Journal Of A Trapper: Nine Years in the Rocky Mountains 1834-1843

This is a true writing of what the West was like in the days of the Mountain Men. It is a diary of what one Mountain Man experienced and saw. He shares his amazement at things like endless herds of buffalo and seeing what is now Yellowstone. Good book for adult, but even my teenage grandkids find it an easy read and very interesting

This journal is just that, the journal of a trapper from the early 1800's. It's a bit rough to read at times as you are just reading his journal, very bland and basic at times, yet it clearly paints the picture of what it is like for a man to venture out into west to try his hand at being a mountain man. It's hard to rate this book because on the one hand it is not a great autobiography in the sense of being a great literary work, but it is truly fascinating to read the words of a trapper from that era, rather than a biographer telling you about him. Keep in mind, it is quite dry in many places, and the punctuation is a little more challenging. But it is worth it if you are interested in the daily life, both the mundane, less glamorous parts, as well as the challenges of what it would have been like for an ordinary mountain man to try his hand at it.

This was very interesting history about the how the Western states before being settled was the land of killing and trapping wildlife for the fur industry. I was wanting more details or information about the lifestyle. It was referencing an actual trapper's journal for the story. He was a man of few descriptive words. The main point I got was the fur bearing animals were exploited and killed without any thought to the future consequences. To this day, the grizzlies, moose, elk, beaver, etc. have not recovered and are still killed for man's pleasure.

Having taken half a dozen or more pack trips into the area that Mr. Russell talks about made this book one of the most interesting I've ever read. Because much of the Yellowstone country and the surrounding areas has changed little since the time that the author trapped and explored his way through it, it was comparatively easy to follow his trails and recognize many of the landmarks that he pointed out. I would recommend this book to anyone that seriously wants to explore, or even tour by car, the area between Fort Hall (Pocatello, Idaho area) and the north end of Yellowstone National Park. The maps are not so detailed that they distract from beauty, but do show enough that the reader will have no trouble in locating the various sites. I am an avid camper and horseback packer, but I am NOT into the "bush craft" and "mountain man" stuff. However I can see where anyone that is would be amazed by the length of time these men stayed in the hills with the barest of what we have come to call "Necessities." . I was so impressed with the book that I bought four more copies for my boys and the people that made a couple of the camping trips with me.

This book has been in my personal library for over 40 Years. I read this while living in Idaho and I was very much involved in the Fur Trade industry of that state. I visited many of the areas mentioned in the book and I hopefully followed in Mr. Osbornes foot steps if not exactly then at least in the same areas. Love the book for its descriptive narratives and it was a good read to return to.

Fun and interesting read. It is fairly easy to following the wording and easier to read than I expected as it is a diary format. I read it on a Kindle and it would have helped to have had an easier way to reference a map. Nonetheless, as an outdoorsman, I appreciated the diary and the descriptions of his travel and camping. I have my doubts as to how accurate it is - he seems to have covered many miles in in short times - but it is worth the read.

Great first hand account of the of the old west; if you like this book you will also want to read the following true accounts of the west: 1. My Sixty Years on the Plains: Trapping, Trading, and Indian Fighting (1905) 2. Jim Bridger "The Grand Old Man of the Rockies" (1922) 3. Rising Wolf, the White Blackfoot: Hugh Monroe's Story of His First Year on the Plains (1919) 4. An Indian Winter or With the Indians in the Rockies (1913) 5. The Life and Adventures of James P. Beckwourth (1856): Mountaineer, Scout, and Pioneer and Chief of the Crow Nation of Indians 6. Journal of a Trapper Or Nine Years Residence among the Rocky Mountains Between the years of 1834 and 1843 (1921) 7. Adventure of Zenas Leonard, Fur Trader and Trapper, 1831-1836 8. Forty Years a Fur Trader on the Upper Missouri (1898) 9. The Personal Narrative of James O. Pattie, of Kentucky : During an Expedition From St. Louis, Through the Vast Regions Between That Place & the Pacific Ocean, & Thence Back Through the City of Mexico 10. The Battle of the Big Hole

I loved this book. I loved reading Mr Russell’s account of his times working as a trapper in the Rocky Mountains, the wildlife and tribes of Native Americans he encountered along the way, his brief yes storytelling description of places, people and things.

The title of this book tells you what it's about really. Osborne Russell here, in effect publishes his diary of the time he spent trapping. As such, there isn't a constructed story that flows along like a novel. He just tells it like it happened. A slice of life of a young trapper (or mountain man) in the North West of what is now the United States around The Rockies to the west, Yellowstone and about as far east as The Black Hills. So a lot of the narrative just deals with travelling from one place to another, setting traps, hunting for food and interactions with natives, both good and bad. So at times things are fairly mundane, but interspersed are moments of real adventure and danger, which keep the reader's interest. It's fascinating. When most wildernesses were conquered by man, there were no real written records, but the American west is thankfully fairly well recorded and this is part of that. Not only does Osborne outline what he does, but what he sees. There's an excellent passage describing the attire and equipment of a trapper and yet another one of what later becomes the Yellowstone National Park, including what I assume is Old Faithful (the geyser) and the Lamar Valley. The natives (called by that now unpopular term Indians, or at times, savages) are encountered frequently and described without prejudice. Sometimes they are helpful, peaceful and traded with. Others are warlike and dangerous. At this period, there are more natives than whites and war parties of 80 or more are not uncommon. Another thing that strikes the reader is the way that food, in the form mostly of deer, elk, bison and antelope are, for the most part so numerous that it is normal practice to kill an animal for a meal, only really storing the meat when hard times such as winter force the trappers to stock up. I expect that this is an excellent record for anyone interested in the period and location in question. But, given the limitations of Russell sticking to the truth, however exciting or otherwise, it's an excellent read for anyone. Incidentally, Russell became a politician, served as supreme judge in Oregon and later moved to California, dying in 1892.

Todavía no puedo opinar con base, pero si puedo decir que es una historia contada por un trampero genuino de 1840's y por tanto es una narración vivida y contada por el autor.

Exactly as described

The book is sometimes burdened with to much detail, ie miles covered in certain directions but inspite of that is very interesting. The final part is especially interesting as he gives descriptions of the animals and people (Natives) he has been in contact with. I would reccomend this boook to all who enjoy history from this era.