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Riders and wagons travel a hillside, making their way as pioneers did in the 1800s.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Karen Vixie, 53, a teacher from Paradise, Calif., sits in a wagon while the moon rises after a passing storm Sunday. Vixie and her husband, Dave Vixie, joined a wagon train on the Kansas leg of the Oregon Trail. Vixie said she wanted to get a feel for what it was like to cross the prairie the old-fashioned way.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Oregon Trail riders rest on a hillside north of Wamego on day two of a five-day trip. The journey started in a pasture northeast of Belvue and ended near Hanover.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Here's a view from the back of Ron Schmitz's wagon as it travels along the Oregon Trail in Kansas. It was among 10 wagons on the 83-mile journey.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Wagons head across grassland last weekend north of Wamego. More than 50 people in 10 wagons along with a number of horses and mules traveled along the Oregon Trail in Kansas.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Dave and Karen Vixie, teachers from Paradise, Calif., rest while participating in a five-day journey along the Oregon Trail. It took them 10 hours to travel 20 miles on the first day.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Allen Prell, 69, of Oketo, has traveled the Oregon Trail seven times. He led a group of wagons last weekend.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Lawrence resident Eldon Pickett helps unload one of several wagons while on a five-day journey in northeast and north-central Kansas.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Ken Martin, center in white hair, gets the riders together on Sunday night to discuss some of the do's and don'ts on the trail.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Wagons stretch across the prairie north of Wamego, a path thousands of pioneers took as they headed west along the Oregon Trail.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Ken Riggle of Endicott, Nebraska, hooks up his mules, Bonnie and Clyde.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Modern day horse trailers squeeze a small but sturdy wooden wagon in their midst, while riders get ready for the days ride.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Bonnie and Clyde, mules owned by Ken Riggle of Endicott, Nebraska get ready for the first days pulling.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Kay Threlkeld helps Ken Martin get her horses ready for the days ride.

Photo by Richard Gwin

A rider warms up his horse in the early morning light for the first day's ride.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Jean McCormick and her dog Max ready for the first day's ride.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Wagons took a few county roads the first day.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Buffalo watch as riders pass along the Oregon Trail north of Wamego, on the first day of the 5-day ride.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Ron Schmitz looks out of his wagon as it passes some of the graves along the trail that have been marked.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Wagons take a break mid-morning.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Yvonne Larson - on her 6th wagon trail - brought a friend, 13-year-old Anna Hopkins of Castle Rock, CO., along for the experience.

Photo by Richard Gwin

A counter sits next to the rear wheels of a wagon.

Photo by Richard Gwin

A well-marked trail heads along a county road.

Photo by Richard Gwin

A silo marks the Oregon Trial Park where some 56 riders and their 10 wagons started a 5 days re-enactment of the Oregon Trail.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Connie Warner sets up her wagon on Sunday afternoon.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Connie Horton's wagon.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Ron Schmitz, 58, gets his wagon ready by pulling the canvas over the wooden hoops.

Photo by Richard Gwin