Colorado Books

The Author decided to travel on foot along the Sante Fe Trail to attempt to rediscover the land as it was in 1846-:"Never in the Settling of the West has there been a year when so much military , Literary, artistic ,and cultural activity occurred in such a compact region."
His walking/ quest route took him along the Sante Fe trail and The Sangre De Cristos mountains- :"sleeping under the stars"
a Good read.

Francisca and the Boys is the true essence of growing up in a hispanic family during the depression years of the 30's. This book sets you in real life, as if you were actually living with the characters. The Delmonte family is gently unwoven with love and support that gives the reader a true understanding of what "family" really is. Reading this book to the end is not enough, you'll want more of Nick, Davy, and Francisca......

This book brings together Frederick Chapin's Colorado mountaineering writings, including THE PEAKS ABOUT ESTES PARK, a 100-page study, along with shorter articles about his ascent of Pike's Peak and trips made to Sierra Blanca and the San Juans. Chapin was born in Indiana and grew up near Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas; he became wealthy in the pharmaceutical business in Hartford, Connecticut, which gave him the time and financial resources to pursue his hobby, mountaineering. Going first to Europe to climb Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn, he next went west to Colorado to tackle some of its highest peaks. He was one of the first to explore and write about the Mesa Verde cliff dwellings (not included here). Chapin was also a photographer, and the book includes many of his glass-plate photographs taken on various climbs.

Chapin was a careful observer, though not overly scientific. He describes what he sees in the field and not what might be envisioned in a geology text. His writing style is clear and down-to-earth; his use of understatement is particularly pleasing: "At the present time, with no particular route laid out, there is just enough sharp climbing on the peak [of Mt. Snaefell] to make the ascent interesting." The editing by James H. Pickering, especially his superbly annotated footnoting, is a major feature of the book. Anyone interested in mountain climbing or the look and feel of Colorado's high country in the 1880s will enjoy reading this book.

This book was an indispensable resource throughout my entire non-contested, Colorado divorce. The book comes with a CD including all the forms you'll need (saving you money as the form packet at the courthouse costs money), plus a helpful overview of the entire process, great advice and words of caution (regarding things I would have certainly overlooked or realized too late!), and step-by-step instructions on how to fill out the forms. Thanks to this book, I never had to consult a lawyer or mediator, and saved lots of time and money. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is pursuing a non-contested divorce in Colorado! Good luck.

This book is full of helpful information. It does have all of the legal forms in it, but even if you are using attorneys, it is a helpful tool for understanding the entire process, and to help ensure you get details taken care of that you may have otherwise missed. I read the book, my ex read the book, and I have unfortunately loaned it to several friends.

Utterly readable, notably scholarly, and possessing real focus.

Wells covers a lot of time but limits her turf to Fremont County which allows her to both spin yarns and provide historical overview.

243 pp, a thrifty but not offensively-cheap printing and binding (square-bound trade paperback) over 35 maps and illustrations, all in black and white.

Highlights of the Table of Contents

EARLY DAYS
- Hamlets on the Hardscrabble
- early Canon City
- Waiting for the Train

ROUTING THE RAILS
- Along Beaver Creek
- Concrete and Portland
- Beaver Creek
- coal
- Canon City's Nifty 90's

ROYAL GEORGE AND WESTWARD
- Cotopaxi
- Coaldale
- Howard and Beyond
- Fremont County's Future

index, end notes for each chapter, a 6 page bibliography

I've now been to Denver twice and found this book to be a great resource. Their itineraries are really helpful, and the maps and write ups are right on.

I live in Colorado and keep this book handy for planning vacations, family field trips, and weekend getaways. I appreciate that the author includes information on local parks, places to see, and things to do with kids that wouldn't necessarily be included in other travel guides.

Butts has provided that rare delight, a book of major scholarship which may be read with pleasure by the thoughtful general public. Though her subject seems specialized, her research and thoughtful analyses throw light on subsequent American history. Butts writes with the thoroughness of a scholar but with the skill of a novelist!

Well-organized and precise - separate sections for annuals, perennials and bulbs.