J. Smeaton Chase

California Coast Trails: a Horseback Ride from Mexico to Oregon in 1911 J. Smeaton Chase

This is the lyrical journal of Chase's 2,000-mile horseback journey from Mexico to Oregon along the coast trails. He set off in 1911, his purpose being to experience the beauty of the land and to record for posterity the distinctively 'Western' way of life. Chase felt that with the construction of the Panama Canal commerce and industry in California would skyrocket and the old way of life would disappear, along with the sacred nature of the coast lands. So he decided to see it all for himself and record it for future generations. A fascinating look at the towns and wilds of California as they were at the beginning of the 20th century.