Prairie Traveler: A Hand-Book for Overland Expeditions, With Maps, Illustrations, and Itineraries of the Principal Routes Between the Mississippi and the Pacific (Classic Reprint)

Plan your overland journey with confidence using a classic field manual.This practical guide lays out the principal routes between the Mississippi and the Pacific, with clear advice on preparation, travel conditions, and how to select the best path for your start point, season, and goals. It combines route itineraries, wagon and team tips, and essential provisioning to help travelers, settlers, or researchers move reliably across the plains.This edition explains how to organize parties, manage supplies, and handle common challenges from water and forage to animals and camp life. It also offers historical insight into frontier travel, including practical notes on equipment, food safety, and the realities of crossing bind­ing terrains, rivers, and deserts. How to choose among multiple routes to California and Oregon based on season, departure point, and destination.What to pack, store, and substitute when supplies are scarce, including guides on pemmican, dried vegetables, and anti-scorbutics.Methods for marching, camping, and dealing with animals, water, and field repairs.Illustrations, itineraries, and practical tips drawn from experienced campaigns on the prairie.Ideal for readers planning or researching historic overland journeys, maritime and frontier history enthusiasts, and anyone seeking a grounded, travel-focused reference from the era. Read more