Wonder what it was like to travel the Santa Fe Trail in the mid-1800s? If so, sign on with 27-year-old Richard Lush Wilson in the spring of 1842 and head out from Independence, Missouri, to Santa Fe, New Mexico, with the Solomon Houch wagon train.

Wilson’s copious notes describing Indians, trappers, wild life, and other encounters were given to his friend and colleague, Benjamin F. Taylor. He created Short Ravelings from a Long Yarn, published as an illustrated pamphlet in 1847. This pamphlet was reprinted as a limited-edition book in 1936. In 2008 Pilgrims Process re-issued this rare publication, making it available to modern readers.

Short Ravelings is a vivid, first-hand account of Wilson’s life-changing journey into the wild West. Filled with colorful descriptions and thought-provoking observations, it’s a fascinating read. If you are interested in Western history or real adventure travel, this is the book for you.

ISBN 978-0-9790909-6-7 $15.95