Travel Routes to California. -http://stew.estes-eastes.org
Traveling by land
Traveling by land was one of the options to get to California. It
was the most dangerous way to get there but was cheaper than going by sea. It
was still extremely expensive. Because most of the gold seekers had to travel
thousands of miles they needed oxen, a wagon, food that would not spoil and
enough to last many months, weapons, bedding, clothing, matches, cooking
utensils, mining gear, bedding, and a tent. Some took the Oregon trail to Salt
Lake City and then went to California, while others took the Santa Fe Trail to
Santa Fe and went on to California. Traveling by land was difficult. For
example, storms on the plains swelled the streams creating rapid currents
causing many to drown. Occasionally on the trail someone would get thrown from
their wagon and crushed under the wheels. When the Forty-niner’s reached the
Rocky Mountains the extreme heat worn down the oxen and mules and they were
forced to throughout supplies to lighten the load. Water was hard to find.
Another threat for the Forty-niner’s was disease like Cholera which struck many
and killed quickly.
Travel by sea
Most gold seekers who lived on the east coast traveled to
California by sea. There were two routes available. One was down the Atlantic
Ocean, around Cape Horn (tip of South America), and up the Pacific Coast to
California. This route took from 4 to 9 months. The other route was a sea trip
to Central America, an overland trip to the Pacific Ocean, and another sea trip
up the Pacific Coast to California. This route took from 2 to 3 months. The
trip around Cape Horn was very hard. It was extremely hot by the equator and
freezing by the Antarctic. Living on the ships was dirty, smelly, and crowded.
Food often spoiled. The drinking water had to be mixed with vinegar to be safe
to drink. Many of the Forty-niner’s got scurvy, a disease caused by the lack of
vitamin C.
Below is a chart showing the cost to travel to California. - found in the book "How to Get Rich in the California Gold Rush"
by Tod Olson.
Traveling by land
Traveling by land was one of the options to get to California. It
was the most dangerous way to get there but was cheaper than going by sea. It
was still extremely expensive. Because most of the gold seekers had to travel
thousands of miles they needed oxen, a wagon, food that would not spoil and
enough to last many months, weapons, bedding, clothing, matches, cooking
utensils, mining gear, bedding, and a tent. Some took the Oregon trail to Salt
Lake City and then went to California, while others took the Santa Fe Trail to
Santa Fe and went on to California. Traveling by land was difficult. For
example, storms on the plains swelled the streams creating rapid currents
causing many to drown. Occasionally on the trail someone would get thrown from
their wagon and crushed under the wheels. When the Forty-niner’s reached the
Rocky Mountains the extreme heat worn down the oxen and mules and they were
forced to throughout supplies to lighten the load. Water was hard to find.
Another threat for the Forty-niner’s was disease like Cholera which struck many
and killed quickly.
Travel by sea
Most gold seekers who lived on the east coast traveled to
California by sea. There were two routes available. One was down the Atlantic
Ocean, around Cape Horn (tip of South America), and up the Pacific Coast to
California. This route took from 4 to 9 months. The other route was a sea trip
to Central America, an overland trip to the Pacific Ocean, and another sea trip
up the Pacific Coast to California. This route took from 2 to 3 months. The
trip around Cape Horn was very hard. It was extremely hot by the equator and
freezing by the Antarctic. Living on the ships was dirty, smelly, and crowded.
Food often spoiled. The drinking water had to be mixed with vinegar to be safe
to drink. Many of the Forty-niner’s got scurvy, a disease caused by the lack of
vitamin C.
Below is a chart showing the cost to travel to California. - found in the book "How to Get Rich in the California Gold Rush"
by Tod Olson.