Seeley Swan Pathfinder -

Submitted by the Upper Swan Valley Historical Society. Reprinted from the Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Gifford Pinchot, who later became chief of the U.S. Forest Service, was working for the National Forest Commission in 1896 when he traveled south through the Swan Valley with Jack Monroe, a trapper and guide. In the previous installment of the 7-part series, they had arrived at Skunk Prairie where they had hoped to find horses. Finding none they had continued to Morrell’s.

By this time both Monroe and I were so stiff that travel had become a rather painful business. Very unwi...