The Prairie Traveler by Randolph B. Marcy -252 pages

The Prairie Traveler: A Handbook for Overland Expeditions - Randolph B. Marcy Captain U.S. Army (published by authority of the war department) originally published in 1859, 252 pages

In 1859 the westward expansion was in full swing. But horrible tales of lost and ill equipped pioneers were causing people to be hesitant. Captain Marcy was commissioned to write a guidebook to help those in the east navigate to the verdant western territories.

The instructions on: what to wear, what weapons to carry, what foods and medications to bring, how to make your animals last for the entire trip, and a host of other things. All these things the pioneer needed to know.

From a 21^st century viewpoint we think that certain levels of technology are essential to life. Yet 150 years ago, a great many people traveled more than 1600 miles to new homes and new opportunities without the aid of an acceptable Internet connection!

Trails Plowed Under: -Charles M. Russell, 1926, 210 pages

Hollywood western movies have been a staple for over 100 years now. We are so inured by the silver screen version, that it is hard to separate reality from a movie director’s version of the old west.

Here are 43 short stories (many told and heard around a campfire) that are, mostly, humorous. Stories from someone who lived in Montana when Indians, buffalo, and cattle still roamed freely. A time when the plow was just beginning to turn under the old trails.

This may be one of my favorite books.

As the Crow Flies - 308 p.

  In the 7th adventure with Walt Longmire, the sheriff has more on his mind than crime and justice. His daughter Cady is getting married to his under-sherrif's little brother. He doesn't quite know how he feels about the whole situation, and he may be avoiding the whole thing - just maybe. Walt and The Bear have been roped into being wedding planners, and since she wants to be married on the Rez, Walt is more than happy to let Henry shoulder most of the responsibility.
   While scouting out wedding venues, Walt and Henry witness the horrific fall to death of a young Crow woman. With the help of newly-appointed tribal police chief and Iraq war vet Lolo Long, justice must be found for this poor young woman. Little does Walt know that Lolo has no idea what she's doing, so he is stretched thin between the detective mentoring, the wedding plans, and the overall weight that is on him from sheriffing for more than 30 years. Oh, and don't forget the 10-hour long acid trip he goes on.
   Johnson outdoes himself in this newest installment in the series. Walt's wit and ever-present ability to see parallels between life and classic literature, make this book a must-read.
   

Hell Is Empty by Craig Johnson - 320 p.

   Wyoming Sherriff Walt Longmire is pretty tired after more 30 years of maintaining justice in Absaroka County. In this 7th book in the Walt Longmire series, Walt comes closer than ever to death's door.
   Psychopath and extremely dangerous criminal Raynaud Shade has confessed to killing a young boy 10 years before. While transporting Shade and a company of other criminals to the Feds, all hell breaks loose in the snowy high-country of Wyoming.
   With the words from Dante's Inferno running through his mind, Walt does all he can to try to bring in his criminal. He must bring justice - both civil and spiritual - to this case. Has he gone too far this time? Will his mind break before his body in those high mountains? Find out in this impossible-to-put-down book.

Junkyard Dogs by Craig Johnson - 320 p.

   In Johnson's 6th installment of the Walt Longmire series, Walt, Vic, Henry, Sancho, and Dog team up to find the owner of a severed thumb found by the local dump owners. Along the way, they find themselves deep in million-dollar developments, industrial-sized drug cultivation, and murder. While Sancho tries to face his demons and Walt and Vic try to come to terms with their undeniable attraction to one another, the case unfolds and we are along for the ride.
   Written with Johnson's trademark wit and Wyoming justice, the plot-twists and laughs will keep you turning the pages.