Colorado Books

Loved this book. I still recall its story of a woman coming to terms with herself and the world... A memorable read... We should all be so brave in our lives!

This book was believeable and very enjoyable. Barbara Samules makes her characters come to life.

I found this a thoroughly absorbing read - in fact, I stayed up reading until 3 am because I couldn't put it down. The writing is lyrical, poetic and sensual, yet grounded in reality and never over the top artsy. The three central female characters all had problems that resonated with my experience, and all the characters (including the men) seemed very real, well rounded individuals. These are *not* cardboard characters marching through plot complications. The book is at heart a love story about permanent attachments - to men, to children, to friends, as well as to one's "proper job" (as Dorothy Sayers put it). I highly recommend it. I would also add, don't read a lot of the earlier reviews -- they give away too many things, and some of the reviewers apparently read a whole nother book. Five stars plus.

This book bowled me over with the depth. Women and friendships with a bit of romance. What more can you ask for. I don't really get into goddesses etc but I did enjoy all the different aspects of the relationships. What you may think isn't really what it is. The writing had lots of descriptions and made me feel like I was there. I love growth in people and couldn't have asked for a better book!

With all the rave over Chick Lit lately, I couldn't help but think about it while listening to the audio of this book. Most of the Chick Lit out there is about a 20 year old girl trying to find herself. As someone a tad (or two or three) over 20, I just can't get into those books. Samuel's characters are not 20-something girls but women who have to deal with real life experiences that I couldn't help but find myself relating to, even though I'm not usually one for most contemporary fiction these days. This was a wonderful "listen" and I'm sure a great read if I had time to read fun literature these days. I've already ordered another of her audio books.

Stepping Off the Edge: Learning & Living Spiritual Practice
Buy this for Wallace Black Elk's picture on the cover--and for everything inside. Black Elk's state is written all over his face. The man's soul comes right through this book. My spiritual teacher, who was from India, told us to study masters who could impart the experience of God, not people who wrote about people who had experience. Black Elk fits the category of those who know.

This book has a great volume of imformation in to the heart of the Lakota. Read twice, you get more out of it.

Well, it took quite a bit of courage to write this book at a time when there was so very much opposition to sharing the knowledge of Creator with us Waisichus (white eyed folks). In the way that only Wallace could speak...here in these pages he comes back to life as the Genius he truly was. He loved to tell people; "I am only a dumb Indian"...and then he'd laugh that laugh "Hee hee hee hee", knowing that he really had one up on all of us. If you read behind the lines, you'll learn something, really learn about Creator and the way things work on this Canka Luta Waste and behind that Canunpa. Enjoy this book....as this is one elder who has passed on and can never be replaced.

This book is a masterpiece of wisdom. It is a pattern for a way a life that can serve every human being upon their journey on this earth.

Being interested in the wonderful subject of Native American thought and "religion" (spirituality), and having enjoyed other books of this genre, I was a "shoo in" to purchase this book. The personal quality and warmth of Wallace Black Elk pervades each page. He writes in the same vein as "Black Elk Speaks" and "Fools Crow, Medicine Man" but with a more modern, present day approach and color. This book should awake understanding of both past and present conditions of life for Native Americans. It is written in a simple and sincere manner and I recommend it to anyone who would like to know more about Indian thought and spiritual practices.

I'm not much of a reader honestly, but I really loved this book! The author really has a way with word play that I really like. This is an example of one of my favorite exchanges from the book that gives you an idea of what I'm talking about.

"Well, I don't see how that's any of your business...and the name's not Mister, it's Eddie. Eddie Kreezer." "I smile and make a bashful act, bending over myself, trying to let him sneak a peek at my newfound bubbles, hoping for a free ride. I figure I can turn his none-of-your-business into Las Vegas with a little bit of sugar."

Seeeeeeeeeeee. I love that! Well written and a VERY solid debut from young Miss Portes. I zipped through this book in 2 days and I imagine that you'll do the same. Pick this one up, I highly recommend it!

Andrea Portes has created an unforgettable narrator with an extraordinary voice. Luli is talking a mile a minute even if most of the talk is in her head as she recounts her life and makes big plans. Luli has been looking out for herself from day one because goodness knows no one else has been. The opening scenes in the Alibi as her parents and the other regulars drink the night away are unforgettable as they proceed from drink one on down the list and she describes each stage and gives advice to the reader. Luli knows exactly where they are going and it is no place good. Her powers of observation and her foul-mouthed analysis are diamond sharp and totally engaging. Luli talks tough, she's witty, she's brilliant, she's bumping along and then something happens or is said that reminds you that she is only 13 and your heart breaks. The encounter with Clement is a terrific piece of economical writing that digs that scalpel into your heart. Luli would have every reason to be a bitter, whiny, mess sitting in a corner somewhere, but this mess is rolling on down the road.

I read Hick in one sitting. It wasn't that the plot had me in suspense (it moved along just fine), but that the writing is so vivid and fresh, I never felt like putting it down. Every line is smart. There's no fat here... no boring descriptions of the scenery to skim over before getting to the action. In fact, I often found myself rereading sections and was even tempted to pull out the highlighter and start marking the best parts.

Though some described this book as dark, the main character Luli maintained a hopeful, practical attitude throughout, which set the tone of the book. She was constantly adapting and making the most of her situation, even in the face of bad circumstances. She never adopted a "poor me" mentality and was not a victim but a survivor.

The one doubt I had was that Luli's voice is a little too wise for a 13 year old. But then I think back to when I was 13, and I can see how a smart girl with no shelter from adult issues would have an older way of thinking. Actually, her naivete about sex was a little out of character for someone who grew up in bars, surrounded by domestic disputes. And, she sometimes seemed to know more about drugs than at other times. I don't think these attempts at naivete were needed. Luli's childlike innocence showed in her literal and honest descriptions of people and places.

Overall, this is an entertaining, thought-provoking, and uplifting piece of work... a real treasure from a first-time author! It's well worth a read!

I started reading Hick on a flight and resented arriving to my destination because I wanted to continue reading. The narrator takes you back to an America you may or may not know personally, but makes you feel at home there. And she takes you to places which are entirely uncomfortable as well, though with a resigned and non judgemental voice which has the effect of drawing you in even more to Luli's journey. The book is captivating. The metaphors, descriptions, and in your face foreshadowing are so well written that I often found myself saying "good one" and rereading just for the pleasure of it, before turing to see what jems the next page offered. I look forward to Ms. Portes next book.

This book was very interesting to read. I have 14 year old daughters, and am always trying to gain some perspective on them. Although the story is told in the first person perspective of the child, the words and language and ideas are those of a much older person. This made the story a little less believable, but no less entertaining. I would recommend this book to those with an interest in how life is different for those who make bad choices.The Glass Castle: A Memoir

Adrian Dater's account of the feud (and it was bloody!) between the Detroit Red Wings and the Colorado Avalanche is chuck a block full of previously unknown, but hilarious, peculiar (Scotty Bowman is a unique dude to say the least), and riveting inside information and anecdotes. Dater, a hockey writer for the Denver Post, is no homer, and plays it fair, being equally snarky and funny about both teams. Dater covered every game of the 90's between these two rivals, and its all facinatingly covered in this book. Its a terrific read and manditory bookshelf inclusion for all true hockey fans.

There's a lot more to learn in this book than just the infamous brawl that took place on 3/26/97. Player backgrounds, behind the scenes issues, trades are looked into and evaluated. The entire history of the feud from Lemieux's hit on Kris Draper which started the whole mess to the finale of McCarty and Lemieux making their peace years later - in different uniforms. The book is not an elongated read. It moves fairly quickly and if your like me and are interested by facts that no one but you will probably ever care about then this one is for you. I do remember thinking during those days that I wish the Rangers vs. their rivals be it the Devils, Islanders or Flyers had that much heat and intensity. It was the last true NHL feud before Bettman and Company slowly began killing the game when teams were still allowed to police the ice, when referees knew how to call a game (and what not to call in a game). When most people across the country could see these games on ESPN(2)and when fans intelligence weren't constantly being insulted by what has now become the PC world of NHL hockey.

I'm a big Red Wings fan, and while this book looked interesting at first glance, I worried that it would be slanted in the Avs favor/perspective given that the author has followed and written about the Avs since they moved to Denver. Happily, this was not the case, as both sides were evenly covered.

The strength of the book is its coverage of the history of several of the major players on each side as well as a revealing look behind the scenes. I watched most of these hockey games, but I didn't know much of what was going on in the front offices and lockerooms.

My only complaint is that more of the on-ice action could have been added in, and I think that this would have fleshed out the entire book more completely. All in all, though, this is a fun read and is strongly recommended for all Wings and Avs fans.

I was suprised by how unbiased this book was. Seeing that it was written by an Avs beat writer I assumed it would be one sided painting the Red Wings as the "Evil Empire" or what have you. That was not the Case. Not only did it cover the major games and playoff series of the rivalry it also gave short Bios of the key people involved ie Bowman, MacCarty, Draper, Roy, and of course Lemeiux.

Adrian Dater takes on the Red Wings/Avalanche rivalry of 1996-2002 in this highly-readable book. While the subject matter is great, the presentation, bias, and overall content level drag this down to just mediocre.

I'm in agreement with the other reviewer who wondered how anyone could find this book to be unbiased. Dater slams the Detroit print & radio media for being "homers" and for being biased, but then prints quote-after-quote of homerism from Woody Paige, much of which is just patently offensive. By contrast, hardly anything is presented from Mitch Albom - widely acknowledged as the best sportswriter in the country. In addition, the photo section is clearly tilted to the Avalanche side of things, in both quantity of photos and in the captions for them.

This book weighs in at a light 237 pages and frankly just does not include enough hockey in it. The sections on Roy/Lemieux/Bowman are all well-written and contain good information but they interrupt the flow of the book and end up feeling like filler. In the end, every series is recapped in a few short pages and very little detail is given to regular season games other than the famous "Revenge Game" of 3/26/97 and the follow-up ones with Lemieux's return match McCarty and the Osgood/Roy fight.

This could have, and should have, been 100+ pages longer with a closer eye cast toward making it unbiased.

Still, this is a must-read for any fan of hockey.

If you're not satisfied with reading what's in the newspaper about Columbine, you need this book.

Mixed in with actual exerpts from Rachel's diary, the author and Beth Nimmo (Rachel's mom) fill in the missing pieces consistent with her diary entries.

Rachel shows herself to be human (anger, ect.) with the same questions a lot of teenagers have. The answers she decides are real in her life may surprise the reader. Rachel is not some super saint, but a real teen with real questions.

The editorial questions about Rachel's musings on Anne Frank and not living to the age of marriage are not fantasy created by the authors, but recollections of conversations with Rachel by close friends and family.

I would additionally recommend "Rachel's Tears", and "Rachel Smiles" by Rachel's mother, Beth, and her father Darrell Scott.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The only thing I am going to be critical about is that there are only a few pages of Rachel's journals, with a lot of fictionalized filler written as Rachel's perspective by another author. It would have been great if there were more pages of her journals, in color, with minimal commentary. However this book is geared towards younger readers, who might have needed more guidance in reading about Rachel's life. This would have detracted me, as an adult, from purchasing the book; except that this is the only book in existance with scanned writings by any of the victims, which piqued my interest. Therefore the minimal amount of actual writings by Rachel is a disappointment.

There are some lined pages in here with inspiration for starting your own journal, but to be honest, I would get my own blank book and not write in someone else's. But it might be good for the younger readers.

I also recommend Brooks Brown's book, which has the most details of any Columbine book out there. He talked about his friendship with Rachel in it, which was really sweet.

I highly recommend this book. Based on her real journals, you feel by the end of this book like you knew Rachal Scott personally. Even though it's not the exact journal entries, Beth Nimmo, Rachal's mother collaborated with the writer, and you get the sense that Rachal's true character was captured. This book brings to life a girl mature and inciteful beyond her years. I was humbled and deeply moved by her total commitment to living out her faith in Christ. I appreciate especially her honesty. Her story brings to life the loss of such a beautiful young woman. You don't need to be a teenage girl to read this book, but every teenager should read it.Thank you Beth for allowing us to walk along side her in her last years.

I bought this book for my 16 yr. old daughter and her mind set has changed. After reading this book, all on her own she started journaling and recently asked to be baptised. I thank GOD for Rachel Joy Scott and her parents.

This book will change the way you view life and its meaning. I also recommend you read Rachels Tears as well!

We have visited the Estes Park area and RMNP since 1966. Heaven on earth. Much has changed - much stays the same. An amazing wilderness which is surprizingly easily accessible from civilization. Whether it be a drive up to a breath-taking scenic overlook or a grueling class 4 overnite trek. I contend that no other park has such accessibility.

Lisa D. Foster has made her mark on RMNP in many ways. Her most beknown being a writer for the "Trail Gazette". In this guide she brings personal first hand knowledge of every one of the 686 hikes along with enthusiasm and most importantly love. It shows through her prose and unbounded zeal. It's accuracy is legend at Estes' Cafes and Bob & Tony's Pizzaria.

From fun family friendly day hikes to hearty mountaineering this guidebook shall satisfy you need on the trail or vicariously on your couch. A beautiful book with 250 color photos 31 detailed maps and wonderful trail anecdotes.

This book wasn't written for gain nor money. It is a straightforward passionate commitment

Comprehensive review of every hike in RMNP. Charts and maps are very helpful and will make our summer hiking trip to RMNP much easier to plan.
Wonderful photographs and detailed notes about each hike.

This guide saved our group countless hours of research in finding the best and most efficient use of our limited hiking time while on our trip. One of the best guides on the subject.

Whether you are a serious hiker wanting to explore the remote regions of one of the treasures of the US Park system or just want a simple afternoon hike to see a little bit of Rocky Mountain National Park this book will provide all you need. It has excellent topo maps, great descriptions of the trails, lots of information on what to expect and lovely photographs to entice you on. It's printed on heavy, high quality paper in full color; it feels good to the hand. It would make a great gift for the friend who's heading off to explore RMNP!

I think the vast majority of us, even if we lived in Estes Park and had an idea to write such a book, would have given up when we grasped the enormity of hiking to every named destination in Rocky Mountain National Park (and several in the neighboring national forests). Lisa Foster didn't. Even though she was ill and often had to hike alone, she persevered. This was truly a labor of love, because not many of us are going to scale the Spearhead or numerous other destinations that require off-trail route finding and 3,500-plus elevation gains. The trail descriptions are very good, and Lisa does not seem to run out of adjectives to describe the splendor. That in itself is an accomplishment well worth noting. The photographs are also spectacular, giving the hiker an idea of the reward for huffing and puffing yourself up a mountain trail. (I've visited the park 16 times since 1995, and I always forget how difficult hiking can be.) Lisa, my hat is off to you.

REMEMBERED is the third book in the Fountain Creek Chronicles Series. It follows the life of Veronique Girard as she searches the Colorado Territory for her estranged father. Jack Brennan has turned from guiding families to the west, to become a freighter. After a little reluctance, he agrees to help Veronique find her father among the mining camps of the neighboring area. With his help, Veronique might be able to find her father . . . and a lot more.


Tamera Alexander has once again penned a delightful story that you'll have a hard time putting down. Her rich characters and picturesque settings will captivate you.

I love this author! Can't wait to read more of her books. My favorite of this series was Book 1 and Book 3...i'm sad that i finished the series!!!

I was disappointed with this book after having read and enjoyed the first 2 in the series. I was able to put this book down and come back to it later. It just didn't hold my attention. The ending took a long time in coming, but was then wrapped up a little too quickly with not enough detail. I can recommend it as a sweet romance, but not as a page-turner.

Book three in the Fountain Creek Chronicles Series rewards readers with as delightful a tale as each of the other two. But be warned. You may find a yearning in your heart to travel to old gold mining towns and look for the friends you meet within these pages.

Veronique Girard, born and raised in high society France travels to the Colorado Territory to carry out her mother's death-bed wish. Find her father, a man she barely remembers but whose love has filled her heart all of her life. As she travels into the mountains in search of him, she meets and cares for people whom she never would have associated in France. In the pieces of her life that she struggle to put back together, her faith is challenged as all of her values get remolded.

Jack Brennan returns to Fountain Creel to settle down. Delivering supplies to the gold mining communities is a tough job, but one he is prepared to do. He is not, however, prepared to escort the lovely Veronique Girard to these towns in search of her father.

Neither of them expect the plans their Heavenly Father has in bringing them together for the present and the future. The rugged Colorado mountains, rough miners and difficult western life are nothing when pitted against the love of God for His children and the love of man and woman.

This book is a beautiful journey into our history and the lives of two people who surmounted life's tragedies to find joy. You will have to remind yourself Jack and Veronique are characters for you can surely feel their hearts as you read. And, if you are quiet, you may even hear the clip-clop of horses hooves as the stage coach enters town.

While I simply loved books one and two, this one was very long in getting to the plot, and then, the real reason for the book took up only a few lines, which disappointed me. I will say there were some interesting parts and a lovely story of a young woman coming from France searching for a father she could not remember. She did this for her late mother. I was not at all impressed with the many pages used finally getting to the story. My least liked of the three.

I love this book Just this April, that my wife and I visited the Grand Canyon for the first time together. For me, it was the first time ever. We mostly hiked here and there on the South rim and a bit down into the canyon, but it was nothing big, though it was pleasant. However, I was intrigued with the tales of Glen and Bessie and I wanted to know more. I got another Grand Canyon book through Inter-Library loan and it mentioned that a fellow named Dimock was in the process of publishing a book about them.

So I finally got this book and devoured it, once I got my hands on it. This guy not only heavily researched the Hydes, he also built a similar boat and took it through the Grand Canyon, albeit with a sweep boat as back up. Then he went by kayak to personally survey the area where the Hydes most likely died.

I admit to being taken aback a bit by the book cover, which shows two people in modern garb and wearing life perservers in whitewater. However, who is better to show there than the author and his wife on the replica of the Hydes' "Rain in the Face" while barreling down what is presumably the Colorado River?

I would even bet that this failed exploit provided the idea for Dana Lamb's book "Enchanted Vagabonds", in which he builds a boat and supposedly paddles it with his young wife all the way from California to Panama. However, Dana selected a route where cheating is possible.

I want to thank Brad Dimock for answering what can be reasonably argued about Glen and Bessie.

Although there are some points where the book jumps back and forth upon itself, overall this is an engaging read about an interesting couple and a man's struggle to understand their ordeal. Very easy and enjoyable read in which you become enrapt in what happens next and makes you wonder what the "real" story truly was.

Just returned from 7 day trip down the Colorado River/Glen Canyon. One of the favorite stories was of these "honeynooners". the book is a wonderful adventure and worth a read, particularly if you have the joy of rafting that water. Enjoy!

The story of Glen and Bessie Hyde is the greatest Grand Canyon mystery. They are the honeymoon couple that disappeared without a trace in 1928. Many myths and legends have evolved in the intervening years (including a segement of "Unsolved Mysteries"). Brad Dimmock is a Colorado River guide (and a very good writer) who duplicated the couples ill fated journey down the Colorado. He has interwoven the historical material with his own modern attempt using a sweepboat similiar to the one the Hyde's used. I read this while visiting the canyon again. It was great sitting on the patio at the Lodge on the North Rim reading this fascinating account. If you love a great mystery or you love Canyon lore, you'll love this book.

I think, at first, the cover scared me away, but once I started reading I was involved. I must applaud Brad Dimock's writing skill. He has written a book with the timbre and cadence of a Jon Krakauer about an episode of which we know very little. While Glen Hyde's life was well documented by his family, very little is known about Bessie Hyde or how the Hyde's marriage was holding up under the pressure of their Colorado River float. Despite this dearth of information, Dimock has succeeded in bringing Glen and Bessie to life. We care about these two people, who disappeared over 75 years ago, and we follow the scanty thread of facts that Dimock has been able to gather, hanging on to each clue in the hope of learning their fate even though we know from the beginning that the Hyde's were never found.

Sunk Without a Sound can stand side-by-side with the best of Jon Krakauer and David Roberts.

I loved Downriver, and liked the extension River Thunder. The second book was just as exciting as the first, with all the same elements that i loved about the first one except Freddy. I only wish Freddy could have been brought back as well. He was my favorite.

"They are calling it a flood, some of the highest water anyone's ever seen." This was a quote at a very on the edge of your set. They were just about to go down the river when they hired one of the other groups talking about the river level.
River thunder is a book that will keep you on the edge of your set. There are 6 teenage kids that are going down the Grand Canyon. Jessie, Troy, Adam, Star, Rita, and Pug were the kids that were the main characters in this book. Jessie was one of the people that was rowing one of the boats, Troy was the other person that was rowing the other boat. Rita was kind of like the tuff girl. Pug was the trouble maker of the group. Adam was a karate person. Then there was Star that was the down to earth girl that was a hippy.
This book was mainly about trust and friendship. In The River Thunder it shows that trust is one of the most important things is because you have to trust each other in order to make it down the river in one peace.
The reason that I like this book is because that it always keeps you on the edge of your set you will never won't to put the book down. This is one of the best books that I have read, it is the only book that I have read this year. If you are a person that likes adventure then this book is for you. I don't like to read but when I started to read this book I could not put it down.

I read the book River Thunder by Will Hobbs. It's about a girl named Jessie, her friends and she took a trip on down to Lee's Ferry to ride the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. Her friends and she went down about a year ago and never got to ride the river, so this time they can't wait. They took off on down the river and everything was calm. About two days later down the river is where they ran into trouble. You are going to have to read the rest of this book to find out what happens.
The part that was one of my favorite parts was when they started down river with all their supplies because I was amazed how much stuff they took with them.
I would recommend this book to somebody that likes the outdoors and have read other books by Will Hobbs. You should like this book if you liked the other books Will Hobbs has written. This book at the beginning is a little boring.

River Thunder by will hobbs is written as as a realistic fiction. Its about some friends that go white water rafting in the calorado river. Jessie is the main character and has to overcome her fears of flipping over in her raft.
The plot of the story is to try to liver going through the big rapids at record levels. If one of them were to get flipped over they would iether die or get siriuosly hurt.
I liked this book and think it would be good for 5-7th graders. I liked it because i always thought it would be cool to go white water rafting and beacause it is an action adventure book.

If you are one of those people who do not like adventure books, I would suggest you stop reading my review. But if you like those kinds of books keep reading-I have a wonderful surprise.

This is a great book about teamwork. Six kids want to go to the Grand Canyon to go white water rafting. They want to run the big rapids: Granite, Hermit, Crystal and Lava Falls on the Colorado River. Jessie (the main character) has always dreamed of this adventure. In the end the river will be very challenging.

In this book there is much suspense, whether they will survive or DIE. I think will Hobbs is my favorite author now that I have read so many of his books. I think the end of the book is great and nothing could be changed from my standpoint. But if you are craving some adventure you should read this book.

Will Hobbs does not look like a very adventurous man. But I can tell you one thing he writes a GREAT adventure book. He has a whole series of great books some greater than others, but I like them all. He also wrote Downriver the companion for River Thunder. If you like this book you definitely need to read more of his books.

This book is a beautiful exploration of sense of place, married with a urgent discussion of the disappearance of wild places in the West. Bass' characters are vibrant and humorous. This is one of the best nonfiction 'green' books I have ever read.

Rick Bass challenges us to reconsider the question of whether there are grizzlies left in the wilderness of the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado. It is a question that is not easy to answer with a "yes" or "no". So what if he or someone else finds evidence as in traces of grizzly hair in scat, or sizes of footprints in the mud, or claw marks on the trunks of aspen trees, or better yet, has a brief encounter with what looks or sounds like a grizzly bear? This may well be the last survivor(s) of a population that is doomed for extinction, which many people have prepared themselves to accept or acknowledge. Besides, documenting their existence may bring more intruders (hunters, outfitters, biologists included) to this fragile wilderness, thus accelerating the demise of this once-mighty population. The real issue here is not whether they are still there, but whether knowing that they may still be there is enough for us to respect their right to be left alone, to leave their domain untrammeled, and lessen our own ruination by ensuring a greater natural legacy to future generations.

Bass embarked on two separate off-trail adventures into the wilds of the San Juans with the hunch that the great bear might still exist. On the first trip, which was early fall, he seemed to idolize Doug Peacock, who was schooled in the wilderness philosophy of the late Edward Abbey from both friendship and experience traveling together. On the second trip, which was early summer, Bass, although traveling with a larger group, pushed further into the wilds by himself at one point and experienced an epiphany. In both trips, Bass shares with his readers his deep appreciation of the wilderness, recalling the insights of nature writers as Aldo Leopold, Barry Lopez, and Wallace Stegner. The temptation to go willy-nilly in personal introspection, however, recalls the negative aspects of Jon Krakauer. His occasional rambling about ions and mutations makes him a scientific dilettante that can mar the reading experience. He mistakenly refers to "Adirondack National Park" (Adirondack Park) in comparing the San Juans to other wilderness areas. Influenced by Peacock, Bass detests the conventional methods wildlife biologists use to study the distribution of wildlife populations and recommends a more sensitive methodology that does not rely on direct documentation or technological gadgets.

What good is a wilderness--and why call it as such--if the elements that have beheld mankind and have captured our imagination and instilled dread for so long, such as its fiercest predators, are gone? When people like Bass and Peacock tread quietly in wilderness and finds evidence of a remaining wildness in places like the San Juan Mountains, there is reason for optimism. The natural world is all the more interesting when we find, in addition to scenery and natural splendors, an enduring ecosystem that should be left alone for others to see, wonder, and experience.

Author Rick Bass recounts three years of annual efforts to find evidence of grizzly bears in Colorado's San Juan mountains. Each time, he heads into the woods with a colorful cast of characters, most notably Grizzly Years author Doug Peacock. Their goal is to document the presence of the endangered grizzly; success will presumably spark a reaction in the government and conservation agencies to take efforts to protect both the grizzly and its environment. Bass finds what appears to be plenty of evidence, culminating in a terrifying encounter with a large male grizzly from 30 feet away. The centerpiece of the book is on the way that Bass and his companions interact with the environment around them, be it the woods, or the towns and ranches that they visit for one reason or another.
The Good and the Bad:
As much as I liked isolated sections of this book, the drawbacks left me colder than a group of activists on a mountain peak at dusk. The good things included a worship-inspired look at Peacock, who is shown to be a modern day Johnny Appleseed in that he is far more comfortable in the wilds than among the people. Peacock charges off into the brush cursing when agitated; and he is liable to charge into the brush cursing when he is happy and excited, too. At a meeting with a fundraiser, he turns down money because he has been asked to have contact with a donor in exchange for the funds. He is motivated by unexplained feelings, mysteries of the woods, and mystic natural signs whose meanings he comes up with unaided. The fact that Bass seems to worship Peacock only becomes annoying when Bass attempts to insert himself into the relationship by intimating that he understands Peacock better than others in the group (I'm not even saying he doesn't, just that it detracts from the narrative). In most cases, the hero-worship merely serves to enhance the story, as we get behind a mythologizing of a man that even critics would call strongly individualistic.
We also fail to get a good idea of how the larger movement to document and thereby save the grizzlies is progressing. We don't know exactly what proof will produce what effect, and so the real-life impact of the mission is de-emphasized to the extreme.
I have three other main complaints; the first is that the large majority of the conservation ethic articulated by the characters is extremely basic. There's a lot of quoting of Leopold, and a repeated return to the idea that we are all a part of the forest, that every unit is dependent on related parts, etc. He not only presents these ideas with the pride of their creator, but he goes over them again and again, with minor variation. Better was when he talks about specific issues, such as the ethical considerations of radio-collaring a bear (although we never get the pro side of that statement). Another interesting set of information is given by a character named Tolisanti, who gives a discussion on how many creatures are needed to preserve a species, and what roles different species play in terms of conserving an environment.
The second main complaint is Bass's annoying tendency to read spiritual overtones into almost everything. The quality of light, the sighting of a bear skull, the accidental discovery of a hunter's camp; everything has a meaning. And Bass doesn't think that he's coming up with the meaning, he clearly reads that the forces of nature are communicating with him, directly and on purpose. A meadow is happy that he's leaving, although it didn't mind his presence while he was there, for example. And there is a constant return to the idea that the existence of grizzlies is a function of the spirit of those who seek them rather than their own mechanizations. This might be ok for another reader, but I want more hard facts and far less spiritual rhapsody about how Rick Bass is a receptacle that nature chooses to fill with portent.
Finally, I have a big problem with Bass's attitude that his own conservation ethic, which has a heavy basis in a Native American-like basis of respect for each creature, is the only proper one. He repeatedly refers to academics and bureaucrats in wildlife management in a demeaning manner, drawing a deep division between himself and paper-pushers. While I personally share many qualities and sympathize entirely with many aspects of the hippie movement, my sympathies fall short of condoning some of the bizarre attitudes. The way to save the woods might include a frontiersman-like effort to catalogue what's out there, but it also includes involvement by the government, as well as a lot of the hard scientific work conducted in the laboratory. Just because everyone's not a Davey Crockett doesn't mean that everyone doesn't care about preserving wildlife.
What I learned:
The Hundred Years rule of thumb asks what population size is needed to give itself a 99% chance of survival for 100 years. There is a new idea in conservation that preserving wildness might be better sized by establishing a series of concentrated rings, with more human activity allowed in the outer rings, but little to no activity allowed in the central rings. This allows for less chafing on both sides of the fence, for both civilization and the wild. Different types of species as far as conservation goes include keystone species, which anchor a set of inter-special relationships; indicator species, which give early warning when something bad is happening to an environment; flagship species, which are the sexy animals that might motivate the public to devote energies to conserving an ecosystem; and recovery species, which indicate that an ecosystem that has been damaged might be coming back to life.
Also, and most interestingly, when hunters shoot bears who have just recently emerged from hibernation, they may find live ants scurrying around in their stomachs, which have not yet begun to produce stomach acid.

I thoroughly enjoyed this tale of the trail, but as science it dosen't bother to include any. Only the fact that standard conservation biology principles are ridiculed. Unfortunately this population of Ursus arctos horribilus is all but gone. They are at California Condor levels if present at all. They see one bear, but what of the DNA analysis? Bass does not tell us here. Bass's bear is more a vision than a reality.

The crowd of Earth First!ers from Tuscon and points north represented by the volatile-tempered Doug Peacock, that has allowed Rick Bass to join is a select band of outlaw literary types, that worship the wild and lament its demise. I share this sadness and want to prevent it myself, but my twelve years working as a fish and wildlife biologist did little to encourage me that this is possible. By aligning himself only with outlaw radicals whose personal behavior screams "left-wing enviro-nut" these noble ideas will be hard to sell by these messengers. Only with mainstream acceptance will change occur.

In Bass's home territory of Yaak, Montana this will be a hard sell. Libby is a devastated lumber town where I once worked for the U.S. Forest Service. I was so discouraged that I quit early and left town never to return. Bass runs with a select clique who live in Livingston, Montana a sort of "Hollywood North" of rich and famous actors and artists the likes of Peter Fonda, Tom McGuane, Dennis Quaid, the brothers Bridges, an endless list. But it's the outlaws like Dave Forman the founder of Earth First!that run the underground sects of the environmental movement, and they have a terrorist thesis; "Monkeywrenchers" as Ed Abby envisioned. Peacock is the model although he does not actually commit vandalism acts himself. They don't accept newcomers into their ranks easily; particularly impoverished writers from the "sticks."

I wrote Mr. Bass once of my efforts chronicled in my first book "Against A Strong Current," on these conservation matters and received no reply. Acceptance by this group is not my goal but credit is difficult to get, even if one has extensive credentials and a government work record that takes place on scene as part of the in house system working for the same change. It is easy to be upstaged by amateurs. Bass seeks to sell romance sans the "Guzzi" consumerish trappings. This work is a success at that, but it is not in any sense, biology.

This book is a unique combination of comedy, real-life adventure and a luminous testimony to one of America's most endangered and mythical beasts. Bass is at his best here, capturing the hearts of his readers through an alternately hilarious and spine tingling account of his journey into the Colorado mountains in search of grizzly bears.

The problem facing Bass and his two friends is that the grizzly bear is believed to be extinct in Colorado. However, several undocumented sightings and signs have convinced them that the bears exist in the remotest regions of the mountain range. Thus they are out to do all they can to locate bears and document their findings.

In the resulting adventures we find the three companions trapsing through woods, sliding down canyon walls, confronting bureaucrats and tracking down bear sign. Things are complicated, and given a distinctly uneasy quality, by the behavior of Doug Peacock. Peacock, himself a well-known author and champion of the grizzly bear, is plagued by frequent and dramatic mood swings. His alarmingly volatile temper, moments of intense introspection and frequent outbursts of graphic profanity have the reader feeling like he/she is walking on eggshells. Because Bass has done such a good job of describing his friend, and how he came to be the way he is, it's easy to forgive Peacock his peculiar behavior. However, it is not easy or pleasant to read.

As the story unfolds, and the three men get closer to their goal, the tension becomes almost unbearable. When Bass finally sees a bear, after months of exhausting effort and disappointment, the scene unfolds in classic Bass technicolor with heart racing clarity and insight. "When I am ten yards from that fallen tree - which I am all but ignoring, focusing on the deer - a creature leaps up from behind it, seemingly right in my face, a brown creature with great hunched shoulders. It's a bear with a big head, and for the smallest fraction of time our eyes meet. The bear's round brown eyes are wild in alarm, and mine the same or larger, I'm sure. The bear's rich chocolate color, like a moose and nearly as big, an animal of such immense size that indeed my first thought, the one right before fear, is: That bear's as big as a moose!"

I won't ruin the suspense by telling you what happens next. It should be enough to know that Bass neither disappoints nor fails to find deeper currents of truth running beneath his experience. This is another book that shouldn't be missed. Just don't expect it to reveal its gifts easily.