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Pathways: A Story of Trails and Men (1968), by John W. Bingaman

FOREWORD

This delightful book on trails and trail-riding must surely have wide appeal to our American people who seek opportunities for outdoor recreation in hiking or riding on horses or mules, or merely leading a lightly packed little burro into secluded valleys or among crags near or above timberline in the Sierra Nevada, Cascades, Rockies, and of the eastern mountains.

Since the passage of the Wilderness Act of 1964, trails have been more than ever in the minds of people, old or young; those able to enjoy them, or shut-ins who have fond memories of days on their steep or winding routes; for in the halls of Congress today are bills to establish a national trail system. Many State Legislatures and even county officers consider the need for means to get away from the confusion, noise and dangers of highway travel. The proposed national trail system when authorized would include the famous Appalachain Trail, running from Maine to Georgia; the John Muir Trail, from Yosemite to Sequoia National Park, and others in mountain areas of other regions of our vast country.

New legislation also pending is designed to preserve many wild rivers which would remain free of highways close to their pristine banks, although trails would naturally follow them in many cases.

Emphasis, of course, will continue to be put on the historic trails of the western movement across our land, among them the Santa Fe, the Mormon, the Oregon, the Pony Express Trails, and others bearing the names of great explorers—Lewis and Clark, Fremont, Bozeman, Lassen and McKenzie and others too numerous to mention here.

Retired Park Ranger John W. Bingaman in his book writes from long experience on mountain trails and deep and abiding love of the high country, the majestic forests and valleys with wild creeks and rivers. This book means much to me for I have ridden and hiked trails with both forest and park rangers, including John Bingaman, and Gabriel Sovulewski, the master trail builder. Surely it will encourage still wider use of trails, and will arouse nostalgia in those of us who can no longer safely follow them with expectant thrills and the enjoyment of just being out of range of the noise and smog of modern civilization.

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