Trash on the Trail 

Then...

"The abandonment and destruction of property here at Deer Creek [near Fort Laramie] is extraordinary: true, a great deal is heavy cumbrous, useless articles: a diving bell and all the apparatus, heavy anvils, iron and steel, forges, bellows, lead, &c.&c  and provisions: bacon in great piles, many chords of it -- good meat.  Bags of beans, salt, &c.&c. Trunks, chests, tools of every description, clothing, tents, tent poles, harness &c.&c. I took advantage of the piles of bacon here and had all mine trimmed of fat and the rusty exterior and the requisite amount of pounds replaced by choice cuts from abandoned piles.  Was told of a man here, who a few days ago offered a barrel of sugar for sale, for about treble its cost, price — and unable to obtain that, he poured Spirits of turpentine on it, and burned it up. The spirit of selfishness has been here beautifully developed —Discard effects generally rendered useless: — Camp utensils and vessels broken, kegs and buckets stove [in], trunks chopped with hatchets, & saws and other tools all broken." Joseph Goldsborough Bruff, July 17, 1849

"For many weeks we had been accustomed to see property abandoned and animals dead or dying.  But those scenes were doubled or trebled....Both sides of the road for miles were lined with dead animals and abandoned wagons.  Around them were strewed yokes, chains, harness, guns, tools, bedding, clothing, cooking utensils, and many other articles, in utter confusion. The owners had left everything, except what provisions they could carry on their backs, and hurried on to save themselves."  Margaret Frink, 185

Now....

Near Fort Laramie