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Days to Zion. By H A L K N I G H T and STANLEY B. KIMBALL. (Salt Lake City: Deseret News, 1978. 262 pp. Paper, $3.95.)
T h e story of the Mormon Trail and the Mormon exodus to the Great Salt Lake Valley is a well-known story that has been captured in folklore, family stories and histories, published diaries, and a few well-written books such as Wallace Stegner's The Gathering of Zion. However, there has been lacking in the published literature a good concise guide to the trail. T h e void is now filled with the publication of 7/7 Days to Zion. While Congress in 1976 was considering including the M o r m o n Trail as part of the National Historic Trails system, the Deseret News ran a series of short articles which corresponded chronologically to the first company's trek from Winter Quarters to the Great Salt Lake Valley. T h e newspaper series was researched and written by Hal Knight, Deseret News staff writer, and Dr. Stanley B. Kimball, professor of history at Southern Illinois University. T h e 111day series was supplemented with maps and line drawings of personalities, places, and events sketched by two Deseret News staff artists, Robert R. Noyce and Richard F. Carter. Originally, the Deseret News had not intended to publish a book from the series, but the demand from many of its readers suggested that a book would be well received. Several additions were then m a d e : short introductions to each of the sixteen mini-chapters and an index. T h e chapters correspond to the sixteen weeks the company spent on the trail.
T h e maps outline the trail and the pioneer campsites in relation to modern trails—state highways and the interstate highway system—cities and towns, and important geographical features. T h e maps also show the Mormon Trail in relationship to the Oregon Trail and Pony Express route. T h e authors have drawn liberally from diarists such as T h o m a s Bullock, Wilford Woodruff, and William Clayton. This material adds color and interest to what might otherwise be just another dull trail guide. T w o brief examples illustrate the point. While the company was encamped for several days of rest and repairs, Wilford Woodruff decided to try his h a n d at fishing in a nearby stream, using a rod and dry flies he had brought with him from England. Before the day was over he had caught twelve fish, most weighing more than three-quarters of a pound each, while "the rest of the company," he wrote, "did not catch three pounds" (p. 2 1 7 ) . A second example. O n e blustery rain-filled morning as the company was preparing to leave camp, Joseph Egbert ran into the back end of Wilford Woodruff's wagon, causing considerable damage to the wagon and its contents. Later the same day, as the company was encircling their wagons, the usual custom, J o h n S. Fowler ran into Woodruff's wagon, again causing considerable damage. This time Woodruff's anger was kindled, causing words to be exchanged between the two. T h e authors have generously sprinkled the book with short biographical sketches
