Jim Bridger, Old Gabe, Big Throat

Jim Bridger is presented to the reader as the ultimate mountain man. Jim is illiterate and yet is a man who understands and communicates in about a dozen languages. Jim has a strong love of the land and wilderness, especially of the Northern Rocky Mountains region. Jim begins to trap beaver during the period of great demand for beaver pelts, which comes to a close about 1840 when he is 36 years old.

The next 28 years, Jim is often in doubt of having a continued occupation in the mountains. First, Jim builds Ft. Bridger along the Oregon Trail which stretches to Oregon and California. He helps emigrants to the West survive the rigors of the trail, gives them advice and repairs their wagons. Jim buys excess goods and gives pointers on how to deal with the Indians and protect traveling wagon trains. Jim is a...