Park Books

This has become my camping "bible". (In point of fact, it was a contested item in dividing marital property following my divorce.) Informative, easy-to-use, fun to read, excellent descriptions, and the only way to plan a camping trip. My partner and I tent it, and this book has proven to be extremely useful in finding a site well away from the electrified gulag. The overviews of each park's campsites allow one to make an informed choice regarding a site. The detailed description of each park's history and special features make this book an ideal way to find exactly what you're looking for in the way of year-round outdoor recreation at any of Wisconsin's state parks, natural areas and forests. A very minor criticism is that the photos used in the book are very much in need of up-dating.

This book is a must-have if you plan on camping in any of the Wisconsin State Parks.

Not only does it contain the usual maps and information for each park, but it also has descriptions of the campsites by campsite number! In my opinion, the campsite descriptions alone make the book worth buying.

I frequently make reservations at a campground before I visit a particular park for the first time. In the past I was assigned the next available campsite number and I had no idea what it is like until I arrived at the park. Several times I arrived at the park only to find that my site was quite sloped or too small to put my tent on!

Now, before calling in the reservations I read the book and pick out a few campsites that are level, grassy, and partly shaded (my preference!) and ask for them by number. It makes the entire camping trip so much more enjoyable.

This book is very complete and informative. I was only familiar with Gov Dodge SP. After buying this book we planned 2 more camping trips to places we were unfamiliar with!! The details are great. Down to which campsites are shaded, gravel, good for RVs, etc.

Highly recommended!!

Living in WI and doing a lot of camping in state parks, I had been looking for a book like this for years. I actually started collecting all the Park Newspapers and creating my own scrapbook of parks, campsites etc. Then 3 years ago I found this book. WOW is saved me alot of time it has all the info for all the parks inclding campsite descriptions, hunting, hiking, fishing and concessions stand info.

As invaluable to someone recreating in WI as the Wisconsin Gazateer Map!!!

he's down it again. Useing his massive tilents to write this book upon the wolf. Cool.

I bought this book for six dollars at chapters, I didn`t realize it would change my perceptions of the battle for the aglgonquin wolf! Long has the ontario Ministry of natural rescources neglected the speacial needs or the elusive, prosectuted animal:the wolf. Not long ago, bounties were placed on these animals and they were killed without pity or mercy. Whenever the wolves ventured out of the park they were killed, even the MNR officers took time to shoot a few yearlings. John and Mary uncover hard evidence to protect the wolf, despite being threatnened and joked at, they persued to protect the algonquin wolf. John`s unique research writing style and personal encounters with wolves, people and the park gives readers a first hand look at the wolf controversy. This book is a must for nature lovers!

I thought this was a very well written book from two hard working and passionate biologists who are deeply concerned about the Algonquin wolves. I couldn't put the book down, it was so informative and fascinating. The book brings up many issues regarding wolf conservation, and is full of interesting facts about wolves and their prey. The many years of wolf research done by these two biologists in Algonquin Park really shows through. If you love wolves this book is a must for your collection.

This book is a wonderful summation of one of the longest wolf studies ever. As a life-long visitor to Algonquin Park, it is a pleasure to learn about the wolves in and around the park. I never realized how many wolves were in that area. Although this is a wonderful book, I was disheartened by the hatred displayed by people towards these researchers and the beautiful wolves that they are studying.

Beautiful pictures illustrates the many different wolves that were restored to yellowstone (#10, #9etc...). Illustrates the effort the yellowstone had to put in to restore the wolf to its natural habitat. Very interesting to the average wolf lover and those who are interested in what happened in the 1995 restoration of the wolves to yellowstoen.

Beautiful pictures, touching and moving story. About the restoration of the wolves.

an excellent book describing the ordeal of reintroducing the wolves to Yellowstone. I recommend it to everyone with even a slight interest in this topic

This book brings you right into the experience of bringing the wolves back to Yellowstone where they belong! Find out the behind the scenes activity that brought the sight and sound of the wolf back after an absence of over 60 years. You'll never be the same after reading this. Excellent!!

Just got back today from two weeks out west, spending 5 days at Yellowstone. This book was GREAT and we used to plan our trip and during our trip. The only thing is that there are a lot more hikes available so if you are really into hiking getting a hiking book is good. This is a good all around book!! It is well worth the money!

We just got home from Yellowstone and bought this book about a month prior to going. Even though we bought a couple of guides this was the only one that got any use. It's layout is helpful. The information is right on and the CD are helpful too. We got to listen to information about an area before we visited it. Just buy this book and you will be happy.

Lots of information! Maps, pictures. Great book worth the money. The audio tour and CD are an extra bonus!!!! Probably the only book you need.

This is one of the best books I have seen on touring Yellowstone National Park. It's full of maps, information, and beautiful pictures of sights to see. The book also includes sections on popular hiking trails, their difficulty and distance, as well as planning your trip to Yellowstone. The Audio Tour CD and the Virtual Tour CD-ROM that are included are also excellent. If you've never been to Yellowstone before or even if you've been there several times and want to learn more about the park, this is a great book to have.

This little field guide is hands-down the best guide to use in choosing which geysers to view, and where, while in Yellowstone National Park. T. Scott Bryan's "The Geysers of Yellowstone" is also a great book, but has few photos and all in black and white (except the cover), and its comprehensiveness reduces its usefulness for quick consultation during a visit. Buy Bryan's book to learn everything there is to know about Yellowstone's Geysers, but buy Schreier's gorgeously illustrated and compact Field Guide for use IN the Park on your vacation.

This book has all the information you need about the geysers in Yellowstone. Which basin of the park each geyser is located. It has maps of the different basins and where you will find each of the Geysers. Includes color pictures of each geyser and gives great detail about each, including intervals of when the geyser errupts.

I took my family to Yellowstone National Park hoping to see some of the more unusual geysers in action. Carl Schreier's book was a great help in choosing which geysers to wait for to see the eruptions. For each geyser, hot spring, and fumarole, Schreier's book contains a photo and interesting information concerning the discovery of the various thermal sights, and an accurate description of the interval and duration of the geysers. Everyone in our family was reading it.

I cannot speak highly enough of this book.
My boyfriend and I just got back from our first trip to Yellowstone- and this book was invaluable to us.
We took it with us as we went to the various geyser basins. It was incredibly helpful!

We read about the geysers,hot springs, fumuroles and mud pots as we got to each one.

The book also has great color photos of each feature.

It is broken down into these sections:
* Geyser Life
* Mammoth Hot Spring Terraces
* Norris Geyser Basin
* Gibbon Geyser Basin
* Lower Geyser Basin
* Midway Geyser Basin
* Biscuit Geyser Basin
* Black Sand Basin
* Upper Geyser Basin
* Shoshone Geyser Basin
* Mud Volcano Area
* West Thumb Geyser Basin
* Heart Lake Geyser Basin
* New Zealand - (3 hot springs)

As an example, here's what the book says about Fountain Paint Pots (in the Lower Geyser Basin):
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Temperature= 202.8 degrees F
Dimensions: 80 X 40 feet

Fountain Paint Pots was originally named "Mud Puff" by the 1871 Hayden survey and later turn-of-the-century tourists called it Mammoth Paint Pots.But guide books referred to the area as Fountain Geyser and Paintpots and the name was adopted in 1927.

The mud is composed of clay and fine particles of silica broken down by acids and grinding action.
The tinting of the mud in colors of pink and gray from iron oxides is derived from the original rock.
The bubbling action results in escaping steam and gasses- mainly carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide.

In the spring and early summer the mud is thin and the pots boil. By late summer and fall there is less moisture and the mud is thicker, creating unusual shapes and formations.
---------------------------------------------------------------
The only gripe that I have about this book is that it does not list every single feature.
There is a map at the beginning of each section- in red are the features that are talked about- and in black are the ones that are not mentioned.

In the Lower Geyser Basin- there were several feautures that we came to that were not talked about in the book, such as:
Leather Pool, Celestine Pool, Firehole Pool and Surprise Pool, Hot Lake, Jet Geyser, Twig Geyser, etc...

In the Midway Geyser Basin, Opal Pool is not talked about. We walked up to it and wanted to know more about it.

But I do highly recommend this book.
Most of the features are listed. The author talks about the history and goes into detail about the characteristics about the features.
I recommend this book for anyone taking their first trip to Yellowstone. Take this book along with you as you tour the fascinating geological features of the park.You will be glad that you had this helpful guide.
This book also is great for everyone who loves Yellowstone and would like to learn more about the magic of this park.

I already had a couple of trips to Yosemite under my belt before buying this book in anticipation of a third, but I still found it very useful. Much of the information you will want at hand before and during your trip is conveniently compiled in this book, and it is presented in a charming and amusing way. (Bruinhilda, your host, is a cartoon bear.) History, hiking, flora, fauna, lodging, feeding, even five pages of telephone numbers you may need, are all there. The price of this book will be a pittance compared to the total cost of your trip to Yosemite, and it will help you to get the most out of your visit. I particularly recommend this book to people who aren't planning a trip to Yosemite-maybe it will encourage you to go (and to respect and care for the park when you do)!

This book may be better than Steve Medley's "Guidebook to Yosemite National Park" because of its question and answer format. The cartoons are excellent, especially if you're a fan of "Farley" as I am...it's very easy to read and information is easily accessible, also it's about as up-to-date as you can possibly get. My husband and I were married in Yosemite in September of '98, and sent this book around to the invitees who had never been to our beautiful park. The book got rave reviews from all.

I would recommend this book, along with the Jeffrey P. Schaffer book "Yosemite National Park" (which I would also give 5 stars) as "Must-haves" when visiting Yosemite. The "Yosemite Handbook" is especially good for people who are bringing children, and plan to spend the majority of their time in the Valley...can't say enough good things about this book!

The way the books of this series work is that they took a guide for new rangers in Yosemite with the 100 or so most frequently asked questions, and wrote their own answers for each park. It's a great format because it makes for easy reading beforehand, but it's also quick as a reference when you're there because they're arranged in an intelligent order. There's also a huge reference section at the end with lists, copies of permit forms, and so forth. So the thing to do is read the FAQ before you leave but bring the book and refer to it once you're there.

I've been to Yosemite four or five times since I've purchased this book, and still find it useful. Partially this is because if you go in different seasons there are different things to see, and sometimes you just want a pizza and that's in there too (Camp Curry has good pizza, if anybody's curious).

This is THE A-Z Yosemite guild, with info ranging from how long it takes to get there to what restaurants will best suit your needs and not to say, your price bracket. This guide will interest the most unenthusiastic of readers. It gives you a very lighthearted look at camping (the way it was intended to be) and detailed insider information of Yosemite with a side of humor narriated by an animated bear. The animation makes it all the more enjoyable, as it pokes fun of the stereotypical tourist and his civilized quirks. The guide uses a helpful Q&A format. It also provides an informative hiking graph of strenuosity and milage along with a graph of campgrounds and their amenities. I consider it the Yosemite bible of sorts and a must have for first time visitors!

Yosemite may be my favorite place in the world, and so I picked up this book with some trepidation. No fear! It is true to my memory of the grandeur of scale of El Capitan and the towering granite cliffs, the warm cinnamon-colored bark of sequoias and the still, reflective surface of sections of the Merced River. Best of all, it allows you to experience Yosemite's timeless serenity - a quality difficult to appreciate amidst the throngs in the park itself. For anyone who has visited and loved Yosemite, the photos are evocative of the spirit of the valley - seedlings and shifting sunlight and the flow of the river against the background of ancient trees and unyielding granite. I would buy the book for the photography alone, but the accompanying poetry brings the photos down to a more human scale. Here you have a sensitive man's upwelling of joy and awe in the presence of a sacred space.

I visited Yosemite first about five years ago, and was enchanted and enthralled by its beauty. I know I am not the only one: I follow a long line of artists in many disciplines who have loved Yosemite and her glacial carvings and ancient trees... and then, crafted in the ways they know how, lasting tributes.

Dan Windisch is indeed one of those artists whose development I will now be keeping up with. His photographic and poetic work both in this small publication are reminiscent of someone who has developed a reverence for spirit and for nature, and this reveals itself to a spectacular degree in his work.

I felt both energized and inspired after my experience with this book. Its more than worth [the money] for a look: in my opinion, the calm spirituality and deep wisdom expressed here borders on being there, borders on the actual experience

I have been lucky enough to have Dr.Dan Windisch as an instructor at Saint Martin's College. I was thrilled and amazed when he shared his poetry with us. The photographs in this book are luminous. What a surprise to find out that my instructor is a poet as well. His poems show his attention to the details of nature that others may ignore. I appreciated his carefully selected photographs to accompany the poems as well. The words and images complement each other. This book would make a delightful gift; I plan to give a copy to my mom and dad. They enjoy camping and hiking; so, I know this collection of poems and photos would mean a lot to them.

The poems alone are enough to send your imagination soaring into the power and fragility of nature. Coupled with the collection of photographic portraits of nature that Dan Windisch captured, I found myself transported into the wonderous beauty of Yosemite National Park. I hope to see more Photos and Poems about our nations treasures, our National Parks. I may be biased, since I am a long-time employee of the National Park Service, but I think that everyone who loves nature will enjoy this book.

For some people this book is a substitute for visiting Yosemite. I suppose that is legitimate. For Neill this book is clearly act of devotion to something he loves, even adores. For me the portfolios are pure art. In them Neill shows me ways of looking at things I never imagined. The contrast of snowy shore and black water. El Capitan veiled in mist and inky trees. Half Dome grey and majestic foregrounded by a glowing tree. Neill is especially good with the color black. I love the way he sometimes offers up a deep green that shades into black.

Not every photo is a masterpiece, but a high percentage of them are. They are stylized without being candy-coated, like the works of so many other landscape photographers. They condition consciousness so that after looking at them I see even my humdrum little suburb in a new way. This effect is surely due in part to the majesty of the subject, but it is mostly the achievement of William Neill. I revere this book and recommend it to any lover of beauty. Go to Mr. Neill's website and see the pictures for yourself.

The greatest portfolio of Yosemite I've seen. Mr. Neill is a very influential photographer.

A long time fan of William Neill's amazing photography, this book is a work of love. It is obvious in the beautiful images that his passion for Yosemite is revealed, page by page. Yosemite is one of the most visited and most photographed national parks in the US. Made famous by the images by Ansel Adams, among others, Half Dome and El Capitan have been photographed by millions every year for decades. Just when you think that every possible image and perspective has been taken, Mr. Neill's book opens your eyes up to more unique and varied possibilities.

To truly reveal the magic that is Yosemite, you must explore it during all the seasons, time and time and time again over the years. Mr. Neill clearly did as this book explores the beauty and uniqueness that is Yosemite through all those seasons, all the weather. With each page memories and enchantment flood the soul as I remember standing in the same spot, but seeing it anew through the magic of his camera, surrounded by the magic of the place. Even if you've never visited Yosemite, you will come away a friend with this book.

I highly recommend it to everyone who visits or considers visiting Yosemite. If you are thinking about a book that represents some of the magic that is nature and the wild in the United States to give to a friend from a foriegn land or someone city-bound, this book will feel like a hike through the woods and some magical place.

William Neill has done it again! Be sure and check out the rest of his wonderful books. I highly recommend "By Nature's Design" and "The Color of Nature" books. His images are timeless.

While Yosemite's splendor is introduced to the reader in the photographs, it is impossible to really capture the beauty of this great park with just a picture. The beauty of this book is a combined effort of excellence in photography and prose which sings the praises of this absolutely amazing corner of the world.

I highly recommend this book for those heading to Yosemite, want help in remembering a trip, or, for those of you not fortunate enough to have the chance to get there (go-go-go!), you'll read it and book the next flight!

I grew up with Susie and the Swope Family. Susie went through some incredibly tough times during her bout with cancer. She remains a strong and beautiful spirit today because of the love she experienced from her family and friends. If you have ever experienced the loss of a loved one--this book is a MUST READ!

"Thank you Mollie. Everything you share (in your book) is so real and true. I could feel Susie hugging me again. Words are never enough but your love was...and is! Bless you." Bernie Siegel, M.D., Author of "Love, Medicine & Miracles"

Mollie Swope has written a book about transition. The learning process that we go through when we are forced to let go of someone dear...and the realization that we gain in knowing that nothing is ever lost...or gone, it has only changed form. This book is a celebration of Mollie's daughter, Susie, and a journey beyond the physical...into the realm of Love. This is a book about life and the life beyond the physical life. It is a healing tool, very inspirational.

Mollie shared their families intimate story of the trials and tribulations of their personal fight against Susie's cancer. Through this process, a deep understanding of life's purpose and meaning emerges...a meaning that goes way beyond the physical. A relationship that began at birth...continues today as a legacy from the other side. This is a very inspirational book, that I would highly recommend to anyone.

Mollie Swope's "You Were Here Today" is reassuring that we are not alone in our experience of a life making the transition to the beyond. This book is a wealth of information on what happens when a loved one leaves us for the LIGHT and returns to us to lift our spirits. As I read the chapters it became clear to me of the great love between Mollie and her daughter Susie. It has been said that love transcends and it does!!!! Thank you Mollie and Susie for teaching such valuable lessons of strength, courage, wisdom and gentle peace. Sheila Jack Crabill

An unforgettable read.
Without a word and thus with incredible strength. It's not a political message, it's not an argument with solutions to problems.
It's just an extremely strong and human message.
A book I wish more people would read.

This book rekindled my interest in B&W photography...and since I live near a major zoo, also zoo photography. Not every photo is of the same quality, but in this book are the most singularly beautiful B&W images I have ever seen! The layout and quality are tops. I LOVE THIS BOOK. Now having said that, I must admit I love zoos...and thank heavens for them for keeping alive some of nature's most wonderful creatures which have been suffering terribly in recent years in the wild. The damage done to wildlife conservation by the Sierra Clubs and the PETAs of the world cannot be understated. So, I do not agree with her message but I love her spectacular images.

As youngsters most of us felt excited when we went to zoos to see "wild" animals. This book shows us how things may look like from the other side of the cage/barrier. The Images are stunning not only for their artistic beauty but also the message they convey: unforgettable yet heart-breaking. The composition and lighting of the black and white prints are just great.

Never have I seen a collection of photography like this book. The book not only shows the beauty of all sorts of animals but also depicts the harshness of the reality they face each day living in a zoo. The contrast between nature's awesome creatures and man's desire to put them on display is a haunting story. This photographer tells it well.