An account of the 1843 pleasure excursion to the Rockies led by Sir William Drummond Stewart, as taken from the unpublished diaries of Matthew C. Field, supplemented by his letters and articles published in the New Orleans picayune and the St. Louis reveille.

The Oregon Trail: Sketches of Prairie and Rocky-Mountain Life by Francis Parkman takes readers on a captivating journey through the American frontier. Drawing from his own experiences, Parkman provides a vivid and immersive account of the arduous and perilous journey along the Oregon Trail in the mid-19th century. With detailed descriptions of the landscape, encounters with Native American tribes, and the challenges faced by pioneers, the book offers a compelling narrative of adventure, exploration, and the pursuit of a new life. Key Aspects of the Book The Oregon Trail: Sketches of Prairie and Rocky-Mountain Life: Firsthand Account of the Frontier: Parkman's book offers a firsthand account of the American frontier during a significant period in history. Through his personal experiences and observations, he paints a vivid picture of the rugged landscapes, harsh conditions, and encounters with Native American tribes that pioneers faced along the Oregon Trail. His detailed sketches provide readers with an intimate glimpse into the realities of life on the frontier. Exploration and Adventure: The book captures the spirit of exploration and adventure that characterized the westward expansion of the United States. Parkman's narrative follows the journey of pioneers as they navigate treacherous terrains, ford rivers, and face the uncertainties of the wilderness. Readers are swept away by the excitement and challenges of the frontier, experiencing the thrill of discovery alongside the pioneers. Cultural and Historical Insights: In addition to the gripping adventure, Parkman's book offers valuable cultural and historical insights. He provides observations on the Native American tribes encountered along the trail, shedding light on their customs, traditions, and interactions with the pioneers. The book also offers a glimpse into the social and political dynamics of the time, showcasing the resilience and determination of those who ventured west in search of a better future. In Francis Parkman's captivating narrative, The Oregon Trail: Sketches of Prairie and Rocky-Mountain Life, readers are transported to the American frontier during a pivotal era of westward expansion. Parkman's firsthand account, combined with his insightful cultural and historical observations, provides an immersive reading experience. This book stands as a testament to Parkman's dedication to documenting the realities of the frontier and his skill in bringing the spirit of adventure and exploration to life through his vivid prose.

Henry Rush is spending the day at the Prairie Wildlife Refuge, determined to photograph a prairie dog doing a back flip. But while he whatches and waites at the edge of prairie dog town, he fails to notice the electricity humming through the air. Or the buffalo aniously pawing the ground. Or the purple-blue cloud building over the prairie grass. A tornado is forming to the west . And when the dark funnel touches down, it will wipe out everything in it's path...

Award-winning journalist rafts down the Green River, revealing a multifaceted look at the present and future of water in the American West. The Green River, the most significant tributary of the Colorado River, runs 730 miles from the glaciers of Wyoming to the desert canyons of Utah. Over its course, it meanders through ranches, cities, national parks, endangered fish habitats, and some of the most significant natural gas fields in the country, as it provides water for 33 million people. Stopped up by dams, slaked off by irrigation, and dried up by cities, the Green is crucial, overused, and at-risk, now more than ever. Fights over the river’s water, and what’s going to happen to it in the future, are longstanding, intractable, and only getting worse as the West gets hotter and drier and more people depend on the river with each passing year. As a former raft guide and an environmental reporter, Heather Hansman knew these fights were happening, but she felt driven to see them from a different perspective—from the river itself. So she set out on a journey, in a one-person inflatable pack raft, to paddle the river from source to confluence and see what the experience might teach her. Mixing lyrical accounts of quiet paddling through breathtaking beauty with nights spent camping solo and lively discussions with farmers, city officials, and other people met along the way, Downriver is the story of that journey, a foray into the present—and future—of water in the West.