CHINOOK PARK ROGUE RIVER FORD - MET MANUAL TRAIL EVALUATION – April 13, 2015 
The Carsonite marker is located near the interpretative sign.  
UTM location of the Carsonite marker – 10T 30478613 E
					         4697486 N   Jim Ford

This analysis was based on the Research Principles, Methods and Guidelines noted in the OCTA MET MANUAL.

General Principles Are:
Probability:
‘…the exact location of an emigrant trail segment cannot be verified with absolute certainty.  …however, the trail researcher can strive for a higher degree of probability by utilizing…accepted procedures.’

Analogy:
‘The location of a possible trail segment can be authenticated only by comparing and contrasting it with what is already known about other verified emigrant trail.’  ‘documentary and physical evidence’.

The Cardinal Rules:
For ‘an emigrant trail segment to be considered as verified, it must conform to the following ‘Four Cardinal Rules’.  Where conditions exist that any of these four rules do not apply, the probability lever is reduced accordingly.’

1.  Coherence Rule:
‘There must be a linear uniformity so that trail segments form a continuous sequence; i.e., the trail segment under investigation has to link together (cohere) with the trail segments that precede and follow it.’

Linear evidence:  
Although there is no GLO point at Chinook Park the previous GLO and following GLO points are in alinement with the Ford.  (See map).

2.  Corroborative Rule:
‘There must be confirming documentary evidence of the trail; i.e., the trail segment under investigation has to have valid written or cartographic evidence to support (corroborate) its authenticity.’

Written evidence:  Diary references:

Virgil Pringle Diary-1846
Wednesday, Oct. 14 – “Travel 12 miles of good road and camp on Rogue River…”		
(at the site known as the Dardanelles)							   
10 miles
Thursday, Oct. 15-“Move down the river 10 miles and camp-Plenty of Indians about…”	
4 miles
Friday, Oct 16-“Cross Rogue River about 4 miles from last camp.  Ford good.  Camp on right bank”. 
Total miles travelled from the Dardanelles to the Ford across the Rogue River
14 miles

Lester Hulin Diary – 1847
Sunday, October 17-“Found a very good camping Ground about 5  on the river bank.” (Dardanelles)
12 miles
Monday, October 18-“Followed down the river About 12 miles and camped.”
1 mile
Tuesday, Oct. 19-“In about 1 mile we crossed the river…”
Total miles travelled from the Dardanelles to the Ford across the Rogue River
13 miles

Tuesday, Oct. 19-“Passed among the bluffs and camped after a distance of about 12 miles.”

Jesse Applegate Survey Notes on the Military Road – 1854.
Location			Milepost			Distance
Dardanelles			MP 11.4			
								11.9 miles
Evan’s Ferry			MP 23.3	

COMPARISON OF RECORDED DISTANCES TRAVELLED
Location		Pringle		Hulin		Applegate
Dardanelles		
			10 miles	12miles		11.9 miles
Camp
			 4 miles		 1 mile	  	________
Total Miles Travelled
To the Ford or Ferry	14 miles	13 miles	11.9 miles
Additional Miles
Travelled to Grave Cr.	15 miles	19 miles	19.2 miles	
	Total Distance	29 miles	32 miles	31.1 miles	

Cartographic evidence:
The Terrain matches the diaries:  Lester Hulin Diary – 1847
Tuesday, Oct. 19 – “Passed among the bluffs and camped after a distance of about 12 miles.”  The Dardanelles and other bluffs prevent Fording above Chinook Park.

3.  Collateral Rule:
‘There must be accompanying physical and/or topographical evidence of a trail; i.e., the trail segment under investigation has to have some geomorphic or artifact evidence (collateral) to confirm it as an  authentic emigrant trail.’

Topographic Evidence:  Virgil Pringle Diary – 1846 comments on the Chinook Park entry to the Ford as “Ford good.” 
 
Geomorphic Evidence:  Chinook Park currently has a boat ramp because of its natural physical configuration.  In relation to the diary mileage, Chinook Park is the only reasonable Ford in this region of the river.  The river corridor and rapids location has not changed over the years, but the river bed, shore line and sand bars have changed which makes it difficult to be confident of the actual location of the entry and exit of the river at Chinook Park.  Photographs from 1930 to the present demonstrate this fact.  (Photos of area). 

4.  Correlation Rule:
‘There must be overall agreement  among all types of evidence; i.e., the evidence resulting from the first three cardinal rules has to mutually support (correlate), and not contradict one another, in order to verify the location of a trail segment.’

YES

Classification:

Class 3:  Verified Trail
	Description:  ‘The trail route is accurately located and verified from written, cartographic, artifact, geomorphic, and/or wagon wheel impact evidence (as rust, grooved, or polished rocks).…  But due to subsequent weathering, vegetative succession, rodent surface digging, or logging, trail traces will not be visible on the surface.  What does remain is a verified trail corridor that has not been directly altered by modern intrusion or development.  Typically this includes trails that once passed through forests and meadows, across excessively hard surfaces or bedrock (such as on ridges), over alkali flats and sandy or gravely soils, through ravines or washes, and other surfaces not conductive to trail preservation.’