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Hard Road West: History and Geology along the Gold Rush Trail Paperback – September 15, 2008

by Keith Heyer Meldahl (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 138 ratings
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In 1848 news of the discovery of gold in California triggered an enormous wave of emigration toward the Pacific. Lured by the promise of riches, thousands of settlers left behind the forests, rain, and fertile soil of the eastern United States in favor of the rough-hewn lands of the American West. The dramatic terrain they struggled to cross is so familiar to us now that it is hard to imagine how frightening—even godforsaken—its sheer rock faces and barren deserts seemed to our forebears.
       

Hard Road West brings their perspective vividly to life, weaving together the epic overland journey of the covered wagon trains and the compelling story of the landscape they encountered. Taking readers along the 2,000-mile California Trail, Keith Meldahl uses the diaries and letters of the settlers themselves—as well as the countless hours he has spent following the trail—to reveal how the geology and geography of the West directly affected our nation’s westward expansion. He guides us through a corrugated landscape of sawtooth mountains, following the meager streams that served as lifelines through an arid land, all the way to California itself, where colliding tectonic plates created breathtaking scenery and planted the gold that lured travelers west in the first place.
 
“Alternates seamlessly between vivid accounts of the 19th-century journey and lucid explanations of the geological events that shaped the landscape traveled. . . . The reader comes away with both an appreciation for the arduous cross-continental wagon journey and an understanding of the events that created such a vast and difficult landscape.”—Library Journal

 


“[Meldahl] draws on his professional knowledge to explain the geology of the West, showing how centuries of geological activity had a direct effect on the routes taken by the travelers. . . . Meldahl provides a novel account of the largest overland migration since the Crusades.”—Science News
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    352 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    University of Chicago Press
  4. Publication date
    September 15, 2008
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 0.9 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0226468577
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0226519623
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Among the best books I've read in the past five years." -- Ben Schwarz ― Atlantic

About the Author


Keith Heyer Meldahl is professor of geology and oceanography at Mira Costa College.


Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0226519627
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of Chicago Press; Reprint edition (September 15, 2008)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0226468577
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0226519623
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.16 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.9 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 138 ratings

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Keith Heyer Meldahl

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
138 global ratings
A Bargain at TWICE the Price
5 Stars
A Bargain at TWICE the Price
My college degree was in geology. I've been out West more times than I can remember. I've attached a photo of me out West the first time on a geology field trip. I was a little younger than the author was when he first crossed the Mississippi to see the towering front range of Colorado.Keith captured the essence of the rugged topography and what courage, endurance, and determination the emigrants possessed to overcome the 1,800+ mile journey to get to California, the promised land. You'll be fascinated by the easy-to-understand geologic concepts in this delightful book.I guarantee you'll write in your review it would have been a bargain at twice the price.
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Top reviews from the United States

Lady Engineer
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, what a book!
Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2024
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The California trail and the geology that shaped the emigrant experience. Describes the grandeur and the unbelievable hardship experienced by the early overland migrants, and explains the geologic forces that created the mountains, basins, canyons, and rivers that helped or hindered them along the way. The author explains an awful lot of geology in the process. A great read, with maps and photos throughou that show the locales and rock formations being discussed.
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Lee K.
5.0 out of 5 stars The geology behind the history
Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2023
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In a nutshell, this book explains why the 19th century overland wagon trails to California went where they did -- why they stayed on ridgetops, followed rivers, crossed particular mountain passes. It explains how Nevada's Fortymile Desert, the Sierra Nevada, and and California's gold deposits were formed, and it provides some very interesting observations from emigrant journals and correspondence. The geological and geographical context helps readers better understand the California Trail.
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L. M Young
4.0 out of 5 stars Mixes History and Geology!
Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2022
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When I saw this book's description, I was intrigued. Then when I finally received it, I rejoiced. Someone basically took my favorite episode of ALISTAIR COOKE'S AMERICA, "Gone West," in which he traced the path of westward travelers to the California gold fields, expanded it using pioneer journals, and then added geological information to explain how the landscape that the wagon trains crossed was formed. Maps and photos are included to explain some of the more scholarly geologic terms, especially having to do with how landmasses and mountains were formed.

If you love history and love earth sciences, this has got to be the book for you, especially if, way back when, you watched AMERICA and were fascinated by the "Gone West" episode. The author even opens with the Humboldt Sink, which Cooke talked about in length in the episode. The road was far more difficult than Cooke could describe in one television episode, and it's still amazing to think that due to the makeup of the rock and soil underneath the westward path you can still stop to see grooves in the rock. (I also don't remember passing so close to the Humboldt Sink on our two cross-country trips! It is due south of I-80 in Nevada.)

Please be warned it is very detailed about the geologic features and processes which built the landscape west of the Mississippi. If you're "not a science person," the narrative may prove daunting.
2 people found this helpful
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Steve
5.0 out of 5 stars Made for an Easy Chair and a Hot Cup of Cocoa in Front of a Crackling Fire
Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2017
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I cannot speak highly enough of this book. I live in the Basin and Range region (Las Vegas), and reading "Hard Road West" has immeasurably enhanced my understanding and appreciation of this area. After retiring, I moved to the American West from St. Louis, MO., specifically because I had fallen in love with it during my first visit at age 16.

I never realized how the ancient Farallon tectonic plate had played such a role in the landscape of the West, and reading of how gold found its way to the Sierra Nevada's 49ers was thrilling as well. But then there's the uplift of the Sierra Nevada itself that's told so splendidly. And how about today's Pacific Plate slowly stretching the Basin and Range along with it, as the Plate treads toward Alaska, causing (in a few million years) the West to tear apart from the rest of the North American Continent? Beachfront property in Nevada!

If you read this book, you will be hungry for more of Keith Meldahl's geology and storytelling, so undoubtedly you will purchase another excellent book of his -- "Rough-Hewn Land." In both books, the geology is wonderfully presented, and both books also include significant historical events associated with the geology. It seems that, if he so desired, Mr. Meldahl could be a best-selling novelist as well. Of course, the "stories" he tells in these two books are not fiction -- they are actual history. But in both works, he weaves the storytelling seamlessly into the geology, and his phrasing, syntax, and artistry in conveying both the geology and the story are superb. The magic, the splendor of the West thrives on each page.

I am resisting the temptation to comment on specific passages in his book -- they're so good, I'll let you discover them for yourselves. If you'd like a taste, just use Amazon's "Look Inside" feature.

Thanks, Keith Heyer Meldahl.

I must go now. The gold and silver await ...
9 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Paolo Bagnasco
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book !
Reviewed in Italy on March 31, 2017
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Being fond in geology I was looking for a book about the US west, planning to go there on holidays. Thanks to the Author I also discovered the amazing story of the gold rush, of which I knew nothing. Technical subjects are well explained at a level that doesn't require previous skills and the emigrants story is also very well described, often quoting theirs own words. Many nice pictures are included describing the emigrants route(s), geology and geography of the West.
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Ron
5.0 out of 5 stars Not only does it highlight the extreme difficulties experienced by many - including many who did not make it - but it acts as a
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 1, 2016
Verified Purchase
This is a compelling book for anyone who wants to study the western movement in 19th century America. Not only does it highlight the extreme difficulties experienced by many - including many who did not make it - but it acts as a case study of the pioneering spirit and motivations of human on the move seeking what they consider will be a better life, if not paradise. It is a story of mind defying nature in quest of a goal largely created by mind itself, with an outcome as varied and unknown as the difficulties encountered along the way.
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Hannah Carnley
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 29, 2015
Verified Purchase
Fascinating book and excellent combination of the history and geology of the area. Geology provides useful background to help understand the terrain faced by the early settlers.
One person found this helpful
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Timbo
3.0 out of 5 stars Hard Road West Review
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 24, 2012
Verified Purchase
Not a bad read, quite interesting in places, but in others it struggled to hold my attention. All in all, not a bad read and anyone interested in the subject may consider reading.
One person found this helpful
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