Following the Nez Perce Trail
Cheryl Wilfong
The 1877 flight of the Nez Perce from their homelands while pursued by U.S. soldiers and citizen volunteers is one of the most compelling and sorrowful events in American history. The Nez Perce (Nee-Me-Poo) National Historic Trail traces the route taken by the 800 Nez Perce men, women, and children from May to October 1877. Drawing on eyewitness accounts, this unique book chronicles the heartbreaking retreat of Chief Joseph and his people. It offers an essential guide for anyone who wishes to follow all or part of the Trail.
The Nez Perce Trail stretches for 1,500 miles from Wallowa Lake, Oregon, through Idaho and Yellowstone Park, ending at the Bear Paw Battlefield, near Chinook, Montana. This historical guidebook splits the Trail into thirteen segments, each with its own historical chronology and travel plan, with alternative routes for "mainstream," "adventurous," and "intrepid" travelers. Each route includes maps, GPS coordinates, and recommendations for side trips. Period photographs and firsthand accounts from those who first traveled the trail--the Nez Perce, soldiers, settlers--bring history to life.
For more than fifteen years, Following the Nez Perce Trail has led travelers and historians as they've retraced the flight of the Nez Perce from their homeland in the Pacific Northwest to their exile in Oklahoma and Canada. This new edition has been updated and expanded by author Cheryl Wilfong, and includes a new emphasis on the experiences of the Nez Perce women and children. Her detailed knowledge of the Nez Perce Trail informs every page of this indispensable guide.
About the author
A frustrating attempt to follow the unmarked Nez Perce Trail compelled Cheryl Wilfong to write a guidebook. She drew on her skills as a mathematician, accountant, and managing editor to organize the work. While studying for a Master's degree in Intercultural Management, Wilfong worked with Cakchiquel indigenas in Guatemala. As a VISTA volunteer, she worked with Navajo migrants and Southern Paiutes. When she isn't traveling, Wilfong gardens and meditates in Vermont.
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"An outstanding travel guide for those interested in touring the route."
"Wilfong's intelligently conceived and meticulously done work represents a valuable addition to historical travel literature."
