Final answer:
Settlers on the Santa Fe Trail faced challenges such as harsh weather, the risk of disease, scarcity of resources, and difficult terrains. They often had to rely on cooperation and formal agreements for a successful journey despite the sometimes perilous conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The settlers who used the Santa Fe Trail faced numerous challenges whether they chose the Mountain Route or the Cimarron Route. The journey along the Santa Fe Trail was fraught with difficulties such as harsh weather, the risk of disease, potential attacks, and the arduous nature of travel during that period.
One of the major challenges was the terrain itself, which could be both rugged and unforgiving; the Mountain Route offered high elevation and rocky paths, posing a danger for wagons and livestock, while the Cimarron Route's flat, arid plains risked water scarcity. Moreover, diseases such as cholera and dysentery were prevalent, and settlers relied heavily on cooperation and formal agreements to ensure group success.
In summary, settlers on the Santa Fe Trail had to contend with difficult terrains, health risks like disease, scarcity of vital resources like water, and sometimes conflict, although most violent encounters were often provoked by the settlers themselves. Despite these trials, the promise of a new beginning in the West motivated many to endure the hardships.