The Oregon Trail: 5th Edition – Windows Manual – English

®

User’s Guide

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

1

ABOUT RIVERDEEP - THE LEARNING COMPANY
Riverdeep - The Learning Company provides highly motivating, dynamic,
curriculum-based Internet and CD-ROM learning experiences for children in
Kindergarten through 12th grade. Our products feature interactive, problemsolving approaches and real-world applications that help develop your
child’s underlying thinking skills and creativity, while reinforcing important
areas of the basic curriculum, such as reading, writing, and mathematics.
Since 1980, The Learning Company’s award-winning titles have consistently
produced the highest quality educational software available. Every product
under the Oregon Trail brand undergoes extensive research and testing, with
input from parents, children, and professionals in education. Each product
features a precise balance of educational content and entertainment value, so
your child has fun while learning!

© 2001, 2002 Riverdeep Interactive Learning Limited, and its licensors. All rights reserved.
Uses Miles Sound System. Copyright © 1991–2001 RAD Game Tools. Uses Bink Video
Technology. Copyright © 1997–2001 by RAD Game Tools, Inc. Adobe® Acrobat® © 2001
Adobe Systems Incorporated. The Learning Company and The Oregon Trail are registered
trademarks and Adventures Along the Oregon Trail is a trademark of Riverdeep Interactive
Learning Limited. Windows and Win are either registered trademarks or trademarks of
Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Pentium is either a
registered trademark or trademark of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.
Macintosh and Mac are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Adobe and Acrobat
are trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated. All other trademarks are the property of
their respective owners.
DirectX is a proprietary tool of Microsoft Corporation and its suppliers and may only be
used in conjunction with Microsoft operating system products. All intellectual property
rights in the DirectX are owned by Microsoft Corporation and its suppliers and are
protected by United States copyright laws and international treaty provisions. Copyright
© 2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

2

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Hardware & System Requirements ................................................................................ 4
Setting Up & Starting the Program ................................................................................. 4
Installing the Program .................................................................................................... 4
Starting the Program ...................................................................................................... 5
Using the TLC Learning Launcher .................................................................................. 7
Educational Focus ............................................................................................................... 8
Program Overview .............................................................................................................. 9
Starting the Game ............................................................................................................. 12
Quick Start ..................................................................................................................... 13
Creating Your Character .............................................................................................. 13
Buying Supplies ............................................................................................................ 15
Starting on the Trail ...................................................................................................... 14
Traveling on the Trail ....................................................................................................... 17
Consulting Your Resources ......................................................................................... 17
Maps ........................................................................................................................... 18
Guidebook ................................................................................................................. 18
Glossary ..................................................................................................................... 19
Other People ............................................................................................................. 19
The Montgomery Family ........................................................................................ 20
Checking Your Wagon Party’s Status ......................................................................... 21
Health ........................................................................................................................ 21
Wagon and Supplies ................................................................................................ 22
Turning Around ................................................................................................... 22
Managing Your Supplies .................................................................................... 22
Rationing Food ............................................................................................... 23
Buying More Items ......................................................................................... 23
Trading for Supplies ....................................................................................... 23
Hunting ............................................................................................................ 24
Gathering ......................................................................................................... 24
Fishing .............................................................................................................. 25
Lightening Your Load .................................................................................... 26
Overcoming Obstacles ................................................................................................. 27
Rivers ......................................................................................................................... 27
Deserts ....................................................................................................................... 28
Hills ............................................................................................................................ 28
Stopping along the Trail ............................................................................................... 28
Major Landmarks and Rivers ................................................................................. 28
Towns, Forts, and Trading Posts ............................................................................ 28
Returning to the Trail ............................................................................................... 29
Pausing and Saving the Game ............................................................................... 29
Recording Your Journey ............................................................................................... 29
Saving and Printing Your Diary ............................................................................. 30
Finishing the Trail ............................................................................................................ 30
Appendices
A: Program Menus ........................................................................................................ 31
B: Historical Facts ......................................................................................................... 32
C: Additional Resources ............................................................................................... 33
Troubleshooting ................................................................................................................ 35
Windows® ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 35
Macintosh® .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 37
Contacting The Learning Company .............................................................................. 40
Credits ................................................................................................................................. 41

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

3

HARDWARE & SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS*
Macintosh® version
Windows® version
Runs on: PC and compatibles—
Pentium® 166 MHz or faster

Runs on: PowerPC® Macintosh
computers—180 MHz or faster

With:

With:

■

■

■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■

32 MB of memory (RAM)
Hard disk with 120 MB of free
disk space**
8X or faster CD-ROM drive
16-bit color monitor capable
of 800 x 600 resolution
Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000,***
and XP***
Windows-compatible sound card
DirectX 8.0 or higher (will be
installed if needed)
DirectX-compatible video card
Windows-compatible mouse

Recommended:

■
■
■
■
■

32 MB of memory (RAM)
Hard disk with 120 MB of free
disk space**
8X or faster CD-ROM drive
Thousands colors, 800 x 600
resolution
System 8.6 or higher
Mouse

Recommended:
■

Browser, such as Netscape
Navigator 4.0 or Microsoft
Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher
■ 28.8 Kbps or faster modem
■ Printer (color preferred)

■

Browser, such as Netscape
Navigator® 4.0 or Microsoft®
Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher
■ 28.8 Kbps or faster modem
■ Printer (color preferred)
*In the interest of product improvement, information and specifications represented here
are subject to change without notice.
**An additional 7 MB of disk space may be required to install Adobe® Acrobat Reader®.
An additional 30 MB of disk space may be required to install DirectX. Additional hard disk
space may also be required to save information for more than five players.
***If you are running Windows 2000 or Windows XP, you must have administrative
privileges to install this program correctly.

SETTING UP & STARTING THE PROGRAM
Oregon Trail 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail runs from your
CD-ROM drive. However, you need 120 MB of free hard disk space to store
some program files.

Installing the Program
Some program files for Oregon Trail 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon
Trail will be installed on your computer. If needed, the TLC
Macintosh®Learning Launcher will also be installed on your computer.
Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

4

WINDOWS®
AutoPlay is usually enabled when you install Windows on your computer.
(See your Windows documentation for more information.)
To install the program with AutoPlay on:
1. Insert the program CD into your CD-ROM drive.
2. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the setup process. Once
you’ve completed the setup, the program will run automatically any time
you insert the program CD into the CD-ROM drive.
To install the program with AutoPlay off:
1. Insert the program CD into your CD-ROM drive.
2. Double-click on My Computer.
3. Double-click on the CD-ROM icon.
4. Double-click on Play.
5. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the setup process.

MACINTOSH®
To install the program with the AutoPlay extension on:
1. Insert the program CD into your CD-ROM drive.
2. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the setup process.
To install the program with the AutoPlay extension off:
1. Insert the program CD into your CD-ROM drive.
2. Double-click on the Oregon Trail 5 icon in the open window.
3. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the setup process.

Starting the Program
WINDOWS®
To start the program with AutoPlay on:
1. Insert the program CD into your CD-ROM drive.
2. At the TLC Learning Launcher, click on Play.
There are two ways to start the program with AutoPlay turned off. You can
choose to follow either set of instructions.
To start the program with AutoPlay off (Option 1):
1. Insert the program CD into your CD-ROM drive.
2. Double-click on My Computer.
3. Double-click on the CD-ROM icon.
4. Double-click on Play.
5. At the TLC Learning Launcher, click on Play.

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

5

To start the program with AutoPlay off (Option 2):
1. Insert the program CD into your CD-ROM drive.
2. Click on the Start button. Then choose Programs, The Learning
Company, Oregon Trail, and Adventures Along the Trail in that order.
3. At the TLC Learning Launcher, click on Play.

MACINTOSH®
To start the program with the AutoPlay extension on:
1. Insert the program CD into your CD-ROM drive.
2. At the TLC Learning Launcher, click on Play.
To start the program with the AutoPlay extension off:
1. Insert the program CD into your CD-ROM drive.
2. Double-click on the program icon.
3. At the TLC Learning Launcher, click on Play.

Click here to access
this program’s user’s
guide.
Click here to
go to the
Montgomery
Journal.

Click here to begin
your adventure.

Click here to turn
background music on
or off.
Click here to turn
sound effects on
or off.
Click here to
exit the
program.
Click here
to go to the TLC
Home area.

Click here to
uninstall this
product.

Click here
to go to the New!
area.
Click here to get
technical support.

Click here to learn about other programs from
The Learning Company.

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

6

USING THE TLC LEARNING LAUNCHER
The TLC Learning Launcher is your gateway to Adventures Along the Oregon Trail and
other programs from The Learning Company.
If you are not yet ready to begin playing Adventures Along the Oregon Trail, take some
time to explore the other areas of the TLC Learning Launcher. The TLC Learning
Launcher provides an innovative interface with convenient tools to update and organize
your Learning Company educational software through The Learning Company’s secure
server. On the Automatic setting, the launcher will ask if you would like to receive an
update. On the Manual setting, you can click on the New! button any time you want to
receive the latest updates.
Note: The online services advertised as part of this product may be changed or
discontinued at any time.

Click here to go
to the Parents
area.
Click here to
go to the My
CD-ROMs
area.

Click here to
visit
TLCKids.com
on the Web.

MY CD-ROMS AREA
If you have purchased and installed other products from The Learning Company, you
may be able to access those products in the My CD-ROMs area.

PARENTS AREA
Go to the Parents area to learn more information about the TLC Learning Launcher.
Here you can change the Launcher setting to manual. You can also find out which
products from The Learning Company are appropriate for different age groups.

TLC KIDS.COM
In the TLC Kids.com area, be on the lookout for fun movies and demos of new
products. You may also find updates that you can download for your program.

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

7

EDUCATIONAL FOCUS
Westward ho! Oregon Trail 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail,
combines an engaging simulated experience of westward migration with
stories of historic events and people. These stories are shared by mountain
guide Captain Jed Freedman. Traveling with Captain Jed are the Montgomery
children: Jimmy (10), Cassie (13), and Parker (15), who provide a living
history and a better understanding of life in the mid-1800s, when over 300,000
emigrants headed west across the United States.
Through gameplay, students can strengthen skills in math, language arts,
and logical reasoning. In addition to teaching history and geography, Oregon
Trail 5th Edition complements the social studies curriculum for students ages
9 and up. It also enhances the students’ understanding of some of the diverse
cultural issues prevalent in the 19th century.
The challenge of the simulation experience varies depending on the skill level
chosen by each player—Greenhorn, Adventurer, or Trail Guide. Regardless
of the skill level that is chosen, careful planning and decision-making are
necessary for the trek west, as students track their health, food and financial
resources. Deductive reasoning is used to determine when to trade, buy, or
leave supplies behind in order to arrive safely in Oregon, the Salt Lake Valley,
or California. Every choice has a consequence, and players learn to research
and strategize as they make decisions regarding occupation or dates of travel.
In order to replenish depleting inventories of food in the journey, players
hunt, fish, and learn to recognize edible and poisonous plants. Dangers are
everywhere. Disease, weather delays, and river crossings are a few of the
many obstacles student pioneers may face.
Journals, maps, and guidebooks written by early emigrants were very helpful
to the settlers traveling across the plains. Similarly, in Oregon Trail 5th Edition,
Adventures Along the Oregon Trail, the Montgomery Journal, maps, and the
Oregon Trail Guidebook can weave meaningful historical facts and faces into
the Oregon Trail story. As students experience personal challenges and reach
milestones in their westward journey, they can create their own tales of
adventure in their own diaries to print and share.

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

8

PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Welcome to Oregon Trail 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail. Prepare
to follow the path of other courageous pioneers in the westward expansion
of 1840 to 1860. Through this program, you will travel the Oregon, California,
or Mormon trail as an emigrant, relying on your Guidebook, recording your
thoughts in a Diary, facing daily dangers, and bringing your wagon party across
the continent. You will also have the opportunity to follow the Montgomery
family—Parker, Cassie, and Jimmy—and their guide, Captain Jed Freedman,
as they make their way west on the Oregon Trail. (See The Montgomery Family.)

Game Highlights
Oregon Trail 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail has two main
sections which are interwoven throughout the game. The first is the trail
adventure, the survival game that children have enjoyed for the past 30 years,
in which the player becomes a character in a wagon train heading west.
A new section of the product tells the story of the Montgomery family and
Captain Jed Freedman—fictional characters created from many historical
documents and diaries. The Montgomery family consists of three children,
ages 10, 13, and 15, who, in order to reunite with their father, are traveling
from Missouri to Oregon in 1848 with the help of trail guide Captain Jed.
Their story is told in the journal that they keep along the trail, which is
highlighted by twelve animated adventure scenes.
This story about the Montgomery family gives players a better understanding
of life on the trail, making their experience in the simulation adventure
more engaging and meaningful. While traveling on the trail, players will
periodically see animated scenes of the Montgomery children. Players can
also go to the Montgomery screen at any time during the game by clicking
on the Montgomery button. They can then access all of the Montgomery
information—the Montgomery Journal, animated scenes from their life on
the trail, and Captain Jed’s campfire tales. (See The Montgomery Family.)
Both sections of the product are described in detail later in this user’s guide.
The following are short descriptions that highlight each section’s key features.

THE TRAIL ADVENTURE SECTION
The Guidebook
The Guidebook is the player’s main resource for information about the trail.
It contains information about routes, landmarks, clothing, supplies, medicine,
plants, animals, and many Native American tribes. The information in the
Guidebook is specific to the year in which the player is travelling, as names,
places, and conditions changed between 1840 to 1860.
The Guidebook functions as a historical reference manual, written in
age-appropriate language. It is accessible by clicking on the Guidebook
button. (See Guidebook.)

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

9

The Player’s Diary
The Diary allows players to keep their own record of their adventure by
using a simple word processing program. The game keeps track of dates and
occasionally adds relevant passages. The Diary can be exported and printed
by selecting Export Diary from the File menu. It is accessed by clicking on the
Diary button. (See Recording Your Journey.)

The Glossary
The Glossary gives descriptions of the key words and names used in the
program. It has a search capability that makes it easy to use. The Glossary
is accessed by selecting Glossary from the Game menu. (See Glossary.)

The Overview Map
Players can look at the overview map to see the current location of historical
landmarks in relation to modern states’ boundaries. The overview map is
accessed by selecting View Map from the Game menu. (See Maps.)

THE MONTGOMERY SECTION
The Montgomery Journal
The Montgomery Journal is the Montgomery children’s record of their trip in
1848. It offers personal and historical details, telling a realistic and compelling
story. Each of the twelve animated Montgomery adventures—including Captain
Jed’s campfire tales—has a corresponding journal entry. The combination of
tales, text, and Jimmy’s sketches gives players a multi-faceted experience.
The Montgomery Journal and its accompanying sketches can be printed by
clicking on Montgomery Journal at the launcher screen and choosing Print
from the File menu. (See Launcher Screen.) Since the journal is written in ageappropriate language, it makes an excellent lesson in reading and history.
The Montgomery Journal is accessed in the program by clicking on the
Journal button at the Montgomery screen. (See The Montgomery Journal.)

Captain Jed’s Campfire Tales
Oregon Trail 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail provides six
animated stories told by Captain Jed around the campfire. Captain Jed’s
campfire tales cover the following topics:
■
■
■
■
■
■

Tale 1: History of the Oregon Trail (Santa Fe Trail)
Tale 2: The Donner Party
Tale 3: Mountain man Jim Bridger
Tale 4: Fur trappers and the trapper Rendezvous
Tale 5: The Gold Rush
Tale 6: Native Americans

Each campfire tale can be seen at any time by clicking on its icon on the
Montgomery screen. When a tale finishes, the Montgomery Journal will
automatically open to the corresponding entry.
Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

10

Montgomery Adventure Movies
Oregon Trail 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail also includes six
dramatic scenes from the Montgomery family’s trip. These adventure movies
cover the following topics:
■
■
■
■
■
■

Movie 1: Arriving from St. Louis (opening movie)
Movie 2: Captain Jed and the Montgomery children beginning their
journey
Movie 3: Jimmy getting bitten by a rattlesnake
Movie 4: Cassie meeting Native Americans
Movie 5: Parker saving the wagon
Movie 6: Reuniting with Pa in Oregon

Each short movie can be seen at any time by clicking on its icon on the
Montgomery screen. When a movie finishes, the Montgomery Journal will
automatically open to the corresponding entry.

How to Play the Game
First create your character and select your wagon party. (See Creating Your
Character.) The occupation you choose determines the amount of cash you
have at the start. The skills you choose affect your success in overcoming
obstacles and achieving your goal—a new life in the new territories.
You will also choose a starting time and place for your westward trek.
The program presents a realistic experience of life on the trail, which changes
from year to year. During the early years, there were few conveniences along
the way. Later years offered more choices in the jumping-off towns and
possible routes, but they also offered greater risk of going astray as the trails
multiplied.
If you travel as a Greenhorn, the easiest level, you are responsible for your
wagon and wagon party, but you can rely on the captain of the wagon train
for all of the major decisions. If you want a more challenging game, travel
as an Adventurer. You will be elected captain of the wagon train. The role
of Trail Guide offers the greatest challenge and tests your ability to make
tough decisions and find your way among the many trails leading west.
After creating your character, you will head to town to buy supplies.
(See Buying Supplies.) The local merchants offer a basic set of supplies, or
you can buy your own, relying on your Guidebook for advice on the things
every traveler needs. (See Guidebook.) You will also find trading posts and
individuals to trade with along the way, although prices rise as you travel
further west. Once your party is equipped, you’re ready to find a wagon
train and head out on the trail. (See Starting on the Trail.) Along the trail, you
will stop at rivers and other major landmarks; face unexpected delays from
broken wagon parts, bad weather, and disease; and have the opportunity to
enjoy many fine sights and meet interesting people. (See Traveling on the Trail.)

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

11

You will always stop at major landmarks and places that require a decision.
You can also choose to stop when you need supplies or when you want to
have a look around. (See Stopping along the Trail.)
Your Main Travel screen keeps you up-to-date on the weather, miles traveled,
and your location. From this screen, you can check your supplies, inquire about
the health of the people in your party, and open the Diary or Guidebook.
As you encounter a landmark or a major event, you will be given a series
of options, including asking someone else for advice. Based on the advice
you hear, your best judgment, and the information you glean from the
Guidebook, you will choose one of the options and see what happens next.
(Unlike the real emigrants, you can also pause the game to ponder the
situation.)
If you are successful in reaching your destination, you will receive a deed to
a plot of land or have a chance to prospect for gold—your first step in setting
up a new life in the western territories. You’ll also learn the concluding story
of your character, and your name may be entered in the list of people with
the highest scores. (See Finishing the Trail.)
Then you’re ready to travel the trail again—choosing a different year, trying
out a new occupation or role, and using new strategies for life on the trail.

STARTING THE GAME

Click here to return
to a game that you
saved earlier.

Click here
to start a
new game.

Click here to let the program create a
character profile for you so you can start
on the trail right away. (See Quick Start.)

After starting a new game, you must first create your character and
then go to your jumping-off town to buy supplies. Once you’re outfitted
for the trip, you’ll be ready to start out on the trail!
If you prefer, you can skip the character creation process by clicking on
QUICK START. Once you enter your character’s name, the program will create
a profile that includes your character’s profession, traveling companions, and
supplies. You can then begin your trail adventure right away.

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

12

Quick Start
If you choose to start the game with Quick Start, the program will select your
occupation, starting point/date, destination, and companions. It will also
provide you with a set of supplies and hook you up with a wagon train.
Click here to have
the program create
a different character
profile for you.

Type in your
name here.
Look here to read
about the character
profile the program
created for you.

Click here to begin
your trail adventure
with the character
profile created by
the program.

Click here to go
back to the Starting
the Game screen.

Creating Your Character
Create your character by typing in your name and using the pull-down
lists to select your occupation, starting date, and so on. The skill level you
choose—Greenhorn, Adventurer, or Trail Guide—affects the difficulty of
your game. When you have finished creating your character, click on Travel
the Trail! to head to town and begin your journey.
Click here to see
a description of
the skill levels.
(See Roles.)

Type in your name here.

Choose your skill level.
(See Roles.)
Choose an occupation.
(See Occupations.)

Click here to see
a list of occupations,
including the special
advantages, starting
cash, and bonus
points of each one.
(See Occupations.)
Click here to see a
map of the main trails.
Click here to
choose from a list
of skills that you
can use along the
trail. (See Skills.)
After you’ve finished creating your
character, click here to head to town
and start your journey.

Set your starting date.
(Note: Travel during
the early years is more
difficult, but you will
earn more points if you
reach your destination.)
Choose a jumping-off
town and destination.
(Note: Jumping-off
towns may be limited
by the year you
choose to start out.)
Choose a wagon.
(Be sure to consult
your Guidebook for
advice on wagons.
See Guidebook.)

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

13

Type in the names
of the people who
will travel with you.

Choose the number
of people in your
wagon party.
Set the ages
for the people in
your wagon party.

Click here to go to
the Guidebook and
receive advice about
your journey. (See
Guidebook.)

ROLES AND OCCUPATIONS
The role and occupation you choose at the beginning of your game sets
your level of play. The role you choose affects the types of decisions you will
make on the trail and the level of challenge you will face. The occupation you
choose affects the amount of money you have to spend and the skills you can
use on the trip.

Roles
You can play any one of the following roles in your wagon train.
Greenhorn

Adventurer

Trail Guide

Travel as a member of the wagon train. You will manage
your own wagon and rely on the train captain for decisions
that affect the whole train.
Be elected captain of the wagon train. You must make many
decisions along the way to bring the train successfully to
your destination point.
Hire on as a professional, employed by the wagon train.
You must choose the route and make all decisions faced
by the wagon train. As a professional, the people in your
train will expect a lot from you.

Occupations
The occupation you choose is important. It determines how much money
you have for buying supplies, how successful you are at overcoming
problems along the trail, and your final score. The poor teacher travels on
a shoestring budget but will receive a generous bonus at the end of the trail
because of the demand for teachers in the new settlements. In contrast, the
wealthy banker begins the trail with more resources—plenty of cash, and
skills in commerce and trading—and thus doesn’t receive a bonus at the
journey’s end.

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

14

SKILLS
Click on the Skills tab, and choose skills that you can use along the trail.
(You may already possess some skills depending on the occupation that you
chose.) Some skills will save you money, others increase morale, and some
come in handy when problems arise. For each skill that you choose, a certain
number of points will be deducted from your beginning total of 120 points.
(Note: If you don’t use all your points, you’ll earn a larger bonus at the end.)

Choose the skills that
you want your character
to have by clicking on
the box next to each
skill. (Look at the
number in parentheses
to see how many points
each skill costs.)

Click here when
you have finished
selecting your skills.

Look here to see
how many points
you still have.

Click here to cancel
your selections.

Buying Supplies
After setting up your character and wagon party, you will go to your
jumping-off town, where you can buy supplies and animals for the journey.
You can either purchase a basic package of goods or shop around town,
buying your goods and animals at the various stores and livery stables.

MOVING AROUND TOWN
While in town, you can walk around and enter some of the buildings.
As your cursor changes, click to do the following:
Go straight ahead.
Turn left.
Turn right.
Turn around.
Go into a store or other building.
Read a newspaper or a posted notice.
Talk to a person.
Hear a sound.
Leave the building you’re in or leave town.

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

15

PURCHASING SUPPLIES
Inside the stores, your cursor changes to $ when it passes over an item you
can buy. If you then click on that item, you will see the Purchase Inventory
screen for that type of supplies. (For example, clicking on a bag of flour
makes the Purchase Inventory screen for food appear, while clicking on
a sweater brings up the Purchase Inventory screen for clothing.)
At the Purchase Inventory screen, click on the box next to each item you
want to buy. Then type in the amount you want to buy. The total cost for
your purchases is shown below the list of items.

Click on the pull-down list to choose the
category of items that you want to see.
This column
shows the
maximum
number of
each item that
you can buy at
this store.

This column
shows how
much the
number of
items that
you entered
will cost.

Type in the
amount of this
item that you
want to buy.

Click here to
go to the next
page of this
list.

Click here
to go to the
previous page
of this list.
Click here to buy each
item in the amounts
entered on this page.

Click here to cancel
the amounts entered
on this page.

Starting on the Trail
To start on the trail, you need to find a wagon train to join. First find the
town’s exit. (The exit from most towns is either at the edge of town or in
the middle of town.)
When the cursor changes to EXIT, press the mouse button to leave
town. A box will appear, describing the wagon trains you can join.
Click on the wagon train that you want to join, and you’ll be on
your way.

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

16

TRAVELING ON THE TRAIL
Once you begin traveling, you will see the Main Travel screen. It shows
either a picture of your current location or a map of the area you are traveling
through. The Main Travel screen lets you access important resources. You can
also check the health of your wagon party and keep track of the supplies in
your wagon.

Look here
to see the
landmark
where you
have stopped
or a map of
the area you
are traveling
through. (If you
are traveling,
you can click
on the map
at any time
to stop. See

Click on a menu. You can then select a menu
option. (See Appendix A: Program Menus.)

Look here
to see the
landmark’s
name.
Look here
to see what
options are
available
here. Then
click on the
action that
you want
to take.

Stopping along
the Trail.)
Click here to
find out details
about the sky
and terrain.

Click here to
check your
supplies. (See

Wagon and
Supplies.)

Look here to see the date,
the current temperature,
how many miles you’ve
traveled, and any
important messages.

Click here
to read the
Guidebook.
(See
Guidebook.)

Click here to read or
write in your Diary.
(See Recording Your
Journey.)

Click here to go
to the Montgomery
screen. (See The

Montgomery Family.)

Click here to check
the health of the
people in your wagon
party. (See Health.)

Consulting Your Resources
You have several important resources that you can consult while traveling.
■
■
■
■
■

Use your maps to find out where you are and where you are going.
Consult the Guidebook for advice on your travel decisions.
Look up unfamiliar words in the Glossary.
Talk to people that you meet on the trail.
Visit the Montgomery family, and learn about their adventure on the
Oregon Trail.

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

17

MAPS
In the map on the Main Travel screen,
your route is marked in red, and major
landmarks appear as red squares. Your
wagon train’s position is at the front of
the red line.

You are here.

Landmark

You can see a map of the entire route
by choosing View Map from the Game
menu. (See Appendix A: Program Menus.)
Click on the map to close it and return
to your game screen.

GUIDEBOOK
The Guidebook is similar to those used by emigrants traveling west during
the mid-1800s. Use this book to learn about the area you’re traveling through,
decide on the best route, and prepare for obstacles ahead. Just like the
guidebooks in the 1800s, this one is not perfect; it may mislead you.
The Guidebook will only show information about the known routes and
landmarks for the year you started your journey. It is “published” roughly
every two years.
Click here to close
the Guidebook.

Click here
to read advice
about preparing
for your trip or
traveling the trail.

Click here
to go to
the Table
of Contents.

Click here to read
information about
the trail, including
good camping
spots and the
availability of
feed for your
animals.

Click on a
topic or page
number to
go there.

Click here to
go back a page.

Click here to go
forward a page.

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

18

GLOSSARY
If you come across a word in the Guidebook that you do not know, look it
up in your Glossary. The Glossary also contains information on the people,
places, plants, and animals you may encounter along the trail.
You can access the Glossary by choosing Glossary from the Game menu.
(See Appendix A: Program Menus.)
Click here to
go to the Table
of Contents.
Click here
to look for a
specific word in
the Glossary.
(A window will
open where
you can type
in that word.)

Click on a letter
in the Table of
Contents to go
to the first page
of that section.

Click here to close the Glossary
and go back to the previous screen.

Click here to
go back a page.

Click here to go
forward a page.

OTHER PEOPLE
As you travel, you can talk to people in the towns and forts, at many of
the landmarks you visit, along the trail, and whenever special events occur.
These people will tell you about local history, discuss life on the trail, and
offer advice. A good piece of advice may save your life when disaster strikes.
But be forewarned—some folks will give you good advice, while others may
offer foolish or incorrect advice. To seek advice, click on Get advice.
Note: Some people that you meet along the trail speak only Spanish. To
speak with them, one of your character’s skills must be Spanish. (See Skills.)

Talking to People in Towns
In the towns and forts, you can talk with the people closest to you.
When the cursor changes to a dialogue bubble, press the mouse button
to start a conversation.
During the conversation, click on the buttons on the right side of the screen
to ask for more information or advice, or to trade supplies.

Talking to People at Landmarks
To talk to someone at a landmark, click on See who’s around. You can
choose to talk to the first person you meet, or you can look for someone
else by clicking on Look around.
Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

19

THE MONTGOMERY FAMILY
You can catch a glimpse of one family’s life on the trail by observing the
Montgomery family as they travel west with Captain Jed Freedman. Watch
the movies to see scenes from the family’s journey and to hear Captain Jed’s
campfire tales. You can also go to the Montgomery Journal to read the
family’s journal entries and to see Jimmy’s drawings of places along the trail.
Click on a
square icon
with a blue
border to watch
a movie of the
family’s journey
at that place.

Click here to read
the Montgomery
Journal.

Click on a round
icon with a green
border to hear
Captain Jed tell
a campfire tale
about the West.

Click here to go
back to the
previous screen.
Click on a person
to learn more
about him or her.

Click here to read the
background story of the
Montgomery family.

About the Montgomery Family

Click here to go back to
the Montgomery screen.

The Montgomery Journal
Read the Montgomery Journal to learn about
the family’s experiences on the trail and to
see Jimmy’s sketches of places along the trail.
Click on a tab to go to the
journal entries for that month.
Click on a page corner to page
through the Montgomery Journal.
Click here to go back to the Montgomery screen.

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

20

Checking Your Wagon Party’s Status
During your travels, you should periodically check on the health of the
people in your wagon party. You should also take a look inside your wagon
to see if you need to stop along the trail and purchase more supplies.

HEALTH
The health of your wagon party is very important for your survival and
well-being on the road. One key to staying healthy is to rest frequently and
eat well. Also, be sure to keep a constant watch on the health of the people
in your party. A common cold may go away in a few days if treated properly.
If left untreated, the cold may turn into pneumonia.
From the Main Travel screen, you can click on the Health Status button to
see an update on the people in your party. A window will appear that tells
you the status of each member. If someone is sick, the window also lists that
person’s symptoms. If the person is seriously ill, you may want to check the
Glossary to find out information about a particular disease. (See Glossary.)

Click on a person’s
name to see more
information about his
or her health condition.
(For example, if a
person isn’t feeling
well, you will see that
person’s symptoms.)

When someone in your party becomes seriously ill, a message appears on
the screen listing a number of options. (Note: The options may be limited
by the supplies you have on hand.) Before you decide what to do, you may
want to check the person’s symptoms and compare these symptoms to major
diseases listed in the Glossary. (See Glossary.)
You can also ask other people for advice by clicking on Get advice.
But remember—there’s no guarantee that their advice is correct.

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

21

WAGON AND SUPPLIES
To stop your wagon and take a look inside, click on the Supply button at
the bottom of the Main Travel screen. You can then turn around; check your
supplies; change your pace or rations; trade supplies with someone in your
wagon train; go hunting, fishing, or gathering; or lighten your wagon load.

Click here
to choose the
type of supplies
that you want
to check.

Click here to
dump items and Click here to
lighten your load. choose how much
(See Lightening your wagon party
will eat each day.
Your Load.)
(See Rationing
Food.)

Look here
to see the
supplies
you have in
your wagon.

Click here
to trade
supplies with
someone in
your wagon
train. (See

Look here
to see how
much money
you have
and how
much your
supplies
weigh.
Click on
a pointing
hand to page
through the
supplies list.

Click here
to choose
how long you
want to travel
each day.

Trading for
Supplies.)
Click here
to turn your
wagon around.
(See Turning
Around.)

Click here to go
Click here
back to the Main
to go fishing.
Click here
Travel screen.
(See Fishing.)
to go hunting.
(See Hunting.)

Click here to begin
gathering plants.
(See Gathering.)

Turning Around
If you ever find that you’re headed the wrong way, return to the last fork
in the road by clicking on the Turn button. You will then turn your wagon
around and head back the way you came. (Note: You will travel back along
the trail the same way you came until you click on this button again.)

Managing Your Supplies
You can check how much food and other supplies you have in your wagon
at the Supply screen. Your current inventory of supplies depends on how
much you purchased at the start of the trail, how much you’ve used or lost
along the way, and how much you’ve found or bought along the trail.
If you find that you’re running out of food, you can choose to ration your
food. Or you can obtain more by purchasing, trading, hunting, fishing, or
gathering.

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

22

RATIONING FOOD
When you click on the Rations pull-down menu at the Supply screen, you
can choose from the following options:
Filling
Meager
Bare Bones

Eat three hearty meals each day.
Eat just enough to take the edge off of your hunger.
Your supplies will last longer, although you may not.
Eat barely enough to stay alive.

If the people in your wagon party eat less, your food will last longer.
However, your party may suffer from more illnesses and lower morale.

BUYING MORE ITEMS
You can buy things at most towns, forts, and trading posts along the trail.
So if you are running low on supplies, stop at the next resting place and
purchase some items. (See Stopping along the Trail and Buying Supplies.)
Unfortunately, you will find that stores and trading posts along the trail
offer fewer choices at higher prices than stores in the jumping-off towns.

TRADING FOR SUPPLIES
If you need supplies, you can trade with people in your wagon train
by clicking on the Trade button at the Supply screen.
You can also trade items with people you talk to at landmarks, towns,
and forts by clicking on Do you want to trade? while you are talking with
someone. (Note: Be sure to act neighborly and ask the person for information
or advice before you ask to trade.)
Remember that you can accept or reject the trade that the other person offers.
If that person doesn’t offer what you need, you can always ask someone else.
Click here to choose the quantity
that you want of this item. You will
receive this amount if you both
accept the trade.

Click here to choose the item that
you wish to obtain out of this person’s
supplies. You will receive this item
if you both accept the trade.

Look here
to see what
this person is
willing to take
in exchange
for the amount
you want.

Click here to
accept the trade.

Click here to try to
bargain with this person.

Click here to
refuse the trade.

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

23

HUNTING
You can go hunting along the trail as long as you are away from large groups
of people (i.e., between landmarks). If you are a successful hunter, you can
boost morale and food supplies by bringing back fresh meat. Successful
hunting requires time, good aim, and bullets. Hunting is also risky, since you
may be attacked by wild animals or may suffer from accidental shootings.
To start hunting, click on the Hunt button on the Supply screen. If you have
multiple guns and the correct ammunition, you can choose a gun to use.
(Note: Rifles are preferred when hunting large animals like deer and buffalo,
while a shotgun is a good choice for small game like squirrels and birds.)
A variety of animals will
wander through your
hunting area. Some can
help stretch your food
supplies, while shooting
other animals may be
a waste of bullets.
Click here to move to a
new spot. (You may find
more game or different
animals.)

The gun you
are using
appears here.

Look here to see
how many bullets
you have left.

Click here to
stop hunting
and return to the
Supply screen.

Click here
to reload
your gun.

After you choose a gun, you will be taken to an open area to begin
hunting. The cursor will look like a cross hair when your gun is ready
to fire. Aim with your mouse; then press the mouse button to shoot.
Note: Be sure to aim carefully because if your shot merely wounds one of
the larger animals, it may return later to maul you or someone in your party.)
As in real life, it’s easier to hit an animal at close range than from a distance.
Large animals provide more meat than smaller ones and are also easier
targets. And if you shoot carelessly, you may scare the animals away!
After shooting, you must reload your gun. When your gun is loaded and
ready to shoot, your cursor will appear as a cross hair again.

GATHERING
You can gather wild fruit or vegetables while traveling along the trail.
Fresh fruit and vegetables improve morale and boost your food supplies.
They also provide much needed vitamin C.

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

24

To gather wild fruit or vegetables, click on the Gather button at the Supply
screen. When you have finished gathering, you must decide which plants
to keep and which ones to throw away. Remember that some plants are
poisonous; if you eat them, you may become sick or even die. So look up
any unfamiliar plants to find out whether they’re worth keeping or not.
1. Click on a plant to select it.
2. Click on one of the
following options:
■ look up the plant
to learn about it
■ throw the plant away
■ keep the plant
3. Click on Done when you
are finished.

A green circle shows which plants you have decided to keep, and
a red X shows which plants you have decided to throw away.

Note: While traveling on the trail, you may hear word that wild fruits or
vegetables have been found. You can then choose to either stop to gather
food or gather as you travel. If you gather as you walk, you will gather
less food than if you stop, but you will save time.

FISHING
If you have a fishing pole, you can boost your food supplies while traveling
on the trail by going fishing. Simply click on the Fish button on the Supply
screen to try your luck in the water.

Click here to stop fishing and
return to the Supply screen.

Press the mouse button to cast your fishing line into the water. Then wait
for a fish to take your bait. When you have caught a fish on your hook,
press the mouse button again. (Note: If you are unsuccessful in catching
any fish, try fishing in another part of the river.)

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

25

Once you have caught a fish, you can choose to either keep the fish or throw
it back. You can also look up the fish to find out more information about it.

Click here to
keep the fish.

Click here to unhook
the fish and throw it
back in the water.

Click here
to learn more
about the fish.

LIGHTENING YOUR LOAD
You can check the weight of the load in your wagon on the Supply screen.
If the weight is close to or above the limit for your type of wagon, you’ll have
greater difficulties when climbing hills and crossing rivers. (See Overcoming
Obstacles.)
To lighten your load, click on the Dump button. You must then make the
difficult decision of choosing which items you want to remove from your
wagon, a decision that was faced all too often by many emigrants who
traveled on the trail.

Click here to
choose the type
of items that you
want to dump.
Type in the amount
of each item that
you want to dump.
Click on
a pointing
hand to page
through the list.

Click here to get rid of
the items that you chose.

Click here to cancel
your choices.

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

26

Overcoming Obstacles
As you travel along the trail, you will encounter many physical obstacles
such as rivers, deserts, and hills.

RIVERS
Upon arriving at a river, you’ll see a list of options for crossing. These options
reflect the choices available during the season or year you are traveling.
Choose the crossing method that best suits the condition of the river, your
budget, and your schedule. If you have enough cash, a ferry or bridge is
always the safest choice. Floating takes longer to prepare and carries the risk
of tipping. Fording is best for slow, shallow rivers.
The people you find near the river may offer valuable advice, but as always,
try to discern between good and bad advice.

Before You Cross
Before you decide how to cross, check the conditions by clicking on Check
the river conditions. Information on the depth, width, and status of the river is
shown in the status panel at the bottom of the Main Travel screen. You may
also want to consult the Advice section of the Guidebook to learn about the
best method for crossing different types of rivers. (See Guidebook.)

Rafting down the Columbia River
If you arrive at the Dalles in 1848 or after, you can either take the Barlow Toll
Road to the Willamette Valley or raft down the Columbia River. If you arrive
before 1848 or if you don’t have enough money to pay the toll, you will have
to raft. Rafting is fun, but be careful because it’s also extremely dangerous!

Rapids
River bank

Whirlpool

Rock

Your raft—guide it
with your mouse.

Guide your raft by moving the mouse. The raft will follow your cursor.
As you travel on the raft, watch out for rocks, rapids, and whirlpools.
And be sure to steer wide so the current doesn’t pull you into a hazard.
Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

27

DESERTS
If you plan to cross one of the deserts, the main hazards you’ll face are heat,
lack of water, and lack of animal feed. Be sure to prepare in advance and take
precautions when you cross.
Before you reach the desert, stock up on animal feed, and make sure you have
plenty of water. You can also check your Guidebook for the best places to find
water and animal feed before reaching the desert. (See Guidebook.)

HILLS
There are many places where the trail goes over extremely steep hills. These
hills require special handling. When you come to these hills, you may want
to use ropes or other means to keep your wagon steady during both the
uphill climb and the treacherous downhill rush.
It’s usually best to check the conditions of the hill before you decide how
to cross over the hill. The steepness of the hill or other factors may favor
one method of going up or down over the other methods.
Check the conditions of the hill by clicking on Check the hill conditions
and then looking at the status panel in the Main Travel screen.

Stopping along the Trail
You can stop at any time by clicking on the map on the Main Travel screen.
When you stop, you can talk to people you meet, or just use the time to rest.

MAJOR LANDMARKS AND RIVERS
You will automatically stop at all major landmarks and rivers. Emigrants
traveling these same trails in the mid-1800s looked forward to seeing the
places they’d read about. For example, their first sighting of Independence
Rock was a bright spot in a long and hazardous journey.

TOWNS, FORTS, AND TRADING POSTS
As you travel, you will be given a set of choices at all towns, forts, and
trading posts along the trail. If you want to stop for a visit, click on Go into
town at the Main Travel screen. You can then purchase needed supplies.
(See Buying Supplies.) You may also be able to find a doctor or blacksmith
to take care of the needs of your wagon party and animals.
While visiting the towns and forts, you’ll notice that many of the buildings
are open for business—including the general store, blacksmith, trading post,
and livery stable. You may also have a chance to read the newspaper and
other notices posted around town. (See Moving around Town.)
To find a store or other business in town, look at the signs, and watch your
cursor as you walk around. The names that appear will tell you what

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

28

business is located inside each building. If you can enter a building,
the cursor will change as it passes over the door. You can then click
on the door to go in.
At the forts and trading posts, the blacksmith, doctor, and other
businesses may not have signs. However, the cursor will change as
it passes over a building you can enter. You can then click to go in.

RETURNING TO THE TRAIL
After visiting a town or other landmark, you can return to the trail
by clicking when your cursor changes to EXIT. You’ll find the road
back to the trail at the edge or in the center of the towns and forts.
The exit from stores and offices is at the bottom of the screen.
When the list of options appears, click on Continue to return to the trail.

PAUSING AND SAVING THE GAME
You can pause the game at any time by selecting Time Out from the Game menu.
(See Appendix A: Program Menus.) The game also pauses whenever you open the
Guidebook or Diary. The clock starts running again when you return to the trail.
You can also save your game at any time by selecting Save Game from the
File menu. Try saving your game before making a big decision, such as
crossing a river. That way if something goes wrong, you can always load
and continue your saved game by selecting Load Game from the File menu.

Recording Your Journey
Many emigrants kept diaries of their journeys, recording significant events
along with their thoughts and impressions. Your Diary keeps an automatic
record of the major events that occur and the landmarks that you visit. You
can add your own comments and observations to the Diary at any time.
Open the Diary by clicking on the Diary button on the Main Travel screen
or the Supply screen.

Look here to see
all major events
that occurred on
a specific day of
your journey. You
can also see the
places that you
visited.

Click here to go back a page.

Click here to
close the Diary.
Click here to
begin typing
in your own
comments.

Click here to go forward a page.

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

29

To read your Diary:
1. Click on the Diary button. The Diary opens to the current date.
2. To see earlier pages in the Diary, click on the previous page button
in the lower-left corner of the book.
To add comments to your Diary:
1. Move your cursor to the place where you want to add your words.
2. Start typing.
If you make mistakes when you’re typing, or if you’d like to move some
of the text around, you can use the Undo, Cut, Copy, Paste, and Clear
commands on the File menu. (See Appendix A: Program Menus.)

SAVING AND PRINTING YOUR DIARY
If you’d like to print a record of your amazing journey on the Oregon,
California, or Mormon trail, you can export your Diary to your wordprocessing software and then print it.
1. Pull down the File menu and choose Export Diary to save your
Diary so that you can open it in your word-processing program.
2. In the dialog box, type a name for your Diary. The Diary will be
saved in the file you name. You can then open and print that file
in your word processing program.

FINISHING THE TRAIL
If you’re skillful and lucky enough, you’ll find yourself setting up a new
life in the West. You will receive points for reaching your destination,
having cash on hand, and having started the trail with fewer skills. (See
Skills.) Depending on which occupation you chose, you may also receive
bonus points. (See Occupations.) If you reach the end of the trail, you may
receive a plot of land. In certain areas, you can search for gold.
After learning what happened to your character in later years, you’ll be
ready to travel the trail again as someone new!

List of Legends
When you reach the end of the trail, your total number of points is compared
to the point totals on the high score list. If you have one of the highest scores,
your name will be added to the List of Legends.
■
■

To see the List of Legends, choose List of Legends from the Game menu.
(See Appendix A: Program Menus.)
To erase the List of Legends, click on Reset at the List of Legends screen.

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

30

APPENDIX A: PROGRAM MENUS
In Oregon Trail 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail, you can use the
File menu to start a new game, load a saved game, save your current game,
end your current game, export your Diary text, and quit the program.

Start a new game.
Return to a game you saved before.
Save the game you are playing.
End your current game.
Send the text from your Diary to a file that
you can open with your word processor.
Leave Oregon Trail 5th Edition,

Adventures Along the Oregon Trail.

From the Game menu, you can control the speed of your game, see a list
of the highest scorers, see a map of the major trails, access the Glossary,
pause your game, and access the sound options.
Control the speed of your game.
See a list of the highest scorers,
and clear the list at any time.
See a map of the major trails.
Look up a word in the Glossary.
Pause your game without leaving it.
Click on a sound option to turn the sound
effects, music, and speech on or off. (A check
mark shows that an option is turned on.)

The Edit menu lets you manipulate the text in your Diary. (Note: The
commands on the Edit menu do not work with other parts of the program.)
Undo the change you just made.
Remove the highlighted words,
and store them in the clipboard.
Copy the highlighted text.
Insert text that was cut or copied.
Remove all of the highlighted text from the current page.

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

31

APPENDIX B: HISTORICAL FACTS
Life on the Trail
Life on the Oregon, California, and Mormon trails wasn’t easy. Emigrants
suffered illness, accidents, starvation, and death. Wagons broke down,
rivers flooded, animals died, and water supplies dried up. If there was too
much rain, the rivers swelled and became dangerous to cross. If there was
too little rain, the land became parched, and grass and water were scarce.
Emigrants who traveled too fast without resting or eating enough were
more likely to have accidents than those who traveled at a slower pace.
Yet emigrants who traveled too slowly ran the risk of getting trapped in
the mountains during winter.
Many emigrants were afraid of attack by Native Americans. In fact, attacks
by Native Americans were so rare that they are not included in the Oregon
Trail 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail simulation. However, the
emigrants’ fear of Native Americans was real (no matter how unjustified),
and this fear is recorded in some of the dialogue of different characters along
the trail. Helpful encounters between Native Americans and emigrants are
also recorded.

Trading
Trading was a way for emigrants to acquire extra supplies along the trail,
especially if they didn’t have enough money to buy what they needed.
Emigrants usually started their journey with ample food supplies, but
eating the same food every day was very boring!
Staple food supplies included flour, bacon, coffee, sugar, and salt.
Additional items varied according to individual tastes.
Lucky emigrants found people, such as Native Americans, to trade with
along the trail. They swapped items such as spare clothes and bullets for
fresh vegetables and smoked salmon.
Food wasn’t the only item emigrants traded for; they often needed extra
clothes or equipment. Wise emigrants brought along spare wagon parts
in case of accidents. Those who didn’t had to rely on trading to obtain
spare wagon tongues, wheels, and axles once they were on the trail.

Hunting
Good hunting saved many a starving emigrant’s life! Hunting also helped
make the emigrants’ diet more varied—a diet of coffee, bacon, and bread
became very tiresome after weeks on the trail. The abundance and type of
game varied with the terrain, but emigrants generally had a choice of small
game, antelope (pronghorn), buffalo (bison), and bear.

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

32

Landmarks and Forts
The early Oregon Trail was poorly marked and had very few places to stop
and buy supplies. However, by 1848 (just before the Gold Rush), the trail
followed recognizable landmarks such as Chimney Rock, Nebraska and Soda
Springs, Idaho. You can still visit these landmarks today.
Forts that existed along the Oregon Trail—such as Forts Kearny, Laramie,
Bridger, Hall, Boise, and Walla Walla—offered travelers a chance to rest, buy
supplies, and discuss their adventures with others. The Oregon Trail 5th
Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail simulation contains accurate
pictures of all landmarks based on photographs, lithographs, and
descriptions of the actual locations.

APPENDIX C: ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
If you’d like to learn more about the Oregon, California, or Mormon trails,
you can use one of the resources mentioned in the following sections. You
can also use the teacher’s guide available from The Learning Company.

BOOKS
De Voto, Bernard Augustine. Across the Wide Missouri. Boston: Houghton
Mifflin, 1947.
Dodd, Lawrence. Narcissa Whitman on the Oregon Trail. Fairfield, WA: Ye
Galleon, 1985.
Driggs, Howard R. Westward America. New York: Putnam, 1942.
The Editors of American Heritage. Westward on the Oregon Trail. New York:
American Heritage, 1962.
The Editors of Time-Life Books. The Pioneers. New York: Time-Life Books, 1974.
Holliday, J. S. The World Rushed In: The California Gold Rush Experience.
New York: Simon and Schuster, 1981.
Lavender, David Sievert. The American Heritage History of the Great West. Ed.
Alvin M. Josephy. New York: Bonanza Books, 1982.
Mattes, Merrill J. The Great Platte River Road: The Covered Wagon Mainline via Fort
Kearny to Fort Laramie. Lincoln, NB: Nebraska State Historical Society, 1969.
Meeker, Ezra. Ox-Team Days on the Oregon Trail. Yonkers-on-Hudson, NY:
World Book, 1922.
Morgan, Dale, ed. Overland in 1846: Diaries and Letters of the California-Oregon
Trail. Lincoln, NB: U of Nebraska P, 1993.
Parkman, Francis. The Oregon Trail: Sketches of Prairie and Rocky-Mountain Life.
Boston: Little, Brown, 1925.
Rounds, Glen. The Prairie Schooners. New York: Holiday House, 1968.
Schlissel, Lillian. Women’s Diaries of the Westward Journey. New York: Schocken
Books, 1982.
Unruh, John D., Jr. The Plains Across: The Overland Emigrants and the TransMississippi West, 1840–60. Urbana, IL: U of Illinois P, 1979.
Worcester, Don, ed. Pioneer Trails West. Caldwell, ID: Caxton, 1985.

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

33

MAGAZINES
Cobblestone: The History Magazine for Young People. December, 1981 issue,
“The Oregon Trail.” Cobblestone Publishing, Peterborough, NH.
Phone: 800/821-0115. Web site: www.cobblestonepub.com.
The Overland Journal. A quarterly publication of the Oregon-California
Trails Association, P. O. Box 1019, Independence, MO 64051.
Phone: 816/252-2276.

MAPS
The Oregon Trail—The Highway of the Pioneers to the Pacific Northwest. Full-color
wall map. Available from Binford and Mort Publishers, P. O. Box 10404,
Portland, OR 97210-0404. Phone: 503/221-0866.

FILM/VIDEO
The Way West. Based on the novel by A. B. Guthrie, Jr., starring Kirk Douglas
and Robert Mitchum, produced by Harold Hecht, and directed by
Andrew V. McLaglen. Not rated. 122 minutes. United Artists/Harold
Hecht Company, 1967. Distributed on videotape by Wood Knapp Video,
1989.

TEACHER’S GUIDE
Oregon Trail 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail is available as
a consumer product or as a school package containing a teacher’s guide
produced by The Learning Company. The teacher’s guide enhances the
educational value of the game’s simulation. The materials provided include
ready-to-use lesson plans—complete with handouts and worksheets—and
a list of learning objectives for social studies and language arts.
For information about the teacher’s guide, please visit The Learning
Company’s Web site at http://learningcompanyschool.com.

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

34

TROUBLESHOOTING
Try this first! If you have problems running the program, try cleaning the
CD. Gently remove any fingerprints and dust using a clean, soft, lint-free
cloth dampened with water or a CD-cleaning solution. Avoid using materials
such as tissue, which may scratch the CD.

Windows®
1. The Oregon Trail 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail
program icon does not appear on the desktop or in the Start menu.
• Make sure the program CD is inserted in the CD tray, printed side up.
• Reinstall the program.
2. You see a message telling you that there is not enough available
space on the hard disk.
Oregon Trail 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail requires
120 MB of hard disk space for the program’s data and executable files.
(Additional hard disk space will be required to save player information
for more than five players.)
• Create some free hard disk space by removing some files after backing
them up.
3. You see a message telling you that there is not enough memory
to run the program.
Oregon Trail 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail needs at least
32 MB of installed memory (RAM) to run. Your computer’s memory
may be filled with other programs that are running in the background.
• Close any other applications that are running, and restart the program.
4. The mouse doesn’t seem to work.
There are times in the program when the animation or sound cannot
be interrupted. You will see the hourglass cursor on the screen, and
any key presses or mouse clicks will be ignored.
• Wait until the animation or sound stops and your normal cursor
returns. Then try pressing the keys or clicking the mouse again.
5. Program speed is very slow.
Oregon Trail 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail needs at
least a Pentium 166 MHz computer with a 8X CD-ROM drive for
basic performance.
• Close any other applications that are running.
• Make sure that you have the latest Windows video drivers for your
graphics card. (Contact the video card manufacturer for the latest
drivers.)

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

35

6. You do not hear music, sound, or speech.
• Check that the speakers are properly connected to your computer.
Make sure that they are getting power and are turned on, and that
the volume is turned up.
• Make sure that your sound card is Windows compatible and is
properly installed for Windows. Be sure that the sound card is
specifically designed to work with the version of Windows that
you are using. Also check that the volume is properly set. (See the
manufacturer’s documentation for information relating to your
sound card.)
• Make sure the mixer level setting is correct.
Click on the Start button. Choose Programs from the Start menu.
Next choose Accessories. Then choose Multimedia (Windows 95)
or Entertainment (Windows 98, Me, XP), and choose Volume Control.
Make sure that the sliders on the mixer control panel are all the way
up and that no mute buttons are selected.
7. Strange graphics appear; the game action stops unexpectedly.
• Try using the 800 x 600, 16-bit color display mode driver that came
with your video card. (See your Windows documentation for more
information.)
• Make sure you have the latest Windows video drivers installed.
(Contact your video card manufacturer for more information.)
8. Colors don’t look right.
• Adjust your monitor’s color and brightness.
• Make sure your color display is set to 16-bit.
• Turn off your screensaver.
• Close any other applications that are running.
• Make sure you have the latest graphics drivers installed.
(Contact your video card manufacturer for more information.)
9. The program window seems small.
The program window may not fill the entire screen.
• For maximum window size, make sure the display mode
is set to 800 x 600. (See your Windows documentation.)
10. Nothing prints.
• Make sure the printer is plugged in and switched on.
• Check the indicator light on the printer to be sure
the printer is “online” or “selected.”
• Make sure the printer cables are connected tightly.
• Make sure you have selected at least one print item from
the Printing area. Where applicable, make sure you have
selected either Colored In or Outlined.

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

36

11. When you print, pictures or text look faint, blurred, or streaky.
• Check your print quality settings. (See your printer documentation.)
• Replace your printer’s ink cartridge.
12. The printer displays an “out of memory” message.
• Make sure your printer has at least 1 MB of memory.
13. You are not able to connect to our online Web sites.
This feature requires an Internet browser.
• Make sure that you have a browser properly installed. (See your
browser and Windows documentation for more information.)
• Make sure that the files with an .HTM extension (for example,
“bookmark.htm”) are associated with the browser of your choice.
To check this, double-click on any .HTM file. If the browser does
not launch, create an association from the File Manager. (See your
Windows documentation for more information.)

Macintosh®
1. You do not see the Oregon Trail 5th Edition, Adventures Along the
Oregon Trail program icon.
• Make sure the program CD is inserted in the CD tray, printed side up.
• Try restarting your computer and/or rebuilding your desktop.
• Make sure that the CD-ROM drivers are correctly installed.
2. You see a message that there is not enough space on the hard disk.
Oregon Trail 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail requires 120 MB
of hard disk space for program data files. (Additional hard disk space will
be required to save player information for more than five players.)
• Create some free hard disk space by removing some files after backing
them up.
• Adjust the Virtual Memory setting to take less hard disk space.
(See your Macintosh documentation for more information.)
3. You see a message telling you that there is not enough memory to run
the program.
Oregon Trail 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail requires at least
32 MB of installed memory (RAM) to run. Try to increase available
memory and then start the program again. (Depending on which Internet
browser you use, you may not be able to run both your browser and the
program with only 32 MB of RAM.)
• Quit any programs that you may be running.
• Turn off or remove from the System Folder non-Apple® control panels.
• Reduce the size of the disk cache in the Memory control panel.
(See your Macintosh documentation for more information.)
• Turn off AppleTalk®.

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

37

4. The mouse doesn’t seem to work.
There are times in the program when the animation or sound cannot
be interrupted. You will see the watch cursor on the screen, and any
key presses or mouse clicks will be ignored.
• Wait until the animation or sound stops and your normal cursor
returns. Then try pressing the keys or clicking the mouse again.
5. The music and voice in the game are too loud or too soft.
• Choose Volumes from Control Panels. Adjust your system’s speaker
volume as needed by selecting the Volume setting.
6. You do not hear music, sound, or speech.
• Make sure that the Volumes setting in the Sound control panel
in Control Panels is not set to zero.
• If you have external speakers, make sure they are turned on and
getting power and that they are properly connected to your computer.
Also check the speaker volume.
• Turn off or remove from the System Folder non-Apple control panels
and extensions. (Leave the CD-ROM drivers.) Restart your computer.
7. The program window seems small.
The program window may not fill the entire screen.
• For maximum window size, make sure the display mode is set
to 800 x 600 in the Monitors control panel.
8. Program speed is very slow, or sounds and animations do not play
smoothly.
Oregon Trail 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail needs at least
a 180 MHz Power Macintosh computer with a 8x CD-ROM drive for
basic performance.
• Make sure Virtual Memory is turned off in your Memory control panel.
9. Nothing prints.
• Make sure the printer is plugged in and switched on.
• Check the indicator light on the printer to be sure
the printer is “online” or “selected.”
• Make sure the printer cables are connected tightly.
• Make sure you have selected at least one print item from
the Printing area. Where applicable, make sure you have
selected either Colored In or Outlined.
10. When you print, pictures or text look faint, blurred, or streaky.
• Check your print quality settings. (See your printer documentation.)
• Replace your printer’s ink cartridge.
11. The printer displays an “out of memory” message.
• Make sure your printer has at least 1 MB of memory.

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

38

12. You are not able to connect to our online Web sites.
This feature requires an Internet browser.
• Make sure that you have a browser properly installed. (See your
browser and Macintosh documentation for more information.)

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

39

CONTACTING THE LEARNING COMPANY

Technical Support
If you have questions about your Oregon Trail 5th Edition, Adventures Along
the Oregon Trail program, please refer to the Troubleshooting section. If you
do not find an answer to your question, please visit our Web site at:
http://www.riverdeep.net/learningcompany/support. Click Product Support.
Select the product name from the alphabetical list and check to see if the
problem you are experiencing is listed among the FAQs. If you need to
speak to a technical support representative, click Contact Us and scroll
down to the Technical Support area for the appropriate number.
You may be asked to provide the following information:
✔ Your contact information (name and email address, plus phone
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔

or mailing address if you wish)
Description of the problem you’re having
Product name and version number (The version number
is often printed on the CD label.)
Brand of computer
Operating system (for example, Windows 98 or Mac® OS 8.6)
Processor type and speed
RAM memory (in MB or megabytes)
Video card manufacturer
Sound card manufacturer
Printer type
Hard disk space remaining
Background programs
(antivirus programs or screensavers)

SATISFACTION GUARANTEED!
If you are not completely satisfied with this product, Riverdeep - The
Learning Company will gladly exchange it for another title of equivalent
value or refund your purchase price.
Return the complete package to us at: Riverdeep - The Learning Company,
Dock Door #9, 120 Hidden Lake Circle, Duncan, SC 29334, within 30 days of
purchase. Include a copy of the sales receipt, packing slip, or invoice
showing the store name and location. Please enclose an explanation for the
return, and specify the replacement title.
Note: Exchanges must be of equal or lesser value. Limit 1 per household.
Dealers, wholesalers, and their immediate families are not eligible.
Please allow 4–6 weeks for refund or replacement title.

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

40

CREDITS
Oregon Trail 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail is based on previous versions of Oregon Trail.
Oregon Trail 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail
Brand Producer
Craig Bocks
Development
Producer
Luiz Fernando
De Lima
Design Manager
Pete Shoemaker
Education Designer
Sherri Wright
Senior Software
Engineer
Peter Fokos
Lead Artists
Pam Stalker
Tony Villador
Software Engineers
Dan Tjandra
Brian Tepper

Gerald Broas
Tim Nelson
Arnel Domingo
Craig Wong
Todd Wong
Barry Prioste
Joy Steuerwald
Ann Horowitz
Character Art Design
Wild Brain Art
Art Support
Waaahoo! Productions
Johnny Karwan
Fluent Solutions
Animotion Inc.
Art Director
Nicholas Stern
Audio Lead
Alan Nu

Maintenance
Engineer
Greg Kitamura

Audio
Jamie Hert
Daniel Ward

Artists
Philip Thong
Krista Hubbard

Audio Production
Specialist
Jenny Nguyen

Sound Designer
Andrew Kawamura
Q.A. Lead
Tracey Roletto
Q.A. Supervisor
Carlos Molina
Q.A. Testers
Gregory Huitric
Ben Chang
Sabrina Fahmi
Mike Fraser
Jeff Patrick
Brand Marketing
Manager
Rickelle Burnett

Andrew Patterson as
Parker
Shoshona Bush
as Cassie
Editorial Manager
Gabriele Rennie
Editor
Elizabeth Robinson
User’s Guide Writer
Emmeline Chen
Contract
Administrator
Frances La Day

Q.A. Manager
Dan Mizuba

Divisional Controller
Lisa Thomas

Operations Manager
Carole Kochan

Vice President,
Research &
Development
Derek Miyahara

Operations Specialist
Patricia Aparicio
Senior Contract
& IP Administrator
Sara Guinness
Public Relations
Media Manager
Evelyn Dubocq

Executive Assistant
Pat Elliot

Associate Public
Relations Manager
Debbie Galdin

Senior Brand
Marketing Manager
Sarah Horton

Audio Department
Manager
Brian Burge

Director of
Development
Sid Weber

Voice Talent
Duane Lawrence
as Captain Jed
Kyle Padilla
as Jimmy

Art Department
Manager
Fred Butts

Vice President,
Engineering
Hugo Paz

Director of Creative
Development
Drayson Nowlan

Creative Director
Kenny Dinkin

Vice President,
Marketing
Mark Hittie
Senior Vice President
& General Manager,
Education Division
Eric Stone
Special Thanks
Michael Wyman
Shawn Fitzpatrick
Midori Mizuba
Lyn Bernabe
Malinda Maynor
Craig Copley
Very special thanks
to everyone on the
development teams
for the previous
versions in the Oregon
Trail series

Oregon Trail ® 5th Edition, Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

•

41