Local Author Matt Tredway Celebrates Cowboy Culture in New Book
Steamboat Springs, CO – Longtime resident and former educator Matt Tredway has unveiled his new book, “The West: Essays of Mountain Cowboys,” set to be released at Off the Beaten Path Bookstore in the coming weeks. Drawing from his passionate cowboy upbringing in Gunnison, Tredway weaves a rich tapestry of stories that honor the ranching heritage of the Yampa Valley.
Though Tredway started as a “town kid,” his deep-seated connection to ranch life blossomed during his youth working on local ranches. The book is a culmination of personal narratives and shared experiences from ranchers across the region, spotlighting well-known families like the Greens, Daughenbaughs, and Stankos. Notable figures such as Shane Yeager and the Hildreth brothers are also featured, alongside tributes to local cowboy artists including Curtis Zabel and Rudi Mergelman.
“The stories are based on the people I crossed paths with,” Tredway notes. His narratives traverse from Gunnison into Routt County, providing readers with an intimate glimpse into both the challenges and beauty of cowboy life.
Tredway’s collection is inspired by the artifacts in his tack room, which features a variety of Western memorabilia. His introduction invites readers to experience the nostalgia and history encapsulated in items like saddles and spurs.
A retired wrestling coach from Steamboat Springs High School, Tredway spent a winter gathering stories and insights from ranchers. He describes how the book’s text came together surprisingly quickly, with editing support from Sophie Dingle and Melissa VanArsdale.
“The West: Essays of Mountain Cowboys” will soon be available at Abracadabra Bookstore in Gunnison and online this fall, allowing readers to explore the unique narratives that define the cowboy lifestyle in Colorado.
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