The Forts Trail

Instead of the Oregon Trail, it could have been called the Forts Trail.  Forts were built by fur trading companies or by the military.  There were a total of 40 forts, camps and military stations built on or within a day's ride of the Oregon Trail.  Unfortunately, they were not often oasis's of civilization:

Fort Hall, in 1847, Chester Ingersoll wrote that Fort Hall was "the worst place for emigrants that we
    have seen -- they are almost destitute of honesty or human feelings."  In 1850 it was  reputed to be
    "hospitable," but by 1851 it was again "a desolate place and filled with thieves."
Fort Walla Walla (originally known as Fort Nez Perces after the Indian tribe) built in 1818
Fort Bridger built in 1843 by the famous mountain man, Jim Bridger
Fort Laramie, 1/3 of the way to Oregon it was the first structure west of Missouri
Fort Kearny where several trails converged and anchored the eastern terminus of the emigrant route on the
    Platte River, also serving the Pony Express, overland stages, and the telegraph
Fort Boise, built in 1834 and presided over by the very amiable Francois Payette - very hospitable and kind

Even Fort Boise had it's troublesome characters, though.  In 1845, Stephen H. L. Meek persuaded a wagon train with nearly 1,000 emigrants to turn west at the Malheur River.  Meek looked like a veteran guide and talked like he knew the region, convincing the leaders that they "could avoid all trouble and danger by taking his route."  The untried trail led the emigrants into the high desert of Oregon and ultimately into the lava lands of Deschutes.  Thirty deaths later and two or three months of delay, the hungry, thirsty, battered survivors regained the Oregon Trail near The Dallas - and they still had the Columbia River to contend with!

But today, in the year 2012, we are still fascinated by the romance surrounding the word "Fort."