The Oregon Trail

The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey by Rinker Buck, 450 pages

In 2011, Rinker Buck and his brother Nick drove to St. Joseph, Missouri, bought a wagon and a team of mules, and started a five-month trek on the Oregon Trail, the first journey of its kind in more than a century. The trail brought plenty of surprises, both good (lots of friendly people willing to provide hay for the mules and a place to camp for a night) and bad (steep hills and a lemon of a trail pup).  Mixed with lots of history about the Trail, the emigrants who traveled it, and the people who have worked hard to preserve it, this is a fascinating tale, perfect for a summer road trip. I recommend the downloadable audiobook, which includes a bonus session with Rinker and Nick in studio, reminiscing about the journey four years later. It's an awesome story, and I'm glad I read it.