In the shadow of tall trees, travelers on this last stretch of the trail crossed ash flows, talus slopes, and boggy wetlands. Some emigrants, after the death of livestock, were forced to abandon their wagons and walk with their remaining belongings. By 1847, the Barlow Road followed the south bank of the Sandy River through the present-day Wildwood Recreation Area. Farther down the trail lay the first crossing of the Sandy River, with swift waters and slippery rocks, followed by the steep ascent of the ledge known as Devil's Backbone, while Oregon City remained an average of five days away. Travelers recalled little glades with grass for dinner and camp, red and white clover, dandelions, strawberries, stretches of good road, scarce game in the mountains, stock fed flour and forced to browse on cut alder, and the grief of watching a mare fail and lie down on the roadside to die.