Bear Valley Trappers — Robert M. Johnson

Spring of 1832 found Sam Ogden and his partner, Clyde Patterson feeling the itch of trapping season. In the high mountains, for the beaver, snow melt was already causing these highly intelligent animals to rush about in a desperate effort to save their dams and lodges from the onslaught of rushing water. One Valley near the Gunnison range, is particularly busy with the activity of many beaver colonies. It is called, Grizzly Bear Valley. In this 10th volume of the Sam Ogden Mountain Man series, the young mountain man is facing perhaps the busiest year of his life. At midwinter, a wagon train managed to push through Grand Junction, leaving behind a veteran mountain man who had quickly tired of the company of what he called, Those greenhorn pioneers. His name is Dick Wooten, already a legend on the frontier, but a man whose abilities are fading. He is looking for one last chance to hit the high country and be part of a trapping expedition. Dick Wooten is well aware of the reputation of Clyde Patterson and Sam Ogden as free trappers and he's unwilling to accept the fact that they are settling down and becoming part of the establishment, the settlement. In a short time, he convinced them that they should do one more trapping run and that he knows just exactly where they can find thousands of dollars in beaver pelts. It's too much for the two veteran trappers to pass up. They have to give it a shot. Wooten offered to lead his new partners to the richest beaver valley he had ever seen. He got them excited about the prospects, but neglected to also tell them that the valley was over run with Grizzly Bears. It was also the favored hunting grounds of not one but several Indian tribes from the region: Utes, Pawnee and Comanches.