Splendid Was the Trail

by Kenneth D. Swan

Splendid Was the Trail Hardcover by Kenneth D. Swan (Author)

125 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1993

Reviews

[Cheryle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Splendid Was the Trail by Kenneth D. Swan is a reprint from an earlier edition. Included are photos from the time Mr. Swan spent as a U.S. Forestry employee. The book is a wonderful record of his life in Region 1 which includes Montana, northern Idaho, and western South Dakota. Several questions came to mind as I read this account. What was life like in an area without good roads, marked trails, and transportation other than horseback? The author answers all of these questions and makes the time and locale come alive. His encounters with firefighters who struggled to extinguish the forest fires in the mountains as well as other outdoorsmen really made the life among the trails he traveled seem less hardship and more enjoyment of the wide open spaces.
One episode related in the book that I especially enjoyed was the trip he made around eastern Montana. He and Ted Shoemaker went on what they called a "showboat" trip to inform and educate people of the work being done in the western part of Montana. The people they encountered were hungry for entertainment and the trip was a huge success. What I enjoyed most about this recounting was the descriptions of the area and people of that part of the state during the 1920's when things were much simpler.
I highly recommend this nonfiction memoir to anyone wanting to know early history of the state of Montana and the people who established a way of life.

[Marion K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up in Montana and spending time outdoors I have long understood the need for forest management. Reading “Splendid Was the Trail” gave new insight on how early on people understood the need to protect the forest and what was needed to do this. Following the author through his adventures and learning about how the Forest Service grew early was amazing. And the photos he took during this time add to the richness of this book. If you are a fan of history and understand how things were in the past, I highly encourage you to read this book.

[Christie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little bit slow at times, but quaint history/memoir of the USFS in its infancy and one of its early, famous employees, KD Swan. Swan reminisces of the trail and horsepacking days when the USFS was mostly roadless and employees would travel on horseback for 3-4 days at a time, up to 50 miles a day, until they reached the next Forest Service cabin and ranger station. Memoir starts after the Big Burn but before WWI. Book might be a nice paring with The Big Burn by Egan.

[David Bolle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting book written by my great grandfather documenting the early years of the Forest Service in Montana and Idaho. Has some of his photos too which he was the first to be credited with a photo while photographing the sites for the US Forest Service.

[Dianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

i took this book with me to hide in the tent pitched out in the yard. i read the first chapter and took a nap. that was nice. what a good book.