I have always been fascinated with the American West and the adventurers who braved the wild, unsettled frontier.  The first time I crossed the Salt Flats of Utah, my mind immediately envisioned the pioneers crossing the harsh environment by wagon or even on foot. 

As a young girl, my favorite pastime was watching old Westerns on TV.  You can imagine my shock when I began studying American history and learned that very few wagon trains were attacked by "wild Indians".  And shootouts in the middle of town at high noon seldom happened.