Any good book recommendations on the trip west during the 1800's detailing hardships /challenges?

Life, letters and travels of Father Pierre-Jean de Smet, S. J., 1801-1873 : missionary labors and adventures among the wild tribes of the North American Indians, embracing minute description of their manners, customs, games, modes of warfare and torture, legends, traditions, etc., all from personal observations…

of course there is Ambrose's Undaunted Courage on the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Not Oregon but Oregon Trail, Stewart's Ordeal by Hunger the story of the Donner Party.

BQ78 said:

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Life, letters and travels of Father Pierre-Jean de Smet, S. J., 1801-1873 : missionary labors and adventures among the wild tribes of the North American Indians, embracing minute description of their manners, customs, games, modes of warfare and torture, legends, traditions, etc., all from personal observations…

of course there is Ambrose's Undaunted Courage on the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Not Oregon but Oregon Trail, Stewart's Ordeal by Hunger the story of the Donner Party.

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No offense....but I thought the Donner's were trapped in the High Sierras on their way to California? (I know the trail follows the Oregon until it went past South Pass Wyoming)..

Thus why I said not Oregon but Oregon Trail, which they departed at Fort Bridger

BQ78 said:

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Thus why I said not Oregon but Oregon Trail, which they departed at Fort Bridger

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Got it!

The Oregon Trail by Francis Parkman is interesting.

Wagons West by Frank McLynn. It's excellent.

Beware! There is a historical fiction series with the same main title…make sure you avoid those.

Just purchased this book on Amazon.

Thanks. I just purchased it also. Looks great.

A book I really enjoyed was, "Women's Diaries of the Westward Journey". It's an unvarnished account of the journey told from the women's point of view, recording the hardships and challenges. It really describes the daily struggle of the trek.

Ttt for tamc1956ag

Enjoying undaunted courage!! thanks

Oregon specifically or westwards in general?

westward. indians, weather, etc. exciting

In that case, The Contested Plains by Elliott West is a good read about American expansion into Colorado, especially focusing on the gold rush and subsequent conflict between white settlers and the American Indians who lived there

"Undaunted Courage" is a novel.

I would suggest:
"Lewis and Clark Among the Indians" and anything else written by - James Rhonda
"Thomas Jefferson & the Stony Mountains: Exploring the West From Monticello" - Donald Jackson
"The Fate of the Corps: What Became of the Lewis and Clark Explorers After the Expedition"- Larry Morris
"Dear Brother" - James Holmberg

And of course "The Lewis and Clark Expedition; Day by Day" by Gary Moulton.

Rabid Cougar said:

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"Undaunted Courage" is a novel.

I would suggest:
"Lewis and Clark Among the Indians" and anything else written by - James Rhonda
"Thomas Jefferson & the Stony Mountains: Exploring the West From Monticello" - Donald Jackson
"The Fate of the Corps: What Became of the Lewis and Clark Explorers After the Expedition"- Larry Morris
"Dear Brother" - James Holmberg

And of course "The Lewis and Clark Expedition; Day by Day" by Gary Moulton.

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Nope, not a novel at all. Although, it may have made for a more interesting read if it were a historical novel. I picked up a copy when visiting Pompey's Pillar last summer, and while it was a very good book and well written, it's not a "page turner".

I read the journals of Lewis and Clark many years ago but found my self confused most of the time about where they were exactly. That Moulton book in conjunction with it might have helped.

Col. Steve Austin said:

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Rabid Cougar said:

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"Undaunted Courage" is a novel.

I would suggest:
"Lewis and Clark Among the Indians" and anything else written by - James Rhonda
"Thomas Jefferson & the Stony Mountains: Exploring the West From Monticello" - Donald Jackson
"The Fate of the Corps: What Became of the Lewis and Clark Explorers After the Expedition"- Larry Morris
"Dear Brother" - James Holmberg

And of course "The Lewis and Clark Expedition; Day by Day" by Gary Moulton.

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Nope, not a novel at all. Although, it may have made for a more interesting read if it were a historical novel. I picked up a copy when visiting Pompey's Pillar last summer, and while it was a very good book and well written, it's not a "page turner".

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I thought Undaunted Courage was outstanding. Another great read is The Pioneers: The Heroic Story of the Settlers Who Brought the American Ideal West by David McCullough. Not about the Oregon Trail but still encompasses the idea of leaving civilization to enter a new world.