Explorers

Join the Global Creations EXPLORE! Club
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Fill in the following form to join our EXPLORE! Club and get access to exclusive content and occasional emails.  After you sign up and confirm that your email address is working, I’ll give you a password to access your free content. You’ll have access to our exclusive eBook, Historical Exploration for Modern Explorers, as well as other great eBooks by and about early explorers. To learn more about what you’ll be getting, look below the form.

What to Expect

• Our eBooks for free – included, so far,  is one book entitled Historical Exploration for Modern Explorers.  It explains how to gather information and plan a trip that visits places directly linked to particular events in history.  It uses J.C. Fremont’s expedition across central Oregon as an example, but you can apply the same process to the area of your choice.

• Other eBooks for free – there are a lot of great books that we can make available to you for free.  In most cases  we have published a special edition that includes searchable text and illustrations that you may not find together anywhere else.  All of the eBooks are available in PDF format so that you can easily download them, install them on your iPhone or iPad or print them, if you wish. The books we currently have available are:

  • Capt. W.F. Drannan – Chief of Scouts by W.F. Drannan – Illustrated – 233 pages. Captain William F. Drannan lived from 1832 to 1913. As is typical of authors of the day, Drannan dramatizes his story. He also wrote the book in his later years, so his memory may have faded. Still, we are convinced that it is generally true although not accurate enough to be considered a history book. According to an article in the October 19, 1997 issue of The Daily Courier of Prescott, Arizona, a rock was found east of Prescott. These words were inscribed upon it: KILLED INDIANS HERE 1849 WILLIE DRANNAN. In 1849, J.C. Fremont and Kit Carson were together in what was to become New Mexico. Fremont was on his way to the Gila River country and Drannan says he was with the Great Pathfinder. The rock is a short ride from the documented route to the Gila River. Those who have seen the inscription say that it appears appropriately weathered by the passage of time. Whatever you believe, Drannan weaves a great, although murderous, story of early exploration in the American West.

  • The Explorers of Australia and Their Life Work by Ernest Favenc – 224 pages. Ernest Favenc was himself one of many explorers that uncovered the secrets of the Australian continent. His book summarizes the many expeditions and highlights the people involved. It is illustrated with their photos as well as photos of some of the places that are discussed. There are also eight maps that outline the routes taken by 19 expeditions between 1813 and 1879. The exploration of Australia is a story of hardship and deprivation, trial and error, and death to many. There are tales of hostile and friendly natives, unforgiving deserts, fresh and salty rivers, huge lakes that could only have been mirages, mountain ranges, and odd peaks. There are also tales of bravery, selflessness, and foolishness. Each expedition left a legacy upon which the next expedition could add its own story. Ultimately these explorers gathered a sound picture of the geography of Australia that led to a rapid influx of European settlers. There is enough information here to map out a fascinating historic exploration of Australia.

  • Exploring Expedition to the Rocky Mountains, Oregon and California by Brevet Col. J.C. Frémont – 271 pages. John Charles Frémont was born in 1813. In July 1838 he became a second lieutenant in the newly-formed U.S. Army Corps of Topographical Engineers and began a life of exploration. He gained experience helping Joseph Nicollet explore the area between the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and areas along the Des Moines River. Then from 1842 to 1844 he mapped the Oregon Trail and the general environs before heading south through Oregon and into California, in the dead of winter. This book is his journal for those expeditions. It’s a fascinating look at the wild west of those days. He describes numerous encounters with many Indian tribes and, of course, the terrain, flora and fauna along his route. This book led the Mormon’s to Utah and drew many settlers to the west. You can also download the map that resulted from these expeditions: Map of an Exploring Expedition to the Rocky Mountains in the Year 1842 and to Oregon and California in the Years 1843-1844

  • The Mountains of Oregon by William Gladstone Steel – (PDF – 1.57 MB, 119 pages) William Steel is well known as the father of Crater Lake National Park. He was also a mountaineer and founder of the Oregon Alpine Club. Steel was fascinated with the mountains of Oregon and the West in general. In this short book, published in 1890, he offers a variety of stories about his adventures. He tells how the Corps of Engineers got their boats from Portland to Crater Lake so that soundings could be taken. He goes on to describe his adventures around the lake. Included are the origins of many geological names associated with Crater Lake National Park. He tells how his team lit up Mt. Hood for the 4th of July, how he explored Oregon caves, the summit of Mt. Rainier and much more. Included are letters and writings of others that explain the source of the name Tacoma as well as a number of other words based upon native languages of the area. The Oregon Alpine Club is also addressed with background information and the club’s constitution.

• Interesting emails – when you sign up,  you are subscribing to my ‘Explorer’ email list and will get periodic messages from me (not more than once a week).  Each message will include at least one idea to help expand the pleasure in your explorations as well as updates on the eMagazine’s content and, sometimes, special offers from our sponsors.  Each message will include an easy way for you to unsubscribe from the list if you decide my messages are not as interesting as I think they are.

• We will never give or sell your information to anyone.  It will only be used to send you periodic emails and allow you to access the special content we make available to you.

If you have ideas for additional content, let me know and I’ll see what I can do. Thank you for your interest in the eMagazine and exploring our world. Jerry Haugen, Pathfinder and CEO Global Creations LLC