Born in 1801, Thomas Long 'Peg Leg' Smith was a fearless mountain man with undeniable courage and and strong wilderness skills; but he was also an accomplished horse thief that liberated horses from California ranches and sold them to traders i

Death Valley Part 2

Jan 7th, 2021 9m 53s

The Shoshone and Paiute Natives watched as Spanish Traders brought horses to the Valley. American mountain men were early explorers who also passed through on their way to the southern settlements or back to Santa Fe and the United States. It

The People of Death Valley Part 1

Dec 31st, 2020 7m 5s

Wildly beautiful, strange, remote, awe-inspiring - Death Valley deserves these accolades, and more. Nothing is on a small scale here; extreme is the name of the game. Colors are brighter . The mountains are higher, the valleys are deeper, the

Bodie Ghost Town

Dec 17th, 2020 5m 42s

The ghost town of Bodie is one of the best preserved western boom towns left. It's the bones of history kept in a state of arrested decay by the park rangers and volunteers. In its time, it was one of the most exciting mining camps in the wes

Bass Reeves, the best lawman in the old West

Dec 10th, 2020 5m 44s

The story of Bass Reeves, an African-American born in slavery, that became a federal Marshal who brought in 3,000 outlaws to meet justice in Judge Isaac Parker's court (the famous hanging judge). His unique abilities and exploits make him a he

Shorty Harris

Nov 20th, 2020 5m 22s

With this podcast we shift gears - we learn about some of the characters that made up the West. And were they ever characters! Strong minded, willful, determined men and women, they were Native Americans, Englishmen, Spanish, Africans - the Am

Monument Valley Closed from Covid

Nov 13th, 2020 3m 5s

Monument Valley and the nearby Navajo lands are magnificently beautiful, and culturally important. Sadly, Covid 19 has badly impacted the Navajo people and travel is discouraged at present. How it came to infect the people of the reservation

Beyond Tuba City

Oct 30th, 2020 7m 5s

This episode takes us to the west side of Navajo Land and the Hopi Reservation. We learn what we can expect to see and the courtesies expected of visitors to the tribal lands, and what not to bring , where to go, and where not to go on the re

The Navajo

Oct 23rd, 2020 5m 36s

The Navajo were exceptional warriors in the early 1800s, keeping the Spanish and the Mexican governments out of their territory. Kit Carson and the US military waged war against them and succeeded where Mexico and Spain had not. Over time th

Crossing Arizona on Interstate 40

Oct 16th, 2020 3m 35s

Following Interstate 40 - old Route 66 - across Northern Arizona is for travelers on a schedule. The stops along the way give a sample of what lies beyond the interstate. We'll look beyond the highway in the next episodes, but old Route 66 is

Old Bill in Williams Arizona

Oct 9th, 2020 4m 2s

The story of Old Bill Williams, a mountain man that settled in the mountains west of Flagstaff, and the town named after him. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/leonard-wilcox/support

Northern Arizona part 2

Oct 2nd, 2020 4m 25s

Ancient Cities and Cliff Dwellings in Northern Arizona are fascinating places. The Sinagua people had a sophisticated culture and lifestyle in an idyllic setting.--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/leonard-w

Northern Arizona

Sep 30th, 2020 3m 40s

It's much more than just the Grand Canyon - here are tall mountains, cool summer days, pine forests, ancient villages, volcanoes and a vibrant native culture. Come explore it with us!--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com

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