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LANDER

About 35 miles south of Lander, WY, along Highway 28 is South Pass where the Oregon Trail and Mormon Trail both traversed the Continental Divide. There is no narrow gorge here, nor winding mountain road - this "gap" in the Rockies is a wide broad expanse of several miles over a hill. South Pass crossed over the divide and hence marked the boundary for the then Oregon Territory. Even though the emigrants were a long way from their starting point, there was no reason to celebrate - they still had half the journey remaining toward their final destination, whether it be present-day Oregon or California. Just west of here the Sublette Cutoff later saved 50 miles and a few days travel for the weary, however it did involve more dry desert, and for those who needed to be resupplied, this route bypassed Fort Bridger (see Evanston).

Later, in the late 1860's and 70's, a mining town named South Pass City sprang into life. It's now pretty much a ghost town and tourist site, about 10 miles north of South Pass and east of Hwy 28.