Death Valley in ’49 by William Lewis Manly.

A surprisingly eloquent take of pioneer travel during the Gold Rush of 1849. Williams Lewis Manly is not a greatly educated man but he provides a more than capable account of his experiences and those collectively shared by his party as they traveled from the Midwest through Death Valley into California over the winter of 1849-50.

Manly reads and, truly seems to have been, as a tremendously modest and morally upstanding gentlemen. In an era that will forever be shrouded in tales of wild outlaws and Indian massacres, Manly provides and describes a far more civil and humanely obligated take of the times.

This book is really more of an autobiography as it takes us through Manly’s entire life; from boyhood to old age. However, the reason I picked up this book, and the real reason it was published, is the account of Manly’s party dragging themselves through Death Valley, having more brushes with death that can be counted and, coming out better for the suffering on the other end.

This tale resonates particularly well with me as I as a wrestler in High School. There were days when I had been without water for up to 72 hours while working out vigorously. I have lied down in bed and prayed that my suffering would be over soon. Having been through such a degree of dehydration I can empathize with some of the feelings this party shared. Having never been in a situation of not knowing if I would be able to find water or food enough to survive I am not completely able to grasp the emotions that would be involved with certain parts of their journey. Manly seems to know that we would not fully grasp this experience as he states many times: ‘words cannot fully describe the depths of our misery’. He plainly accepts that we will have to transport ourselves to such a time and place as no words would ever fully convey the magnitude of such a hardship.

Death Valley in ’49 is a wonderful take on humanity and a quick read for its content and length. You will feel transported and invigorated to explore and have your own go at wilderness.