What are some of the do's and don'ts for the pioneers that wanted to cross Platte River?

Question

wat should/shouldnt they do to successfully cross the platte river.

Answer 1

The usual place for fording the Platte was at the south fork of the river. At this point, the river was about a half-mile wide, with a sandy bottom shallow enough to be visible. At the right time of year, the water was generally an average of less than two feet deep here. The banks were soft sand. The oxen would drag the wagons through this sand and into the water. Because of the sandy bottom, the footing could be a bit erratic. Sometimes the water would barely cover the oxen's hooves and the wagon wheeels. Other times the water would be swift and turbulant, and would come up over the sides of the wagon or up through the bottom and drench the goods within. Sometimes the wheels would sink and stick in the sandy bottom, and sometimes the wagons would be lifted clear of the bottom and float on the water. Travelers have mentioned seeing discarded furniture on the banks of the Platte -- perhaps things damaged in the crossing or perhaps things discarded to lighten the wagon and get it out of the sand. For a description of a crossing of the Platte, see Francis Parkman's book The Oregon Trail, Chapter 8, the first few pages of the chapter. In general, the "do's" seem to have been: Cross at the south fork, at a time when the water level is shallow and the water quiet. Try to make the wagon as water-tight as possible and secure all goods before crossing. The "don't's" were to beware of the soft sand and try not to get stuck in it.

Answer 2

There is 5 different states that connect to the Platte River. You will have to go to www.google.com and see if you can find what you want.Good luck.