Utah Books

Some books are just too good to be forgotten, although such is too often their fate. This one, The Journal of Albert Tracy, hopefully won't disappear.

Published by the Utah Historical Quarterly as its entire 1945 (Volume XIII) issue, Tracy's journal is an account of his service in the so-called Utah or Mormon War that erupted in 1857 and ended peacefully the following year. Although there was no actual fighting, President Buchanan sent an army to Utah, and Tracy (1818-1893), the commanding captain of the 10th Infantry, was part of it.

His journal chronicles the years 1858-1860, including leaving winter quarters at Camp Scott, next to old Fort Bridger, where the army hunkered down in the winter of '57-'58 until the mountain passes cleared of snow, traveling through a deserted Salt Lake City, and eventually building Camp Floyd some 35-40 miles south of SLC. Tracy spent over a year at Camp Floyd, and his descriptions of garrison life, the tense relationship between soldiers and Mormon civilians, and the beauty and harshness of Utah winters and summers, make for fascinating reading. Tracy was also a pretty good amateur sketcher and watercolorist, and several of his drawings are reproduced in this edition of his journal.

All in all, a very good read if you can find a copy, although the editor's Introduction is minimal. Hopefully, Captain Tracy's journal (along with Captains Gove's and Phelps, two other veterans of the Utah War who left diaries) will be reissued. They're all invaluable snapshots on garrison life on the frontier right before the Civil War.

Butch Cassidy had become the most wanted outlaw in the whole West. The governors of four states wanted his hide. But he and his Wild Bunch are holed up in a remote part of Utah: Robbers Roost, a natural fortress with armed guards overlooking the few limited entry passes, unapproachable, unassailable. So the marshal, sent by the governors, figured there was only one way to handle Cassidy - hire a long-shooting hit-man - then find some bait to lure the outlaw out of his sanctuary...

Charles Langley Hayes presents his readers with a book that begins with a train robbery then builds gently, and grippingly, to it's exciting conclusion.

Amoungst the action there are plenty of humourous moments and the characters - both fictional and real - are presented well.

I found Cassidy's fascination with an archaeological dig - and Sundance's dismissal of it - made for some of the most entertaining reading of the story.

And does the book present us with another take on what happened to Cassidy and the Sundance Kid? Well that's something you'll have to find out for yourselves. All I can say is the book comes to a satisfying ending.

Charles Langley Hayes is fast becoming one of my favourite western authors, and I'd suggest going to the trouble to find his books will be well worth your time.

Highly recommended.

The book describes how to hike basically any Utah mountain range. It's divided according to a particular area, and larger mountain ranges are split into several sections. Kelsey's writing style is quite specific, each section includes a sketched map, several photographs and description of hikes, difficulties, access routes, ... Once you get used to it, though, it is a quick, general and informative reference for anyone who wants to hike Utah mountains. A word of warning, the author is a fast walker, his times are e.g. about 1/2 of those from Vernath's Hiking the Wasatch

Highly recommended. As I first began to leaf through the glorous pages of Utah On My Mind I was struck with the beauty of the state. The varigated landscape, the deep greens, the canyon reds, and the brilliant whites all came together like the mixed and mingled hues of a navajo rug. The book itself provided me with a hightened sense of respect and awe for the great state that is. . . UTAH!

Excellent book! The route descriptions are thorough and, from my experience so far, accurate in terms helping you find trailheads and ultimately the summits. The maps are likewise very detailed, with major landmarks and junctions carefully labelled. The routes in this book are kind of described in a "choose your own adventure format" (ie, at so-and-so juncture move on to the route description on so-and-so page) which is a little confusing for dummies like me. Overall though an excellent book and a great buy!

We moved to Utah this Summer and have found this book to be by far the most useful guide to Utah available. It is much more interesting than your standard guidebook. We never leave the house for more than a half hour without Kerig's book, and it has yet to steer us wrong. The restaurant guide sections and the sections on skiing and outdoor recreation are especially helpfull. Buy this book if you want to get the most out of your trip to Utah - especially Salt Lake City.

I live in the Four Corners area and I was looking for photographic books that presented the four states in all their glory (gifts for a friend in Eastern Europe). This is the one I bought to represent Utah. I was a little skeptical at first because it didn't have a review, but I decided to take a chance. I am happy I did because it is the nicest one of the bunch! The photography is so incredible that I have decided to buy another copy for myself.

Utah Then and Now is a wonderful look now only at the past, but at the possibilities for Utah's future.

Tom Till's photographs are breathtaking. You can see his love of the Western landscape in the care with which he photographs it. Ted Wilson's commentary is both thoughtful and thought provoking.

This is more than just a coffee table book. By putting photographs of Utah's past next to the present, it prods the reader to envision a third picture--that of Utah's future.

In many ways, Utah is at a crossroads. The state can choose to continue on the traditional road of developing every square inch of ground as if open space were a limitless resource. On the other hand, Utahns can recognize that the natural beauties of this state are at risk and can take responsibility for preserving the land. No matter which way Utahans ultimately choose to go, this book will help people appreciate the necessity for making a responsible decision.

A well researched history of the Ute Indians and the areas they lived in. Virginia Simmons discusses various stereotypes made by those who first encountered the Utes and sets the record straight. The Utes were an important element in the regional history of Colorado, Utah and New Mexico. I found her descriptions of the adjustments the Utes had to make in various environments most interesting. If you wish to learn about nomadic Indian ways and culture this is an excellent book to read. Well written tribute to a tribe that struggled to survive the onslaught of the whiteman's culture.

I took this book along on vacation thinking if there was a lull in activities I would have something to read. As it turned out, activities were put on hold while I finished the book. Having picked it up, I couldn't put it down until I finished.

Rich with historical vignettes and visual descriptives, the characters come to life, as does the setting.

The story is full of mystery, suspense and action; brings an awareness of the lives damaged, or destroyed by the illegal practice of polygamy, the terror of abduction, and the reality of violent life and death.

As a fact of human nature, we to tend to think and focus on our own feelings and problems, without actually saying what's on our mind. The characters in this book find themselves caught in mystery and intrigue, and life threatening danger because of their very human reluctance to share their thoughts, fears and past with one another.

Just when you think one problem is solved, another one pops up, taking you right to the surprise ending - which itself invites the imagination to ask, could this be a new problem, leading to a new mystery?

I closed this book wondering, "What next?" And, hoping there will be a sequel.