Menu
Three Island Crossing goes smoothly
Despite higher than expected water levels and parasitic moss, all four wagons, outriders and more than a dozen horseback riders made it safely across the rapid Snake River last weekend during the Three Island Crossing reenactment.
Wagon teams and riders made quick work of the Crossing, making it look easy to hundreds of spectators that flocked to Three Island Crossing State Park to witness the annual event.
At age 73, Roy Allen was the oldest participant of the Crossing leading the wagons across the river and up onto the north bank of the river. Allen has been a Crossing participant since its inception 18 years ago. He said this year's Crossing would be his last, but wife, Jean, said she's heard that before!
Noticeably missing from this year's Crossing was veteran wagon master Marv Wootan. Wootan retired from participation this year, and in some ways has handed the reins over to good friend Dale Jeffrey, although the latter shies away from the title "wagon master."
"I'm the apprentice wagon master," Jeffrey says with a smile. "If it weren't for Marv Wootan there wouldn't have been a crossing. He hung in there," despite criticism, skeptics, and hard times, Jeffrey noted, of Wootan, a man he calls his "mentor."
It was Wootan who worked to get Native Americans from Duck Valley to participate in the Crossing.
Symbolically it is Tribal Council Leader, Terry Gibson, spiritual leader Regie Soap and other Duck Valley residents who lead the wagons across the river, just as their ancestors did during the Oregon Trail era.
A bridge between the cultures is being built, said Gibson, who has been involved in the Crossing since his people first started participating back in the early 1990s.
"It (the Crossing) is helping relations," said Gibson, also noting the Oregon Trail History and Education Center's contribution in helping to tell his peoples' side of history, and building a bridge of understanding.
Also crossing the river were Gibson's sons Buster and Ethan. Buster admits that even after several years, the crossing is still scary.
Moss was definitely a factor during this year's Crossing. It tangled in spokes and added substantial weight to the wagons, noted teamster Lloyd Jeffrey, who brought the first wagon across with his team of draft horses.
But despite the sucking moss, Jeffrey proclaimed the Crossing a "Piece of cake." He said the river was deeper than last year, but noted that his horses were now veterans and up to the challenge. Jeffrey praised the efforts of outriders who keep wagons from foundering in "the hole," a section of river known for its propensity for tipping over wagons.
While many of this year's riders and teamsters are veterans, Cheryl Bransford and Marvin Grigg, of Whitebird, were newcomers to the Crossing.
Operators of Yahoo Corrals in McCall, ID. and horse trainers, the two have been preparing for this year's Crossing by swimming their horse team in the Payette and Salmon Rivers.
Cheryl said the "adventure" of crossing the Snake River was one factor that drew her and Grigg to join this year's event.
When asked if she was at all scared during the Crossing, Bransford commented, "when you're out in the middle of the river you don't have time to be scared. You have to focus," on what you're doing.
Bernie and Barbara Shearon, of Jupiter, Florida, were traveling through Glenns Ferry and had stopped for an overnight stay at Three Island State Park when they learned about the Crossing. They decided to extend their visit in order to witness the event.
"It's kind of an exciting event," said Mr. Shearon, "it's good to see that oxen can still pull wagons," he added with a laugh.
"I think it's great that people keep this tradition up," Mrs. Shearon said, noting that she and her husband would definitely be telling their friends about the experience.
It was the first Crossing new Glenns Ferry residents Richard and Diane Roddenberry had experienced. The Roddenberry's have spent the last several years traveling the country in their motorhome.
Mr. Roddenberry compared their travels to that of the pioneers, explaining that life is different when all your belongings are traveling with you. However, he also noted that traveling in an air-conditioned motorhome was better than traveling by oxen team in a covered wagon.
Mr. Roddenberry said he was "very impressed," with the Crossing. "It looked harder than I thought it would be," he said.
"I hope it goes on forever," said Mrs. Roddenberry, a feeling shared by Dale Jeffrey.
But in order for the Crossing to continue, Jeffrey noted, people "need to come forward," especially to take up the reins of the "old guard" teamsters. Jeffrey said that more participants would be needed as old timers hang up their harnesses and retire from the event.
The community needs to rally behind the Crossing, Jeffrey explained. Volunteers to organize the Crossing and various fundraisers are always needed, as are those who help direct traffic, take tickets, sell souvenirs and a myriad of other tasks needed to keep the event and the Three Island Crossing Organization, Inc., alive.
Only a few problems were encountered during this year's Crossing.
Dale Jeffrey's wagon lost its brakes coming down the hillside; outriders attached ropes and were able to prevent a runaway situation.
One outrider took the tip of a finger off as he went to make a dally in order to keep Grigg's wagon from foundering. "But he cowboyed up and finished the job," noted Griggs. And the hitch on the oxen team wagon fell off just after landing.
But despite the high water, the moss, the mishaps, and the absence of veteran wagon master Marv Wootan, this year's event went off without too many problems, and with as much enthusiasm as in year's past, and the promise of future Crossings.