Colter's Hell and Jackson's Hole The Fur Trappers' Exploration of the Yellowstone and Grand Teton Park Region

Long before the famous 1870s surveys, a rugged crew of Rocky Mountain beaver trappers quietly charted the wilderness that would later become Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Guided by the promise of prized pelts, they crossed steaming geyser basins, towering peaks, and deep river valleys, dubbing features with names that reflected both fear and fascination. Their journals speak of a “land of volcanoes” and “spouting fountains,” yet their tales faded into frontier whispers, dismissed as exaggerations until modern research revived their legacy.

The book follows these early explorers as they navigate the headwaters of three continental river systems, tracing routes from the budding Snake River to the distant Columbia and Mississippi basins. By comparing period maps with trapper logs, it reveals the true origins of names like “Firehole” and corrects the misplaced legend of “Colter’s Hell,” separating myth from the real terrain they crossed. Through vivid anecdotes of cramped cabins, sudden storms, and encounters with wildlife, listeners gain a sense of how these fur traders laid the groundwork for the national parks we revere today.