During the fur trading era, a rare breed of daring men challenged the treacherous Rocky Mountains in search of much-desired beaver pelts. The Indians considered the Rocky Mountains their Sacred Ground.
In 1832, wagons would cross South Pass for the first time in the area known today as Wyoming. This paved the way for the Oregon Trail. The mountaineer that accomplished this was an Army captain by the name of Benjamin Bonneville. This book deals with the question of why the military would provide a sabbatical for him to take twenty wagons to the Rocky Mountains. Was he actually an explorer, or a spy sent to monitor the British Hudson Bay Company?
During this same year, the British were handing out rifles to the Indians to be used on the American mountain men. These fur trappers were some of the most rugged and determined adventurers in history.
The country was experiencing a period of prosperity under Andrew Jackson. "Old Hickory" was a visionary thinker. He considered the possibility that the United States might well span the continent from sea to shining sea. The President recognized he would need firsthand knowledge about the untamed lands beyond St. Louis to fulfill his dream. Jackson lacked needed information about the cutthroat competition among the fur trade companies, Indian activities, and the British Hudson Bay Company. So, he sent an envoy to be his eyes and ears. This is the story of that adventure.
This book is based on historical facts. Jonathan McKenna, Rachel Lawrence, Charlie Newcomb, and Wylee Jamoke are fictional characters in name only. Their love, their dreams, and their fears are as real as the lives of the historical characters that they interact with. These three courageous men and one extraordinary woman will interact with the most famous historical characters of the era. This trio of mountain men will share adventures with Jim Bridger, Captain Bonneville, President Andrew Jackson, and many others. Experience the challenges of traveling from Washington D.C. to the majestic Rocky Mountains during this turbulent time in history.
