Journal of a Trapper: In the Rocky Mountains Between 1834 and 1843

by Osborne Russell, Aubrey L. Haines

Release Date: August, 2001

Edition: Paperback

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A fascinating view of the trapper's life

This is the best description of the life of a trapper I have ever found. Most accounts deal more with the highlights of the Indian fights and other great challenges that these men faced. Russell deals with a number of these but also covers the day to day life of camping, riding, trapping, hunting food and cooking it as well as some of the day to day social interactions.

Fortunately many of the places he desribed are still intact and can be visited today. One can still see buffalo in the Lamar valley in Yellowstone or see the area where he crossed the Snake River in spring flood in bullboats. His careful accounting of the routes and locations make it possible to almost follow in his footsteps.

The author has done an excellent job of editing this information in his well annotated footnotes and his maps. A thoroughly fascinating volume.

A wonderful insight to the life of a mountain man

A great book but hard to read at first because of the language that Russell uses. There are wonderful stories of indians and escape. This book leaves you wanting a continuation, but because it is a personal journal that is impossible. Haines does a wonderful job editing. A must have for the library of a mountain man.