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Hattie's Pa holds up a pamphlet called, The Emigrant's Guide to Oregon and California, written by Lansford W. Hastings and tells the family he wants to "start a new life" in Oregon (pg. 7).

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Hattie tells the reader that President James K. Polk had promised to make Oregon and California territories of the United States (pg. 8). He also promoted the idea of manifest destiny, the belief that it was the destiny of the U.S. to acquire all western territories.

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Aunt June received a letter from her friend, Narcissa Whitman, who had moved to Oregon ten years earlier. She founded a mission near Fort Walla Walla, Oregon with her husband, Dr. Marcus Whitman (pg. 9).

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Hattie's family arrives in Independence, Missouri to buy last-minute supplies, repair wagons, and get ready for the Oregon Trail (pg. 13).

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Hattie heard about the Donner Party tragedy where an emigrant wagon train got trapped in a blizzard high in the Sierra Nevada Mountains near California. Many people froze or starved to death. Hattie felt scared to take the trip on the Oregon Trail after hearing about the tragedy (pg. 16).

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Hattie's wagon train approached Chimney Rock for two long days. She described it as "a huge pile of rocks with what looks like a stone chimney rising up from its center" (pg. 63).

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Hattie's wagon train reached Scott's Bluff. She wrote "the bluff hugs the river so close we had to steer the wagons aside and pull around it, up a rocky ridge." Tall Joe said it was named after the fur trader, Hiram Scott (pg. 64).

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Hattie's wagon train reached Fort Laramie. She noticed that "Indians were camped everywhere! But I looked at them careful and did not see any trouble brewing" (pg. 65).

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Hattie's wagon train approaches Independence Rock. Hattie says, "some boys raced each other up, then fired pistols in the air to celebrate." (pg. 77)

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Hattie climbed to the top of Devil's Gate for a view. She wrote, "it was spectacular, but it made my stomach turn to look over the ledge, the river was so far down" (pg. 80).

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Hattie's wagon train reached the Sweetwater River at the end of June. It is the next landmark that Hattie passes after Independence Rock. Tall Joe said it got it's name from a few trappers who attempted to get their mules across the river during a storm. One of the mules had a pack that carried 300 pounds of sugar and when the saddle broke, all the sugar fell into the river. (Page 83)

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Hattie passed South Pass which showed her she is nearly halfway to Oregon. Hattie's wagon train is having a celebration. She wrote: "Tall Joe says we've come near 900 miles - that means we're almost halfway to Oregon! There are cheers and singing and gunshots." (Pg 85)

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Hattie and her family arrive at Pacific Creek. The whole wagon train celebrates and rests there. Hattie says, "It's a wondrous feeling to think we are finally in the West.  Now the rivers and streams flow to the Pacific Ocean instead of eastward toward the Atlantic." (pg. 86)

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Hattie reached Sandy Creek where the trail split. She wrote, "Tall Joe said there's a shortcut heading north that's save seven days. But it's 50 miles of desert, no trees, no water or grass for the animals." Some families split and headed north along the Sublette Cutoff, maybe to reach Oregon a week earlier than the rest of them. Hattie and the rest of her wagon train took the safer route and swung southwest down to Fort Bridger. (pg. 87)

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Hattie's wagon train arrives at Fort Bridger. While there she saw Jim Bridger himself. Tall Joe lifted his hat out of respect. He said, "Jim Bridger has got a map of the entire western continent stored in his brain, every river, mountain, and tree stump practically" (pg. 91)

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Hattie tells that Fort Bridger is "as busy as fort Laramie, but not as many Indians" (pg. 91).  This Fort was founded by Jim Bridger and Louis Vasquez in 1843. This was an important trading post although many people thought it was too expensive. (pg. 91)

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Hattie describes Fort Hall as the usual fort with dirty mountain men and plenty of Indians. Hattie says that "Aunt June was excited to see this trading post because Narcissa Whitman had been here and wrote to her about it." (pg. 101)

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One half of Sheep Rock stands tall like a stone wall. Pine trees surround the big rock and there are many mountain sheep among the rock. "Tall Joe said that back in '42, John C. Fremont explored this place and named it Sheep Rock". (Pg. 96)

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Hattie and her family arrive at Fort Boise and decide to stay there for a few days. They restock on supplies and take a few days to rest, but dangerous rivers are surrounding the fort. (pg 114)

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Hattie arrives at Thousand Springs in early August. She describes it as "a waterfall pouring out of a hole in the canyon wall, like a spout in a teapot. Pa said it flows from underground and is called Thousand Springs, but where it starts is a mystery." This is also the site of Mr. Kenker's death. (Pg. 110)