Adventures of a Mountain Man: The Narrative of Zenas Leonard

Zenas Leonard was a wilderness explorer who journeyed across and charted the perilous Rocky Mountains in the early 19th century, keeping this diary as he went. Embarking on his spectacular journey with a company of seventy like-minded fellows, Leonard chronicles the many perils and trials the group encountered through their lengthy voyage deep into unknown territory. The band of explorers are beset with difficulties; the harsh, craggy lay of the land, ferocious creatures, and the various Native American tribes put the men through the greatest physical and mental tests. Many members of the group were fur traders by profession; in scouting the vast landscape of the Rockies, they hoped to discover new and prized game to catch. However their ambitions are sorely tested by hunger and thirst, while dangerous creatures such as the grizzly bear strike terror in their hearts. Hostility and mistrust on the part of some Indian tribes compound difficulties even farther: although furs commanded very high prices at the time, the dangers involved in their collection would test every man to his limits. In likely reflection of Zenas Leonard's profession, this chronicle is written in a straightforward, frank, readable style. The descriptions and narrative are plainly but intelligently written and are evocative; Leonard rarely strays to overlong descriptions or rhetorical flourishes. For those seeking a unique, readable, and authentic impression of the North American wilderness as it was long ago, this book is indispensable.