Independence Rock

One of our 'bucket list' things to do this summer, and for the last couple of years, was to visit Independence Rock.  Lots of history with this particular place.  When we visited Scotts Bluff in Nebraska last year, we learned that the emigrants traveling along the Oregon Trail, California Trail, or the Mormon Trail left Scotts Bluff, stopped at Fort Laramie in Wyoming, then Casper, then to Independence Rock, then onward.  Needed to be at Independence Rock by July 4th in order to make it over the mountains before winter set in. The Pony Express also followed this same route for it's 18 months it was in existence.

We followed the North Platte for only 10 miles or so

And then it disappeared

Looks like sand dunes petrified

The route out of Casper

Once we dropped into Sweetwater valley, saw this marker

The Rock is located about 54 miles southwest of Casper, the trail the emigrants followed was parallel to the North Platte River, breaking off and following the Sweetwater River about 10 miles out of Casper.  If we would have traveled another 50 miles we would have been at South Pass where they traveled the shortcut that Jim Bridger discovered which bypassed the mountains.  We had visited South Pass this past June when we came up the western side of Wyoming.

Route of the emigrants

Sweetwater Valley

First glimpse of Independence Rock

Reminded me of a whale

Experts say there were over 550,000 people who migrated west using this route.  And they had to have stopped at Independence Rock before moving on westward.

Can't believe that the state allows climbing on this rock!

Some names

So many names - many from 1840 to end of 1880's

The Rock is huge - if you walked around the base (which we did) it is one mile.  The highest point is 136 feet.  It is equal in mass to 24.81 acres. Made out of granite but sculpted out of wind and sand, the rock is polished and made it easy to carve names and dates in it which are too numerous to count.
We saw evidence of many names and dates as far back as 1840 when we walked around it.

No marker - not sure who or history

Markers on south side - Boy Scouts did this as memorial

Path around Rock

The name of Independence came from trapper William Sublette when he brought a wagon train of emigrants to this point in 1830, arriving on July 4th, naming the rock in honor of the nation's independence from England.  However, this area was known by the Native Indians and artifacts from 12,000 years ago have been discovered.  The original peoples depended on the resources the Sweetwater provided.  Mountain men would pass through this area traveling from the mountains to the east to bring in their furs for trade.

Learned about Ezra Meeker back in Baker City, Idaho couple years ago

Trails were marked along the Rock

If zoon in can see trail markers, Sweetwater meandering along

Wagon ruts from the emigrants could be seen as we traveled along the road.  How did they do this?  Could you walk 2000 miles in 4 months, in the searing sun, thunderstorms, sickness, often time hungry and thirsty, burying your loved ones as they perished along the trail, taking care of your family's needs and the animals you brought along?  I cannot even walk 2 miles without complaining, amazing.