The westward movement of Americans during the formation of the nation was one of adventure, great hardship, and ultimately, conflict with the native peoples who occupied the land. Opportunity was the fuel that drove the westward migration. It began with the opportunity to farm the land, which had much fertile soil. At the same time the land was being harnessed for agricultural production, it was also being explored by trappers who harvested the abundance of animal life to feed a growing demand for fur products. The westward expansion was populated mainly by people of European descent whose culture differed greatly from those of the native peoples, ultimately resulting in conflict. The westward migration took many lives. The hardships were real, the dangers ever-present, and the necessity of self-sufficiency was a stark reality. There were no roads, only animal trails, and most travel was by foot. This narrative opens a descriptive window onto the hardships of those travels.