Along the Trail with Lewis and Clark

A River Calling: A Christian Father and His Sons; A Canoe Adventure; A Spiritual Journey That Would Last a Lifetime I cannot praise this book enough! For someone who is interested in the Lewis and Clark expedition but doesn't want to read thick books like Undaunted Courage this book is a must. The maps and photos are wonderful to see the then and now and capture the size and achievement of the expedition. Having canoed the whole river and writing my own book, the maps helped me recreate my own journey. The book brought me back to my own journey as well as the 1804-1806 journey. If you're heading out to any area of the Missouri and love history, this book should be out on your dashboard!

Nightguy is right--the book shouldn't have ads. And, coming out next year, the 2nd edition WON'T have them. Also, Joseph Mussulman has been updating maps, Vicky Soderberg the touring information, and I've been fixing historical boo-boos. Glad to say there aren't too many, but our 2nd edition will be sharper. We will say again, right up in the front matter, that the maps and text are intended to be used with STATE HIGHWAY MAPS that give the detail we unfortunately don't have room for.

As Executive Director of the National Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Council, I have the opportunity to review many guides now available to the Lewis and Clark Trail and indeed, Lee Enterprises' publication is a traveler's essential companion as they embark on their own journey of discovery of the epic expedition of Lewis and Clark. The text manages to guide as well as inspire readers' attention to the other excellent texts available for the study of Lewis and Clark and the other story: that of the Native Americans met and befriended on the journey. For road travel, the maps indeed have no equal for their attention to the detail required for following as closely as possible the actual routes of the expedition. If I could have wished for any additional mapping information, it would have been for one comprehensive fold-out map depicting the entire route juxtaposed on the appropriate Interstate, State and Forest Service roads. Additionally, the authors' embrace of othe! r significant sites and stories on the trail, suggested lodging and restaurants make this guide one that should always be in the set of "required Lewis and Clark reading" and close at hand while traveling the Lewis and Clark Trail.

While Stephen Ambrose wrote a most comprehensive book on the Lewis and Clark adventure, Barbara Fifer's prose in this "guide book" captures the flavor and the essence of this most important journey in US history. Mr. Ambrose, in his praise of Fifer's writing, said to her, "Young lady, you can write." Yes, I believe reading the book will support his praise. By the way, why did you not name Barbara Fifer as the writer?

While there are but a handful of Lewis and Clark Trail guidebooks, usually locally written, with strong parochial interests, this one covers the entire trail, with evenhandness.Combining the history with what to see today, what really makes this guidebook sizzle is the full color maps, highly detailed, featuring all of the significant (and some not so significant) Lewis and Clark sites.Stephen Ambrose calls it "without question, the best guidebook to the Lewi and Clark Trail" and I agree.