lly become cramped with hundreds of people waiting to move west. Settlers camped at this area waiting for the grass to grow. One settler commented that if one were to head west too early the grass would be too short for the animal to graze upon. This mistake could be fatal. Sometimes the settlers would wait three to four weeks for it to rain so the grass would grow on the plains. In the down time most settlers bought supplies and double-checked their wagons. Beginning their voyage, the settlers headed west across the Great Plains. Many settlers commented that the soil initially seemed to be fertile, later saying this fertility was not equal throughout the area. Members of Stuart's party reported that the rugged hills were bad for farming but made excellent grazing for cattle. In this area timber was rather abundant as Stuart mentioned the presence of several trees including the Cottonwood, Sycamore, and the Ash. Others mentioned the game in which the land supported, specifically mentioning Elk, Deer, and Turkeys. The pioneers continued west, tra
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