“Weather Along the Trails”

In the 1840s and 50s it was estimated nearly one-half million emigrants traveled the Oregon, Mormon and California trails. Each pioneer had one common, constant companion: the weather. Meteorologist Chris Jones with the National Weather Service will discuss the various challenges the weather posed – spring rains, a drier climate, wind, thunderstorms and autumn snows – for these brave settlers of the West. A portion of this multimedia presentation will attempt to reconstruct the fateful snowstorm encountered by the Willie and Martin Handcart companies.