The Journal of a Mountain Man James Clyman's Own Story

James Clyman, a literate man in a wild world, was able to set down his extraordinary experiences for posterity. He was a keen and meticulous observer, and his adventures are the stuff of legends. A member of Jedediah Smith's first brigade, Clyman was there when the South Pass was discovered, opening the inter-mountain West. Crossing the country during the great migration of 1846, Clyman encountered the Donner party and gave them sound advice, which they tragically ignored. A few other adventures: He sewed Jim Bridger's ear back on after a grizzly bear attack; explored the Green Valley and the Salt Lake Basin; alone and weary, he walked 600 miles to Fort Atkinson. (Still one of the West's most remarkable tales of survival.) He also kept Bill Sublette from freezing to death en route. Clyman crossed twice to the Pacific and ended up settling in the Napa Valley, raising his family, and writing down his adventures. In his own heartfelt and exciting words, James Clyman gives us his experiences in the heyday of the American fur trade, and during the peak of exploration and immigration to Oregon and California. A must-read for everyone who loves the West.