

Thank you. I have so much more appreciation for what my ancestors went through on the trail.

@SteveTRYK

26 күн бұрын

Glad to help - my great-great-great grandfather went up to Oregon on the trail - I get it - cheers!

Love this... my wife and I have followed several sections of the Truckee & Carson Emigrant trail on foot through the forests of the Sierra and we are amazed by what they went through to make it here to the Golden State. Plenty of history can still be found hidden in plain sight along the trail in the National Forest lands.

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

Agreed - I've poked around trail sections in the Sierra as well. Thanks for being here!

I rememder going through this desert, or at least the north rim of it, at 9 years if age in 1965 on highway 80 with the family. Did not know the history of it then but was mesmerized anyway, probably from watching so many episodes of Death Valley Days and Bonanza at home in Sacramento. This is a really good video.

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

Thanks - and it still looks the same. Pretty much what you see today out there is what they saw.

Wow! Thanks for the history lesson. 10/10!

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

Our pleasure! Cheers!

Thank you for doing, and sharing this!

@SteveTRYK

12 күн бұрын

I appreciate your time in watching!

Insane photo of the horse remains. The age of those poor animals and how "well" preserved they are for being on top of the ground is crazy to me. I guess it goes to show how cruel the desert can be. Fantastic photos, haven't seen any like that online or in the few books I've read. Great video!

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed!! Thanks!

@HobbyOrganist

8 ай бұрын

I dont get how the records recorded things like you can barely take a step without stepping on bones, and wagons and effects dumped and left behind, yet other than a few barrel hoops it looks like everything is just gone, but it doesnt seem like there is much in the way of what we would call "weather" in the desert like everywhere else that would quickly rot wood and rust iron away etc from torrential rains, storms, ice/snow, and big leg bones from animals like horses and oxen dont seem to me like they would just vanish, so what's the story?

The hardest part for me is the development that covers so much history, and the teachers that no longer teach it.

This stretch of desert was know in the wagon train days as the Hastings Pass. It was a very risky shortcut that those who chose to take it, were quickly filled with regret.

An excellent job of recording the history of the CA trail. Many of the things you pointed out, I have seen with my own eyes over the last 60 years.

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

Appreciate your comments!

Very interesting, super tough people and animals, indeed!

Very informative video that illustrates just how amazing those pioneers were! Great song!

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks and rock on!

Wow this has been an excellent video, thank you for sharing your pictures from your previous visit, shows some changes and some things that are exactly as they were during the wagon train days!! I really appreciate your message to folks to please not disturb any artifacts that may be spotted for future generations to see,also the message of modern day vehicles disturbing wagon wheel tracks as they are truly a living piece of history that the future should be able to enjoy

@SteveTRYK

6 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching - the experience of returning to document sites I saw 25 years prior was supremely satisfying!!!

Dude, loved the song and video. I've always found the Oregon trail and really enjoyed the way you presented the info.

@SteveTRYK

12 күн бұрын

Thanks for your kind feedback!!!

Great historical presentation. You're a natural teacher. I'm looking forward to more.

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

I actually thought about being a history teacher a million years ago. I didn't work out that way! Thanks!!

Wow thanks for the great video. My dad lives right near Coloma, I went and explored there when I was visiting him last in shingle springs.

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

Thanks and cheers!

Thank you so much for sharing this history with us. Your absolutely right about leaving these trails and any debris undisturbed for future generations to enjoy.

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

These trails were scavenged certainly a hundred years ago or more. We need to leave what is left! Thanks!

My 5 times great Aunt crossed the Black Rock to southern Oregon. Unschooled, she was a wilderness doctor. Your photos at Double Hot and High Rock Canyon made me think of her route and the qualities of endurance and cooperation the emigrants showed.

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

In 2000 I took a tour of that route - from Imlay, NV to Vya. It was incredible!

@robertrogers7331

8 ай бұрын

A beautiful area, too bad it's being used for a big party.

Very interesting video. Thanks for taking the time to make this video. Take care and have a great life

@SteveTRYK

7 ай бұрын

I appreciate your viewership!

I lived in Fernley for 8 years from 2000 to 2008 and spent a lot of time out in the desert riding quads and I had figured out how to get from my house first to my buddy's house in Fallon, and then after fueling up, we could ride all the way to Lovelock along a network of dirt roads and trails at the base of the Stillwater Range. We couldn't waste fuel or time on that last leg though because it took most of the daylight hours to make it to Lovelock. My friend's wife would wait till we called her from our favorite watering hole in Lovelock and she'd bring the trailer. north on 95 to 80 east a few miles and be there in time for dinner. It wasn't until we'd made the trip 3 times that someone told me of the historic significance of the area. After that, I paid more attention as I covered that hallowed ground.

@mikecsernyik7360

7 ай бұрын

I just started riding a dirt bike this year, I'm from Fernley and we are going to be eventually doing rides though the hills to the other towns and down to LaFontaine. Wish me luck, I'm 30 and just learning to ride this year lol.

@Slong970

7 ай бұрын

@billbaldwin1871 damn that's wild you did all that riding and didn't know that info till your 3rd trip 😳 I bet you were looking around everywhere for old artifacts after you found out that lands historic significance 😎

Fascinating content and very well presented. It’s amazing there are still remains of emigrant wagon tracks after nearly 200 years. Thank you.

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

Appreciate your feedback! Cheers!

Amazing how much you found, excellent video, excellent music-keeping the good things going~

Great video, thanks for your hard work.

Nice video. Thank you for putting this together

Thank you for your efforts!

Great stuff Sir- so interesting. I've been to Donner Lake and really started looking into the migration shortly after. Thank you-

Fascinating video. We’ll worth watching! Thank you.

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

Awesome video! Thank you Mr.James Hetfield for your efforts to bring history to us that cant get out there and i hope you do more

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

There is a resemblance! Thanks!

Yea, the area must have been absolute hell to pass through. I lived in Fallon for almost 10 years, and spent a lot of time poking around at historic sites (there are so many in this area--to also include primitive people's chipping areas and newer Native American sites), and saw much of what you show in the middle of your presentation; simple rock graves, remains of wagons, and areas crudely dug out pits to reveal ground water--especially heavy in salt. You gave a great presentation!

@SteveTRYK

Күн бұрын

Thanks for your viewership!

Another great video Steve! Also, I really liked your band and the song you wrote, that ended up being your outro. Very fitting.

@SteveTRYK

Ай бұрын

Thanks so much!

Thank you! I've learned a lot.

@SteveTRYK

8 күн бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

Thank you so much for making this eloquent video. I heard of the Gold Rush, but never thought about how people got out to California, and never knew about the Emigrant Trail. Thanks also for the sit-down, music, and images at the end. The guitar has a particularly appealing tone, and the band as a whole is terrific.

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

The boys would appreciate your kind words! Thanks!

This is an interesting video. You did a great job on showing the locations and explaining the hardships these early settlers endured. Now I want to visit this area next.

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

Enjoy! Bring water! Thanks!

Thanks so much for video!

@SteveTRYK

11 күн бұрын

No worries!

So glad I came across your channel,great content👍👣👣👣👣

You came up on my feed, glad I clicked on this, great content, the SONG IS FABULOUS

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

Thanx!! Glad you liked!

Excellent video and thank you for posting!

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

My pleasure - I loved doing this one.

Enjoyed the video. Thank you!

@SteveTRYK

17 күн бұрын

Our pleasure!

Thanks for the video.

I lived in Reno. Everyone told me, "Reno is so close to hell, you can see Sparks!"

@SteveTRYK

10 күн бұрын

It's true!

What a wonderful video love the info thanks for taking the time to show us ! Thumbs up

@SteveTRYK

10 ай бұрын

We love it out there - thanks!

@deaddocreallydeaddoc5244

8 ай бұрын

I read that in one of my books on the subject. A lot of things that would be collectibles today were scrapped during WW2 for the war effort.

Thank you for this video. I am currently reading The Indifferent Stars Above and I I have become fascinated with the stories of those emigrants

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

You're so welcome!

Great video, super interested. Loved your song! It would be fun to hear you and your band play, you sound awesome!

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

Thanks so much!! Rock on!

I loved the photography of the clouds and sky over desert time lapse At beginning of this video. Just beautiful.

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

Thanks - that was about thirty minutes of time lapse.

Nice job Thanks Jss

Well done. Thanks.

@SteveTRYK

7 ай бұрын

Thank you too!

great job and info...plus, I like the song!

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

Thanks - glad you liked it!

Thanks for the content

Good work on the video. The old pics are great. Nice song too, keep it up 👍

@SteveTRYK

3 күн бұрын

Thanks for the comments! Cheers and rock on!

Thank you. Very interesting.

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

You are welcome!

Nice! Love exploring the California Trail.

@SteveTRYK

11 ай бұрын

Us too!

Great Information!

Thanks for the great video. I research and explore the Applegate trail. I've probably found ninety percent ofbut every little piece is exciting

This video is the first ive seen or heard of you. Definitely subscribing!

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

Cool - thanks!

Freaking love this! Ty so much!

Great episode. Thank you!

@SteveTRYK

9 ай бұрын

Cheers! Good luck with your channel!!

Great video. Love this stuff!!

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoy it!

Thoroughly enjoyed that in fact I'll plan a trip I'm quite the desert Trekker these days I've been around for 12 years messing around in the desert and have not made it to that end of it but after your narration I have to go very good job by the way

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

Hope this gives you perspective when you're out there! Thanx!

Thank you again for another terrific video!!

Great video. I enjoyed your music too.

excellent video, thanks a lot I'd love to go see this stuff

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

Thanks! If you go, admission is free!

Thank you. This was wonderful.

@SteveTRYK

7 ай бұрын

Thanx for taking time to watch!

Great video And Awesome song sounded great. Well done

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

Thanks for the kind words!

Thank you for doing this!

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

My pleasure!

Your empathetic video helped to 'flesh-out' an excellent book titled: WAGONS WEST, by Frank McLynn, about the arduous journey along The Oregon Trail. Appreciate your appreciation of what our pioneer ancestors endured trying to find "a better life out West."

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

Thanks - I love the topic!

SO INTERESTING THIS ERA IN AMERICAN HISTORY!!

Born n raised N NV. Excellent production, beginning to end. Thanks

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

Thanks Chief!!

Well done, good song too

I'd never heard of this desert, which ought to be mentioned in history classes given how many people died in its brief years of use. Thanks for the research.

@SteveTRYK

22 күн бұрын

I think our 4th graders might be taught about it - I'm not sure. Cheers!

Nice work producing this. Some great photography. The wide open desert expanses have a beauty of their own, although those early travelers likely cursed the landscape. I'm fortunate to have recently ridden through 7 western States by motorcycle. Mostly off road. There's such a range of beauty out west.

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

Thanks for stopping by!

@HobbyOrganist

8 ай бұрын

It makes sense how this area is so flat and barren when you realize it used to be the bottom of the sea many millions of years ago

I pass through this place on the I-80 every year to go hunting out in NE Nevada and never knew about this. Thanks for the information.

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

The Truckee River branch roughly parallels I-80 - once you pass Fernley you're pretty much seeing what they saw. Cheers!

Truly a renaissance man of culture and taste thank you for sharing.

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching! Cheers!

Thanks for showing that part of the trail.

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

You bet!

this is my kind of video. just what i was looking for. thanks!

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

Glad to hear it!

@jchan5000

8 ай бұрын

@@SteveTRYK cool song too btw!

We enjoyed it very much, thank you!

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

Glad to hear that!

Great 💪Band Dude 🎸☠️really awesome sound and I love the song 🎵🍀🎸❤️💙🇺🇸🇬🇧☠️

@SteveTRYK

10 ай бұрын

Thanks and rock on!!

appreciate bringing history back to life!

@Seventhstream211

8 ай бұрын

love the song! where are the credits? How to download/pay?

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

Thanks! At present the song only exists on our last CD - we kinda broke up before getting it online. However I might find an alternative - let me work on that! Cheers!

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

Thanks for hanging out at my channel!!

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

Your comment inspired me to get our CD up on our Bandcamp page! You can get the song or the CD here. Thanks and cheers! hotrodrebellion.bandcamp.com/

@Seventhstream211

8 ай бұрын

@@SteveTRYK its a great song yeah?!

Thank you for this most interesting video. I'm from California and found myself in Fallon, NV and fell in love with the desert. I used to wander north into the 40 mile desert 4 wheelin' and found at least one of the markers you mentioned in the video. That was Churchill County. I consider myself a Nevadan at heart and appreciate the history lesson. I subscribed and I loved your song and band at the end. Keep up the good content my friend!

@SteveTRYK

9 күн бұрын

Thanks for the comments!

Got my DVD today!thanks Steve

@SteveTRYK

Жыл бұрын

Enjoy - cheers!

Great story telling 🎉

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

Thank you 🤗

Lived in fernley 20 years learned about the donner party in school. Drive passed that sign 14:01 at least once a month. Been binging donner party and related material for two days only now am i putting together that i live essentially directly at the spot wher the donner party found the truckee and their salvation from the desert. Im hiking that 40 mile desert next spring for sure, never been out there beyond shooting and 4x4 in the flats. Literally drive over the old railroad bed to get to where I go shooting. It’s funny you grow up in an area and know so little of its history.

Great song guys 👏👏👏👏👏👏

@SteveTRYK

6 ай бұрын

Rock on!

Enjoyed this video. The closing song sounds like something Neil Young could have done. Enjoyed the closing tune . I wish I could see this part of America for sure. I'll have to check out more of your videos. Thanks and good luck.

@SteveTRYK

6 ай бұрын

I appreciate that you appreciate!

thank u. I really like pioneer history

@SteveTRYK

8 ай бұрын

It's fascinating! Cheers!

Awesome ending tune!

@SteveTRYK

4 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching/listening!