Life Along the Applegate Trail

A Tale of Grit and Determination

Herausgeber: Atkins, Elizabeth Ann

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Questa has just buried her dead husband, alone under the blazing desert sun. Chase Gunner has chosen to head West for a better life. Both are venturing along the Applegate Trail in a caravan of covered, ox-drawn wagons. Romance sparks when they meet. Can the chivalrous cowboy win the heart of this beautiful, independent widow? More importantly, will they survive the treacherous journey which is supposed to be safer than following the Oregon Trail westward? Dangerous and perilous better describe the six-month journey over 800 miles as Questa, Chase, and dozens of families brave wild animals and mountains, along with the threat of deadly illness, starvation, and harsh weather. This fictional tale set in 1847 was inspired by the true story of travelers in 1846 who ventured West. Then, 150 years later, their saga inspired history enthusiast Linda Lochard to join a re-enactment of a 51-day trek along the Applegate Trail. Along the way, she experienced the grueling realities of wagon train travel-while learning the tragic and triumphant fates of those on the trail 150 years beforehand. Linda penned Life Along the Applegate Trail: A Tale of Grit and Determination to highlight the travelers' hardships, especially those of women who gave birth in harsh conditions. Romance, humor, and kindness balance the danger and suffering, as this beautifully written story provides a historic peek at people driven by hope for a better future. Combine heart-warming romance, treacherous terrain, anxiety of the unknown, and hope for a better future, and you've got the key ingredients in this historic western adventure about the harsh realities along The Applegate Trail as a wagon train made its way in 1847 across plains, mountains, and rivers where bears and cougars lurked, all with the vision of settling on the pristine land of Oregon. Linda's engaging, suspenseful storytelling puts names, faces, and interesting personalities on this rugged peek back at history that's entertaining and educational all at once. If you love to witness the power of the human spirit to find love and hope while following dreams despite fear and danger, then you need to read this novel. "I wanted to tell a story that highlights the hope that these people had as they traveled into unknown territory while braving harsh weather, bears and cougars, and threats of Indian attacks," says Lochard. "I also wanted to celebrate the strong women who endured tremendous hardships while giving birth and taking care of children and husbands, as well as cooking during their six-month trip through the blazing heat of the desert and the frigid temperatures on the rugged mountain passes."

Weniger Details

Oregon first claimed Linda's heart in 1980 when she and her family moved there. It was no surprise, based on her past involvements in her community, that in 1993 she became very immersed in planning for the Oregon and Applegate Trail celebrations. It was the 150th Anniversary, touted as the Sesquicentennial of each, Oregon in 1993 and Applegate in 1996. Tourism departments throughout the involved states banded together to support events, including a wagon train that started in Winnemucca, Nevada. Linda, being the Visitors and Convention Bureau Director at the time, as well as a member on the Oregon Trail Board of Directors and the Applegate Trail Coalition, was involved in the planning process and support. She traveled on a wagon 31 days during the 51-day trip, as she served as Quartermaster for the west side. There are a number of highway and park markers, as well as museums, that have been built to encourage our communities to learn more of our area history. In 1996, Linda received the Frank Branch Riley Heritage Tourism Award from Travel Oregon, Oregon's Travel & Tourism Industry Award. She decided at that time that she needed to write her own story, as real and as rich as many of the "characters" that she became acquainted with, either by their diaries or the reenactment. Linda moved to Tombstone, Arizona, for about three years, where her love of the West was accelerated. She wandered ghost towns, metal detected on the desert, dressed in historical clothing (many who live there wear period costume when in town), and immersed in the history of the Southwest. A huge part of the "old west" history that caught her interest is that of the Native Americans. She was able to research her Cherokee history and how it related to other tribes that are prevalent in both the South, as well as the Northwest. She still dances in POW WOW's and proudly wears her heritage. Linda lives in Southern Oregon, where she spends her time enjoying dancing, reading, gardening, attending POW WOW's and, of course, writing. This is Linda's first novel.