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Adventures of a Mountain Man: The Narrative of Zenas Leonard
"Strong mental faculties and a vigorous constitution" were among the attributes of Zenas Leonard, according to the publisher of the 1839 edition of this book, which the Bison Books edition reproduces. In the spring of 1830, Leonard, a native of Clearfield, Pennsylvania, "ventured to embark in an expedition across the Rocky Mountains, in the capacity of clerk to the company. The last letter received by his parents, left him at the extreme white settlement [Independence, Missouri], where they were busily occupied in making preparations for the expedition to the mountains—from whence he promised to write at short intervals; but one misfortune after another happening to the company, he was deprived of all sources of communication—so that no tidings were received of him until he unexpectedly returned to the scenes of his childhood, to the house of his father, in the fall of 1835—after an absence of 5 years and 6 months!"
Written "in response to popular demand," so to speak, Leonard's account of these years, based in large part on "a minute journal of every incident that occurred," is recognized as one of the fundamental sources on the exploration of the American West. A free trapper until the summer of 1833, when he entered the employ of Captain B. L. E. Bonneville, Leonard was part of the group sent under command of Captain Joseph Walker to explore the Great Salt Lake region—an expedition that resulted in Walker's finding the overland route to California. The Narrative ends in August 1835, with Leonard's return to Independence.
Written "in response to popular demand," so to speak, Leonard's account of these years, based in large part on "a minute journal of every incident that occurred," is recognized as one of the fundamental sources on the exploration of the American West. A free trapper until the summer of 1833, when he entered the employ of Captain B. L. E. Bonneville, Leonard was part of the group sent under command of Captain Joseph Walker to explore the Great Salt Lake region—an expedition that resulted in Walker's finding the overland route to California. The Narrative ends in August 1835, with Leonard's return to Independence.
274 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1839
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
January 23, 2026
Zenas Leonard was a member of the Joseph Walker Expedition that inadvertently discovered the Yosemite Valley as it hunted and trapped its way from across the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean during its 4-year trek in the 1830s. I've said before that the 1800s in America was a very small world, socially speaking, and all the old explorers back then seemed to know each other. Walker's Expedition was arranged by Captain Bonneville, who had discovered part of the Oregon Trail, and Walker himself had surveyed and helped lay out the route in the 1820s for what soon became known as the Santa Fe Trail. John C. Fremont published some later remarks about Walker's Expedition in his own works, because he also knew Walker. Bonneville's Expedition was written up by Washington Irving in The Adventures of Captain Bonneville, and Walker himself had Zenas Leonard as his own scribe.
Leonard's work is filled with pretty much what you would expect. Horses drop dead of starvation, and men eat their horses, or cured beaver skins, or acorns (which they think a treat when they get them) or whatever else is handy. Men perish from cold as they tramp though deep mountain snow and later slake their thirst on horse blood as they trek though deserts without water. Bravely, they plunge into new lands without the least notion of whether they can survive there or not. They are attacked by grizzly bears and a whole ethnographical catalogue of Indian tribes, repeatedly. (Zenas has an especial distaste for the warlike Blackfeet, whom he considers to be a simply maddening bunch of scoundrels). The Indians wait until the white men have acquired an entire season's worth of furs, and then steal them all in one night. Whole herds of horses are stolen right and left, and precious supplies are constantly being swiped or destroyed in accidents. Everything that could go wrong goes wrong, and if I were living back then, I'd head straight back east to settled lands and stay there.
Leonard's narrative, drawn from diaries he recorded during the expedition, is a very readable and straightforward account, and it lacks the mannered verbiage of Irving's own writing about Bonneville. Leonard can be quite eloquent in a simple way, and one of the best examples of this occurs when he describes staying with the Crows and watching a great battle between them and Blackfeet tribes, the aftermath, and the Crow ceremonies and way of life. All in all, this book is a very solid piece of work.
Leonard's work is filled with pretty much what you would expect. Horses drop dead of starvation, and men eat their horses, or cured beaver skins, or acorns (which they think a treat when they get them) or whatever else is handy. Men perish from cold as they tramp though deep mountain snow and later slake their thirst on horse blood as they trek though deserts without water. Bravely, they plunge into new lands without the least notion of whether they can survive there or not. They are attacked by grizzly bears and a whole ethnographical catalogue of Indian tribes, repeatedly. (Zenas has an especial distaste for the warlike Blackfeet, whom he considers to be a simply maddening bunch of scoundrels). The Indians wait until the white men have acquired an entire season's worth of furs, and then steal them all in one night. Whole herds of horses are stolen right and left, and precious supplies are constantly being swiped or destroyed in accidents. Everything that could go wrong goes wrong, and if I were living back then, I'd head straight back east to settled lands and stay there.
Leonard's narrative, drawn from diaries he recorded during the expedition, is a very readable and straightforward account, and it lacks the mannered verbiage of Irving's own writing about Bonneville. Leonard can be quite eloquent in a simple way, and one of the best examples of this occurs when he describes staying with the Crows and watching a great battle between them and Blackfeet tribes, the aftermath, and the Crow ceremonies and way of life. All in all, this book is a very solid piece of work.
October 29, 2018
This is a fascinating book, in particular for the insights into the rough lives of the hunters, trappers, settlers and North American Indian tribes encountered in the early 1800s. Books like these are valuable because of the authentic voices that sound across the barrier of time. I’m very glad that the editors have included everything related by Zenas Leonard and haven’t glossed over the events and attitudes of those times. I don’t believe in sanitising history – it’s much better to see it in all its rawness and decide not to make the same mistakes again.
A sad example of that concerns the vast numbers of animals killed, and not just by the hunters who form the core of the book. One Indian tribe related how they killed seven hundred buffalo in one day. The hunters, explorers and native Americans assumed there would always be a plentiful supply of these animals, and we know what happened due to over-hunting.
The narrative follows the exploits of Leonard as he and the large company of hunters and trappers trekked across North America in search of buffalo and beaver, with the aim of making a living out of selling hides and pelts. He describes methods they employed to stay alive and healthy, and how the different societies they encountered, the many varied Indian tribes, Spaniards and other Europeans, adapted to the often hostile terrain and extremes of weather. The hunters are at the forefront of exploration meeting many dangers in the territories they passed through, including attacks by bears and occasionally, hostile tribes of Indians.
The majority of encounters with other humans were peaceful and mutually helpful, but sometimes misunderstandings created problems, like the practice of a few tribes in stealing horses. It must have been completely alien to the hunters. Leonard describes a reaction by the hunters that the Indians must have found strange in turn, since they were used to simply stealing their horses back again.
There are many anecdotes of that kind throughout the book, some of which are further explained by annotation that I found very helpful. I can recommend this book as a fascinating account of a way of life as it existed in the nineteenth century.
A sad example of that concerns the vast numbers of animals killed, and not just by the hunters who form the core of the book. One Indian tribe related how they killed seven hundred buffalo in one day. The hunters, explorers and native Americans assumed there would always be a plentiful supply of these animals, and we know what happened due to over-hunting.
The narrative follows the exploits of Leonard as he and the large company of hunters and trappers trekked across North America in search of buffalo and beaver, with the aim of making a living out of selling hides and pelts. He describes methods they employed to stay alive and healthy, and how the different societies they encountered, the many varied Indian tribes, Spaniards and other Europeans, adapted to the often hostile terrain and extremes of weather. The hunters are at the forefront of exploration meeting many dangers in the territories they passed through, including attacks by bears and occasionally, hostile tribes of Indians.
The majority of encounters with other humans were peaceful and mutually helpful, but sometimes misunderstandings created problems, like the practice of a few tribes in stealing horses. It must have been completely alien to the hunters. Leonard describes a reaction by the hunters that the Indians must have found strange in turn, since they were used to simply stealing their horses back again.
There are many anecdotes of that kind throughout the book, some of which are further explained by annotation that I found very helpful. I can recommend this book as a fascinating account of a way of life as it existed in the nineteenth century.
May 17, 2019
Adventures of a Mountain Man: The Narrative of Zenas Leonard by Zenas Leonard
Enjoying this read about how the party takes off in different directions and when they meet up they discuss the things that happened to them.
Most fear Blackfoot Indians and the bears as they try to get to the west coast, through the Rocky Mountains.
Reason I wanted to read this one is because we are heading there and can't wait to see from the top of the range what they must've seen for themselves.
Traditions of all the different Indian groups are fascinating. Love hearing how they would dig a huge hole in a certain location and put the pelts in them and know exactly how to tell another where they were.
Love the bartering.
For safe keeping they'd find them when it was convenient and would give them a higher cost to trade them in.
Enjoying this read about how the party takes off in different directions and when they meet up they discuss the things that happened to them.
Most fear Blackfoot Indians and the bears as they try to get to the west coast, through the Rocky Mountains.
Reason I wanted to read this one is because we are heading there and can't wait to see from the top of the range what they must've seen for themselves.
Traditions of all the different Indian groups are fascinating. Love hearing how they would dig a huge hole in a certain location and put the pelts in them and know exactly how to tell another where they were.
Love the bartering.
For safe keeping they'd find them when it was convenient and would give them a higher cost to trade them in.
November 18, 2017
What makes this book unique is that it is written by the mountain man himself. Most mountain men biography's are second hand tales which depend on dubious sources. Zenas Leonard wrote his own story so the veracity of the tale relies on his own truthfulness which can or cannot be verified thru historical research. Wither way, it makes an interesting read about an interesting man who lived a unique life.
January 1, 2019
Great read
I choose this book because I am interested in the fur trade and the book is a primary source. It does a good job of documenting Zenes Leonard's experience. I highly recommend it.
I choose this book because I am interested in the fur trade and the book is a primary source. It does a good job of documenting Zenes Leonard's experience. I highly recommend it.
May 17, 2019
Adventures of a Mountain Man: The Narrative of Zenas Leonard by Zenas Leonard
Enjoying this read about how the party takes off in different directions and when they meet up they discuss the things that happened to them.
Most fear Blackfoot Indians and the bears as they try to get to the west coast, through the Rocky Mountains.
Reason I wanted to read this one is because we are heading there and can't wait to see from the top of the range what they must've seen for themselves.
Traditions of all the different Indian groups are fascinating. Love hearing how they would dig a huge hole in a certain location and put the pelts in them and know exactly how to tell another where they were.
Love the bartering.
For safe keeping they'd find them when it was convenient and would give them a higher cost to trade them in.
Enjoying this read about how the party takes off in different directions and when they meet up they discuss the things that happened to them.
Most fear Blackfoot Indians and the bears as they try to get to the west coast, through the Rocky Mountains.
Reason I wanted to read this one is because we are heading there and can't wait to see from the top of the range what they must've seen for themselves.
Traditions of all the different Indian groups are fascinating. Love hearing how they would dig a huge hole in a certain location and put the pelts in them and know exactly how to tell another where they were.
Love the bartering.
For safe keeping they'd find them when it was convenient and would give them a higher cost to trade them in.
May 28, 2025
This book written in the 1830s contains the mind of that time and for a modern reader all the violent killing, animal abuse and racism might come as a shock, but still it’s well written and also captures the time when white trappers scoured the wilderness for buffalo and beavers (are there any left of the beavers?) for profits and killed bears (either for fun or in self-defence) and also bought peltry from the American Natives who got tools and trinkets in return.
There are some events in this book that stood out: a Spanish massacre of Native Americans, how the Blackfoot used echo as a ruse/deterrent to get out of a tight spot, and that Spanish California lacked craftsmen and good furniture at that time (so if you were handy it could be profitable to stay behind).
It’s a short and well-written account.
There are some events in this book that stood out: a Spanish massacre of Native Americans, how the Blackfoot used echo as a ruse/deterrent to get out of a tight spot, and that Spanish California lacked craftsmen and good furniture at that time (so if you were handy it could be profitable to stay behind).
It’s a short and well-written account.
September 27, 2022
First To the California and back
This account is most enlightening as a travel log of Leonard, unlike a dozen ive had the privilege to read previous. Zenas provides us with a thrilling and believable account crossing to the Pacific in the early 1830's, no small task, and though enduring the unknown without map or guide, using only compass and the next waterhole (or hopeful tale of the next), makes the Spanish settlements and back. Several of the accounts provided are unique of US history, including capturing a Grizzly bear, identifying a Narwal whale on the CA coast and Indian battles on the plains. A must read account of this period and its principal leaders.
This account is most enlightening as a travel log of Leonard, unlike a dozen ive had the privilege to read previous. Zenas provides us with a thrilling and believable account crossing to the Pacific in the early 1830's, no small task, and though enduring the unknown without map or guide, using only compass and the next waterhole (or hopeful tale of the next), makes the Spanish settlements and back. Several of the accounts provided are unique of US history, including capturing a Grizzly bear, identifying a Narwal whale on the CA coast and Indian battles on the plains. A must read account of this period and its principal leaders.
March 13, 2024
An inside look at the hardships faced in opening the American West!
Many details of the day to day lives of trappers exploiting the resources of the American west are brought to light. On the one hand we can be respectful of the toughness and tenacity shown by these trappers but on the other hand we in retrospect wonder if it was worth the annihilation of animal life (beaver, buffalo) and the alteration of the lifestyle of the Indigenous peoples.
Many details of the day to day lives of trappers exploiting the resources of the American west are brought to light. On the one hand we can be respectful of the toughness and tenacity shown by these trappers but on the other hand we in retrospect wonder if it was worth the annihilation of animal life (beaver, buffalo) and the alteration of the lifestyle of the Indigenous peoples.
February 20, 2018
Short but all meat and no fat
Very interesting read about life among the mountains and Indians in the early 1830's. Very succinct study of the Crow and Blackfeet and numerous other tribes. I enjoyed this book very much and highly recommend it to folks who like to read history written by those who were there.
Very interesting read about life among the mountains and Indians in the early 1830's. Very succinct study of the Crow and Blackfeet and numerous other tribes. I enjoyed this book very much and highly recommend it to folks who like to read history written by those who were there.
July 23, 2018
A basic story about life in the mountains in the 1800s. The encounters with Indian tribes wAs interesting and little stories of interest were added in addition. Quick and easy reading.
A writing of a man's experiences as a mountain man and his encounters with different tribes and people song the way.
A writing of a man's experiences as a mountain man and his encounters with different tribes and people song the way.
May 25, 2022
I enjoyed it. Not as good as Osborn Russel’s journal, but it included many unique anecdotes and information, particularly with regard to the Spanish settlements and influence in California and the Crow Nation. Zenas spends little time discussion the details of their trapping. Most page space is dedicated to detailing their survival.
June 23, 2024
What makes this journal worth the time is the simple first person account of the incredible diifficulties and relentless brutality of the "Trapper" life. From the constant threats of Indian attack, starvation, thirst, Grizzly Bears and a multitude of others, these were hard men enduring hard times. Interesting, and worth the read !
May 8, 2018
Good book
The story was fast flipping the next page to read what happens next. Most interesting part s where how he described dealing with the Indians and their culture.
Good frontier story from back in the day
The story was fast flipping the next page to read what happens next. Most interesting part s where how he described dealing with the Indians and their culture.
Good frontier story from back in the day
November 14, 2018
Living history
Fortunately we have this clearly written and vivid first hand account of early western history. Descriptions of all facets.of life in the mountains, plains, and deserts give the reader a valuable insight into this mountain mans experience.
Fortunately we have this clearly written and vivid first hand account of early western history. Descriptions of all facets.of life in the mountains, plains, and deserts give the reader a valuable insight into this mountain mans experience.
September 15, 2019
Four Years in the Wilderness
Not only was Zenas a man of adventure and a successful trapper but he also is an interesting writer! What an amazing account of what the wild Wild West was like.
Not only was Zenas a man of adventure and a successful trapper but he also is an interesting writer! What an amazing account of what the wild Wild West was like.
March 23, 2020
A somewhat laborious account of life as a trapper
This recounting of over four years as a fur collector in the northwest during the 1830's was educational if somewhat dry. It revealed many things about the Indians I had no knowledge of beforehand.
This recounting of over four years as a fur collector in the northwest during the 1830's was educational if somewhat dry. It revealed many things about the Indians I had no knowledge of beforehand.
September 10, 2022
Found this e-book on Barnes & Noble instead:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/adve...
(The Amazon link went to a blank page with a picture of a dog.)
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/adve...
(The Amazon link went to a blank page with a picture of a dog.)
October 22, 2024
Very interesting first-hand account of travelings in the Rocky Mountains during the height of the fur trade, without any apparent tall tales or self-promotion. It was fun to try and figure out exactly where the party was as they travel west and then back east again. An enjoyable, if dated, read!
October 4, 2025
Of all the autobiographies about trappers
Interesting, but ends abruptly and leaves you hanging. Of all the autobiographies about trappers I've read, Zenas had the worst experience if them all. Three full years if work, destitution and deprivation without any profit! Sad.
Interesting, but ends abruptly and leaves you hanging. Of all the autobiographies about trappers I've read, Zenas had the worst experience if them all. Three full years if work, destitution and deprivation without any profit! Sad.
October 28, 2017
Information never shared in history lies here
Well written and very entertaining....tough guys on a big mission...these guys were studs and kind of rubes at same time.
Well written and very entertaining....tough guys on a big mission...these guys were studs and kind of rubes at same time.
July 4, 2018
Good read
This is an interesting personal account of man who was able to see our country before it was “civilized .
These men did suffer privations as the price of admission
This is an interesting personal account of man who was able to see our country before it was “civilized .
These men did suffer privations as the price of admission
September 9, 2022
Interesting
It is a wonder to me what these men experienced during that period of history. Must have been a test.
It is a wonder to me what these men experienced during that period of history. Must have been a test.
Read
July 26, 2023Good read
I have read several mountain men short accounts and I enjoyed this one the most. Very informative about Indian culture.
I have read several mountain men short accounts and I enjoyed this one the most. Very informative about Indian culture.
April 8, 2024
Mountain Men
Great story of a trapper who went with a party of hunters and trappers from the salt lake to California and return . The struggle with just making such Journey.
Great story of a trapper who went with a party of hunters and trappers from the salt lake to California and return . The struggle with just making such Journey.
March 3, 2026
Excellent first-person account of Leonard's trip to California with Joe Walker.
July 16, 2019
very detailed narrative of the west before extensive settlement
April 9, 2016
Good Picture of Life of the Mountain Men
This book gives an excellent description of the mountain men's way of life and the hardships they endured. It also provides in depth details of the native Americans they encountered.
This book gives an excellent description of the mountain men's way of life and the hardships they endured. It also provides in depth details of the native Americans they encountered.
June 5, 2019
A great story about a pioneer who explored the country. It was rough even in the days when game was plentiful. Plan ahead.
May 5, 2026
Dear Diary
Today we killed some injuns.
Today we killed some injuns.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews