road road inception mount hood road historic road state oregon built authorization served overland segment oregon trail construction allowed covered wagons cross cascade range reach valley previously nearly impossible far miles nearly mile oregon trail opening road pioneers traveling land east followed oregon trail mission floated expensive journey possible drive livestock north mount hood trail rugged vehicles unsuitable wagons road begins heads south consider beginning turns west roughly parallels north west crosses south shoulder mount hood pass follows camp creek way finally leads road rendered largely irrelevant early 1900s construction mount hood highway exists dirt road places parts paved new modern streets highways planning construction arrived late september families waiting river transport expected wait days transportation priced local inquiries turned little information traveling mountains water timber grazing plentiful set determine feasibility route seeking expensive way valley decided impractical miles returned forged train seven wagons intending return river transport mountain passage proved impractical october men scouted ahead company entered foothills east near miles mouth came miles thought valley learned indians trail leading returned creek days departure waiting wagon party followed better route returned exploring area combined company organized road clearing forest burning clearing party ridge known effectively lost man named lock south face west scout westward route mountain better physical condition companions climbed high likely took detailed notes surrounding ridges rivers returned group arranged guards wagons place named fort deposit families wagons ill suited travel wilderness remained fort deposit remainder returned group followed west foot noted intersection trail coming way north mount hood previously overland trail traversed pioneers near present day city sandy turned southwest reach farm near present day autumn considered route mountains petitioned permission build road december claiming estimated cost lower familiar route permission granted vote december approved speaker pro signed law governor road toll authorized years effective january specified toll rates dollars week wages wagon cents head horse ass cattle grant named route mount hood road immediately known road road built financial backing crew men toll gates eventually built route estimate number trees cut forgotten numerous challenging bridges built rivers sandy white salmon white river continues challenge bridges day season operation recorded passage wagons sheep horses cattle despite ongoing maintenance general condition road considered vary rough barely early use direction travel effectively way better road laurel hill despite expense difficulties passage road popular thousand immigrants wagons recorded year operation approximately quarters pioneers entering valley traveled road remainder choosing route concession expired foster terminated largely partnership november continued operate toll road weather mountain conditions financial struggle toll decreased wagon team military wagon train destined oregon forts passed road carried tons munitions wagons pulled beginning road camp soldiers known abandoned wagons dozens died starvation later use historic designations owners operated road ownership passed purchased company improvements road attorney owner death dispute contentious shaped race governor oregon joseph wife donated road people oregon designated path idaho pacific_ocean route approved signage prairie schooner modern travelers navigate entire oregon trail including road named road placed national_register_of_historic_places historic district incorporated mount hood scenic oregon trail road segment small segment alternate route near separately listed rock road road near separately listed today western route follows route south follows valley west road route route concurrent miles southern end oregon route mount hood highway intact dirt road roughly north south stretch portions feet deep easternmost original road traverses area follows small roads trails finally north areas east sparsely populated good viewing possible grave near bennett pass places buried overall percent road visible today marker trail laurel hill west provides history access portion percent grade present early road wagons lowered hill ropes wrapped trees
Barlow Road