Scott Alumbaugh

Scott Alumbaugh is the author of On the Pony Express Trail: One Man’s Journey to Discover History From a Different Kind of Saddle. The book recounts his experiences bikepacking the Pony Express Trail in the summer of 2021 while taking a fresh look at the Pony Express in the context of mid-1800s historical events. Alumbaugh's published works include a novella, Will Kill for Food, and short fiction published in StoryQuarterly, Kestrel, Hunger Mountain Review, Black Fork Review, and Meat for Tea. He formerly practiced business litigation in Los Angeles and San Francisco, California. See more at scottalumbaugh.com.

Contrary to legend, the sole purpose of the Pony Express was to secure a $1 million U.S. Mail subsidy by showing mail could be delivered on time between Missouri and California—even through winter. But in the contest between the Pony Express and Wyoming winter, winter won.