Which of the following challenges did pioneers typically face on the santa fe trail in the mid-1800s? a. desert sand that slowed wagons to a crawl. b. harsh winter snows that trapped travelers. c. heavy rainstorms that washed away roads. d. high, rugged mountains that were hard to cross.

A. desert sand that slowed wagons to a crawl.

The Santa Fe Trail ran from Independence, Missouri to Santa Fe, New Mexico. The last part of the trail entered into desert which made it hard for the wagons to move at anything but a slow pace.

The Santa Fe Trail was original mapped out in the 1820's by a few groups beginning trade with the newly independent Mexico. The trail line would increase in importance during the Mexican-American War and right after with the discovery of gold in California. The gold rush brought many caravans on the trail but they all struggled on the last part of the journey as they entered desert sand. The trail would get the most use after the Civil War as many people began to settle the western lands.

Which of the following challenges did pioneers typically face on the Santa Fe Trail in the mid-1800s? A. desert sand that slowed wagons to a crawl. B. harsh winter snows that trapped travelers. C. heavy rainstorms that washed away roads. D. high, rugged mountains that were hard to cross.

Explanation:

Travelers faced many difficulties along the Santa Fe Trail. The trail had a challenging 1400 km through arid plains, deserts and mountains.

The natural climate was and is continental; with very hot and dry summers, along with long and very raw winters. The general lack of rainfall makes fresh water scarce.

The lack of food and water also made the road very risky. The climatic conditions, like the great storms, made the trip even more difficult.

The answer is: C. heavy rainstorms that washed away roads.