well i figured ya ta put a bunch of meat in tha answer as ya usually do. your post on tha lonsome dove story got my interest perked up. most of tha folks, i think, was thinking it was just another route to kansas from s. texas. actually, there was at least one route from s. texas to colorado. i think it used a portin of the goodnight trail.
course none of em was used too long.
blessings