John Fraley

66. Wild River Pioneers: Adventures in the Middle Fork of the Flathead, Great Bear Wilderness and Glacier National Park] - [[John Fraley]] - 2008 - Glacier Conservancy Book Club – library

This is a collection of historical accounts of fur trappers, pioneers, and explorers of the Middle Fork of the Flathead River which eventually became Glacier National Park and part of the Great Bear Wilderness.

Author John Fraley spent much of his professional life in wildlife conservation in this area. He was always intrigued by the remnants of abandoned cabins and other traces of early pioneers and the stories that went with them.

For this volume, he tracked down early historical and newspaper records, first hand accounts, and visited abandoned sites and even found long unknown grave sites as well as more well-known sites. These include the discovery of Marias Pass which was the first east/west railroad track over the continental divide. This pass had long been known to the natives in the area, but remained hidden to white explorers. There is also the history of the more familiar inholdings in Glacier’s Park Apgar area around Lake Macdonald.

Athough I had read and enjoyed the stories of the Native American tribes who used this area, this book filled the gap for the era of pioneers. I enjoy stories set in wilderness and appreciated these. Fraley has more books about this area; I look forward to reading additional ones.… (plus d'informations)

When presented with the opportunity to learn more about my adopted state I was thrilled. Montana is a state rich in history and I am the first to admit to knowing very little of it. It’s also a very diverse state which encompasses different ecosystems and runs from time zone to time zone. Heroes of the Bob Marshall Wilderness focuses on one are of this great state but it’s an environmentally important and scenically beautiful one.

I will note that I didn’t read this book like a novel, from cover to cover. I would pick it up between books and read a story or two here and there. As it’s not a novel or a historical narrative it was a pleasant way to fill some spare time here and there. The book shares the stories of the people who fought for and love this magnificent wilderness area.

It’s so very hard to describe how beautiful the Bob truly is and I have only danced around one side of it. Here you can read about the people and forces that led to its protection as a roadless wildnerness. To learn their stories is fascinating.

This is a book for anyone who loves Montana, who loves the wilderness and wants to see some of this country stay wild.… (plus d'informations)