Just finished A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains which is comprised of letters written by Isabella L. Bird to her sister as she travelled, alone for much of the time, throughout the eastern slope of the Rockies in 1873 by horseback, climbing to the lofty heights of Long's Peak even, well over 14,000ft. Fascinating book, very well written, not at all boring or stodgy, incredible woman making her way home to England, from the "Sandwich Islands" (Hawaii)via the Rockies which she wanted to *see*. I am now off to find more of her books as she continued to travel, all over the globe, and to write about it. And, she got down in the nitty-gritty living with the real people with no putting on of airs/agendas other than to see and learn. Extraordinary woman!