Groovin
by Jon Burch Photography
Title
Groovin
Artist
Jon Burch Photography
Medium
Photograph - Digital Photography
Description
The entrance to Ash Hollow in Nebraska was by way of Windlass Hill, where the Oregon Trail dropped from the high tableland between the rivers into a ravine below which formed Ash Hollow. This 25° slope of 300 feet length was the first really steep grade encountered on the Oregon Trail, and the impression made upon emigrants was particularly vivid. The hill was usually negotiated by rough-locking the wagon wheels and using ropes to carefully lower the wagons. An 1849 emigrant complained that it took three hours to safely descend the hill. The name of Windlass Hill post-dates the emigration period, and there is no evidence that a windlass was ever used to lower wagons down the grade.
The deep ruts to the right of this image indicate a heavily used descent route from countless emigrant wagons as they came down off the precipitous hill.
Some digital effects were applied to the original image after the photograph was made. No electrons were harmed during the transition.
Image copyright 2023 Jon Burch Photography.
Uploaded
April 5th, 2023
Embed
Share
Tags
