The Oregon Trail
Simulation
You all start off in April
with good weather.
Move ahead 200 miles.
You quickly realize that
you have taken too
much. Leave one item
on the side of the trail
and move ahead 100
miles. If you don’t want
to give something up,
move ahead 25 miles.
Your wagon wheel broke on
the hard prairie earth. If you
remembered to bring tools or
a replacement wheel, move
ahead 200 miles. If you
didn’t bring tools or a
replacement wheel, return to
the nearest town/trading post
to get help. Move back 50
miles.
You meet local
Native Americans and
attempt to trade to resupply. If they are willing
to trade with you, you
may give up one item to
gain one item you need.
either way, move ahead
100 miles.
Cholera strikes the wagon
train. If any of your family
members get sick, you
move ahead 50 miles. If
everyone remains healthy,
move ahead 100 miles.
You have run out of wood
for the campfires. You
need to collect buffalo
chips to burn for fuel. If
you have three or more
people, you can collect
the buffalo chips more
quickly. Move ahead 100
miles. If you have less
than three people, move
ahead 50 miles.
No rain for weeks. If
you brought fresh water
with you, move ahead
150 miles. If you didn’t,
you need to stop to find
fresh water. Move
ahead 50 miles.
You are approaching the
hills leading to the
Rocky Mountains. Your
wagon is sliding
backwards as the trails
get steeper. If you
brought a rope, you can
help pull the wagon.
Move ahead 100 miles.
If you did not bring a
rope, move ahead 50
miles.
You have reached the
Rocky Mountains. Find a
passage through the
mountains and move
ahead 150 miles. If you
get lost finding the
passage, the delay will
cost you 50 miles. If
anyone in your wagon
train brought a map, you
ALL automatically move
ahead 200 miles.
The weather is terrible!
The snow is slowing
you down. If you
brought warm
blankets, move ahead
150 miles. If you
didn’t, find something
in the wagon to set on
fire to keep warm and
move ahead 50 miles
One of your horses
died. Lighten your
wagon. Remove the
heaviest object from
your wagon to lighten
the load. Move ahead
100 miles.
You are out of food. If you
brought a gun, knife, or
fishing pole to get more
food, move ahead 200
miles. If you didn’t, stop to
forage for nuts and berries.
Move ahead 50 miles.
Things are going well
lately. Move ahead 150
miles.
Smallpox strikes! If any
of your family members
die, stop to bury them.
Move ahead only 50
miles. If everyone
survives, move ahead
150 miles.
The wagon must cross a river
and this slows you down.
Move ahead 50 miles.
Check the weather. If
good weather is in your
favor, move ahead 200
miles. If you face bad
weather, move ahead
only 75 miles.
So how far did you get by week 16?!!
The trail is about 2000 miles…
how far do you have to go?