High Country
High Country by Willard Wyman, published by University of Oklahoma Press in April 2008, is an illustrated work that delves into the life of a packer guiding mule trains into remote mountain areas. Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, the narrative follows young Ty Hardin as he learns the intricacies of this demanding profession from the legendary Fenton Pardee. The story captures the challenges and rewards of a life dedicated to the wilderness, emphasizing the unique experiences that come with navigating the inaccessible high country.
Readers will find a detailed exploration of Ty’s journey from apprentice to seasoned packer, as he faces the realities of both his profession and the broader changes brought on by World War II. The book presents insights into the techniques of packing and leading animals, as well as the skills involved in hunting, tracking, and camping in rugged terrains. Wyman’s writing immerses readers in the sensory experiences of the packer’s life, evoking the sights and sounds of the Montana mountains and beyond. With 362 pages, this edition offers a comprehensive look at a life intertwined with nature and adventure.
Official synopsis Publisher
The packer’s business is guiding mule trains into mountains where wagons can’t travel. It’s a life of danger, long days, and low pay. But for those wedded to the wilderness and inaccessible high country, it is the only life there is.
During the Great Depression, young Ty Hardin is sent from his family’s failing Montana ranch to learn from the last of the great packers, Fenton Pardee, legendary in the Montana Rockies for his packing adventures across the Swan Range all the way to the Big Divide. High Country follows Ty through this apprenticeship and into World War II, where he watches trucks and jeeps replace the army’s mules. Wounded and shipped home, Ty recovers by packing into the Montana mountains he loves. After his mentor dies, Ty leaves Montana for the Sierra Nevada—the highest country of all—where he becomes a legend in his own right.
Writing in the tradition of Norman Maclean’s A River Runs through It, Willard Wyman shares techniques of breaking and packing and leading animals into forbidding country, hunting and tracking, and making camp. Wyman brings you so close to the packer’s life you smell the leather, sweat, and oil.
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