Dan Aadland – författare

In 1892 a stocky Danish immigrant named Magnus Jensen rode into south-central Montana. He liked what he saw and staked his future on the ranch he would carve out there. Today, Dan Aadland and his wife, Emily, live on the ranch built by Jensen, Emily's grandfather. More than a century has passed, but the nature of ranching in Montana is little changed. Sensitive to the timelessness of the land, author Aadland approaches his ranching life as Thoreau approached life at Walden Pond.  In Sketches from the Ranch, Aadland brings ranching to life within the framework of one recent year. In simple but moving prose, he evokes the harsh beauty of the West, writing with as much elegance about breaking a colt as he does about the inner lives of cattle, the way his pickup handles in the snow, or how the relationship between a man and his horse often defines a good day on the ranch. Beautifully illustrated and lovingly told, Sketches from the Ranch bears poetic witness to the myth and reality that are the West.

Since first learning to handle a Winchester .22 as a kid, Dan Aadland has exulted in hunting—not as a sport but as a calling. In this book he takes readers to Montana's prairies and mountains in search of antelope, whitetail deer, moose, and the occasional upland bird as he vividly describes the rituals and camaraderie of hunting culture. In fifteen essays recounting a lifetime of adventures, Aadland spins tales of a hunter whose years have been enriched by pursuing game under Montana's big sky. He conveys the drama of stalking elk in deep snow, when sometimes just the chance at a shot is enough, and describes the tricks of bowhunting. He tells how hunting with horses was "the real deal": planting one's foot in the stirrup and sensing an affinity with great hunters of the past. Underlying his memoir is a deep respect for wildlife and appreciation for the West. Sometimes nostalgic, often humorous, Aadland's book recounts the highs and lows of the hunt while revealing why the pursuit of game remains so important to so many people. The Best of All Seasons depicts hunting as an essential part of the good life, suggesting that in our civilized age it yet remains a fundamentally natural act. In allowing readers a glimpse into that life, this book simultaneously shows that for Dan Aadland, fine writing comes just as naturally.

Whether it's for fishing or hunting, nature-watching or camping, or simply to get off the beaten path, there are no better ways to travel through the backcountry than on horseback. And riding a surefooted, responsive mount that has been trained to carry you and your equipment over the most rugged terrain is the best way of all. To make sure that you and your horse are on the right foot, Dan Aadland, a seasoned horseman and pack-tripper, shares his expertise and experiences in THE COMPLETE TRAIL HORSE. Beginning with the criteria involved in selecting a good trail mount (and why Tennessee Walking Horses and other laterally gaited horses are especially suited for such work), the author suggests equipment and presents techniques and strategies for training both the saddle horse and the pack horse to cover demanding and often dangerous steep inclines and descents, narrow ledges, and other features of backcountry terrain in a safe and efficient manner. The book then goes on discuss tack and other gear necessary for trail riding, more advanced techniques (including contending with spooky, laggard, and overenthusiastic horses), and taking part in trail competitions. Concluding sections contain valuable information and insights into how to organize and then pack gear for the greatest comfort for you, the horse you'll ride, and the packhorse you'll lead. Written with authority and humor, THE COMPLETE TRAIL HORSE is the last word on ensuring that you and your horses will be prepared for, and therefore enjoy, your trips through the backcountry to the fullest possible extent.