Before pioneers, only a few merchants and trappers had traversed along the Oregon Trail. However a variety of factors such as Gold Fever and the search for settlements and opportunities motivated much emigration along the Trail eventually. Pioneers experienced a variety of obstacles, including conflicts with Native Americans, disease, environmental disasters, and logistical errors. Yet those individuals that managed to survive their journeys ended up populating much of the West and developing the foundations for many such territories to transition into statehood. Ultimately, the Oregon Trail was a remarkable pathway that ultimately allowed for the mass expansion of the United States.