What was life like for the travelers on the Oregon Trail?

Question

justnick09 · Answer

rough

zzelinski · Answer

How so?

anonymous · Answer

They died from Diseases, toxic poisoning from trying inedible plants, infections that could not be contained/controlled, native American Indian attack, drowning while crossing rivers, buffalo stampedes, wagons falling off of mountainsides, wagons breaking, runaway wagons, starvation and dehydration. -via Answers.com-

anonymous · Answer

They could hunt to their heart's content, but they couldn't carry their meat with them because there was no way to perserve it besides salting it/drying it. They had to be careful of other travels that might be hostile (although that was rare), wild animals were a threat, disease and infection as well. 

Plus they had little knowledge of the land they travelled, imagine if you packed up and wandered into the wilderness not entirely sure of where you intended to go.