Journal of a Trapper by Osborne Russell

I really enjoy reading historical books and especially those about the Old West.  Journal of a Trapper is one of my favorite such books.  As the title suggests, this book is the journal of fur trapper Osborne Russell which documents the 9 years he spent in the Rocky Mountains trapping and hunting.  I am envious of those who got to see this region in it’s nearly pristine state and Russell does an excellent job describing the experience.  One amazing passage describes how he had to wait on the trail for a couple of hours while a massive herd of bison migrates in front of him.  Sadly towards the end of his writings he notes the absence of these great herds and how it is less and less common to even see a bison.  I also enjoyed his entries about winter in what is now Ogden, UT and how, when he needed me, he would just hike up to the foothills of the Wasatch mountains and shoot a big horn sheep.  It sounds that they were plentiful in his day and of course now, I doubt there are even any transplanted sheep in the hills above Ogden.  Interestingly, at the time I read this book, I happened to travel to Yellowstone and fished at the site of one of his encampments at the confluence of the Lewis Fork of the Snake River and the Snake River (it was full of whitefish by the way).  It was cool to be standing right where he did some 170 years earlier.

I marvel that hearty souls like Osborne Russel could make a living … Continue Reading

Zion National Park (via nps.gov)

Here are a few headlines I came across for some Western parks:

• Noted wolf pack at end of its trail (via Deseret News)
• Grand Teton, Yellowstone begin plowing for spring (via Deseret News)
• Utah scenic byways guide goes online (via Deseret News)
• Spring comes to Zion National Park (via Deseret News)
• Zion National Park plan aims at protecting natural sounds (via Deseret News)

Here are some interesting links from around the net from last weekend.  Enjoy!

Fishing related:

• Spring Preview for Lake Powell (via Fishing Utah by Brett Prettyman)
• Trout fishing in Snake River should be good this spring (via Idaho Statesman)

Yellowstone:

• Annual Winter Photo Festival in West Yellowstone (via nps.gov)
• Yellowstone Recruits for 2010 YCC Program (via nps.gov)

Utah Outdoor News:

• An outdoor fair for kids (via Utah DWR)
• 26 sick bighorn sheep are euthanized (via Deseret News)
• Disease kills NE Utah bighorn sheep (via Utah DWR)

Montana Outdoor News:

• This link goes to the Billings Examiner and provides some great stories about Montana Wildlife. Billings Examiner (via @AMontanaView)

Here are a couple of interesting stories from the local news from both today and yesterday.  Currently in Salt Lake City we have the Outdoor Retailers Winter Market which I would love to be attending, but alas I am not an outdoor retailer so I guess that will have to wait for another year.Outdoor Retailers Winter Market

• Outdoor Retailer Winter Market Expo: Utah retailers enjoying local advantage
• Outdoor Retailer show spurs innovation
• Outdoor Retailer debuts with a flurry

Wildlife News

• 40 bison will soon have a new home
• Two chances to see bald eagles:  I have seen an eagle in each of the last 3 fishing trips I have taken.  I can recall a time not too long ago, when I never saw eagles or rarely on trips up to the greater Yellowstone region.  I am so amazed by how well they have come back from the brink of extinction.  As a kid if I saw a bald eagle it was a unbelievable sighting.  Well I still feel that way, but to my children it is a common place occurrence.  I think that is pretty great.  If you haven’t seen an eagle recently get out to one of these viewing events.  You won’t be sorry.

Yellowstone Earthquake Activity

• Update on Yellowstone Earthquakes

Looks like Yellowstone was a very busy place last year. I didn’t personally get there, but I did visit Arches, Zion, Bryce, and Grand Teton. I expect the economy played into the increased park attendance with people vacationing closer to home. Plus the Ken Burns documentary might have pushed a few people out the door that might not have otherwise gone. Check out the full details: Yellowstone National Park – Record Numbers Visited Yellowstone In 2009 (U.S. National Park Service)