Often, the early settlers are main characters. They are the ones who started everything in the valley.
There are many possibilities for the main characters. It could be the valley's caretakers, if there are any, whose job is to maintain the balance in the valley. Or it could be a group of scientists who are studying the ecological system of the big valley. Another option could be a young couple who fall in love in the beautiful and mysterious big valley.
Since it's not clear what these stories are exactly, the characters could be anyone. Maybe local farmers, ranchers, or adventurers in the big valley.
Most likely the general himself is a main character. Since it's a story about him, he would be central to the plot.
There could be local authors who were inspired by the big valley in their area. Maybe they started writing stories based on the local legends, landscapes, or the people of the big valley but for some reason, like getting distracted by other projects or facing difficulties in the writing process, they left the stories unfinished. It could also be that some well - known authors who like to explore different settings in their works might have started a story set in a big valley but never completed it. Without more information, we can't be sure who the authors are.
I'm not sure exactly as I haven't read the novel. But typically, there could be a brave explorer who ventures into the last valley.
I don't know as I haven't read this specific novel. It could be a local farmer, a young person trying to find their place in the valley, or an older wise figure who has a lot of stories about Grace Valley.
I don't know as I haven't read it, but it could be a young adventurer, an old hermit who lives in the valley, or a group of scientists exploring the area.
The hikergirl is the central character, of course. But another main character could be the antagonist. It could be a greedy landowner in the Big Valley who wants to take over the land for his own profit. He sees the hikergirl as a threat to his plans because of her connection to the valley (blood runs thick) and her determination to protect it. Their clashes and the hikergirl's efforts to outwit him would form an important part of the story.
In the story of space exploration in general, the engineers play a huge role. They are the ones who design and build the rockets, spacecraft, and all the equipment needed for space travel. Without them, none of the big space stories would be possible.
Francis Pope is also an important character. He's Nate's best friend, often getting involved in Nate's schemes and adventures. He's the more cautious one compared to Nate. For instance, when Nate wants to do something risky, Francis might be the voice of reason, but still end up going along with it most of the time.