The Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College continues its summer lecture series based on the theme, “Women in the Southwest,” with a presentation from Dr. Andrew Gulliford, Durango’s Own Olga Little.

Across Colorado and perhaps the entire Rocky Mountains, there was only one female jackpacker who ran a string of burros carrying food, supplies, and dynamite into remote high altitude mines. On her return trips she carried heavy sacks of gold and silver ore, and at least once she packed out a deceased miner. Olga Little earned a solid reputation as a packer in the La Plata Mountains. This is the story of her more than 40 year career told from the people who knew her, and from magazine and newspaper accounts.

Andrew Gulliford is a Professor of History and Environmental Studies at Fort Lewis College. He teaches popular courses on wilderness, national parks, Western history, and environmental history. Dr. Gulliford writes columns about the west for the Durango Herald, Utah Adventure Journal, and High Country News. His book The Woolly West: Colorado’s Hidden History of Sheepscapes was just released by Texas A&M University Press.

This lecture is free to the public. Parking on campus is free during summer months.