Idaho Books

Lewis and Clark fans should have this book. It is also an excellent book for someone who only wants a sample of Lewis and Clark lore. It is very easy to read. There are many photographs showing scenes along the Lewis and Clark trail today. "Across the Snowy Ranges" limits itself to the Lewis and Clark Expedition in Idaho and Western Montana. This part of the Lewis and Clark route is the only part of the westward bound trail that is relatively unchanged by dams and other human development. It is also the part of the trail that presented the Corps of Discovery with the greatest challenges; bargaining for horses, nearly starving while crossing the Rocky Mountains, and their collective illness when changing to a diet of fish and roots. It was on this part of the journey where one finds the romance of Sacagawea's reunion with her brother and the assistance the Corps received from the Shoshone, Salish, and Nez Perce Indians. The text follows the Corps day-by-day but describes the activities and locations in clear text with only a few excerpts from the Lewis and Clark journals. One of my favorite spots on the entire Lewis and Clark trail is Packer Meadows near the Idaho-Montana border. Not only does this book have a great picture of the site, it also tells the story of rescuing the site from the loggers' chainsaws in 1997.

It should come as no surprise that the second book published by an author is frequently not up to the same high quality of the first one. After all, that first one (probably) was not written to a deadline, but was, rather, fueled by the inner passion of the author. It's not at all uncommon to finish writing that first book, heave a tremendous sigh of relief, and vow to never touch another typewriter, or computer, as the case may be. Thankfully, in most cases, that latter sentiment doesn't last long, (although in some instances, it doesn't last long enough!) and in a day or so, the author is inspired enough to begin the second book. Even with luck, however, if there is a contract staring him or her in the face, time can interfere with the creative process.

I don't know if that happened with this book, but it has certainly happened to many others. I LOVED McCalls's first book Dead Aim, and vowed to read all his others. It appears there are only three, so far, with just a year or two between the first two, but several years between the latter two.

Not that this book is in any way insufficient, mind you; it just isn't quite sufficient enough. Chris and Lyel are still in Idaho, still loving--and enjoying--the countryside, while indulging in the occasional bit of work, as necessary. For Chris, this is tracing lost musicians to whom royalty payments are due. Lyel's work is mostly clipping coupons. And not the cents-off-at-the-grocery-store-variety, either.

After a fatal crash at the local airport (and the two buddies are volunteer firefighters, providing us with vivid descriptions of such an activity) Chris is asked to help a local woman find her missing sister. And thus begins the chase. That's the really good part, with the loving look at souped-up 50s and 60s hot-rods (if you're old enough to remember when this was being done, you'll really cherish this part of the book!) and a bit of spy-type activity in California as Chris looks for the owner of a building who doesn't want to be found.

Published in 1990, the book is still up to the minute, with environmental concerns mixed with politics, and, underneath it all, the steadily beating heart of an appealing, yet lonely man. Now, to find that third book, and hope for a fourth. And a fifth. Maybe even a sixth?

The recent surge in popularity of on-line genealogical searches shows that as we move into the 21st century we are still looking backward at our family roots. How fortunate for history that author Kristi M. Youngdahl has taken the time to help an Idaho family chronicle its past in a remarkable book called The Arams of Idaho: Pioneers of Camas Prairie and Joseph Plains. I was impressed with how the author used family interviews and records, newspaper accounts and the like and wove them seamlessly into the narrative. This wealth of detail draws the reader into the story, making it come alive, and what a story it is! The Arams trace their lineage back to England (and to a notorious criminal and folk hero, Eugene Aram). The Arams became part of the westward migration after immigration to the U.S. in 1806. After stops in the Midwest, California and Oregon, members of this pioneer family helped settle one of our last wildernesses, central Idaho, starting in 1864. Ms. Youngdahl ably portrays the challenges of living in this rugged territory, as the family works to build shelter and plant crops, faces the Nez Perce Indian War of 1877 and establishes a cattle ranch. When James Aram loses this ranch in 1930 to foreclosure, this sad event feels to the reader as if it were a setback to one's own family because the author has shown the years of toil and tears leading up to this day. Son Jim (with one arm amputated due to an accident) helps his father rebuild through the Depression years, but finally the time comes when the Arams all have "scattered like so many seeds in the wind" to the world outside their remote ancestral home. This brought a real sense of loss to me. But fortunately memories of this period of history have been preserved in this book: memories of everyday ranch life, of cowboys and cattle rustlers, of Saturday night dances and basket socials, of surreptitious sampling of "moonshine" whiskey on holidays, of a family's love and loyalty to each other and to their home through generations. And at the end of this story the author says that the Arams still have the strength "inherited from their pioneer parents and grandparents--a strength tested daily in their youth by a wild and beautiful land." And we --and succeeding eras--have this wonderful book. I recommend it highly.

ASSAULT AT RUBY CREEK,
THE IDAHO MASSACRE! (1992)
by Maynard C Campbell, Jr.

This is one of the more interesting "underground" defenses of the Weaver family written very soon after the standoff at Ruby Creek (referred to in the media as Ruby Ridge).

The "Ruby Ridge" incident was like most other major events in America in that the media was ever present but still managed to misreport so much. What is cool about this booklet is that it has some items that aren't to be found elsewhere. First there is a hand written letter, signed by each member of the Weaver family. Apparently this was written during the standoff. It doesn't contain any new information, but it shows the psychological stress and religious conviction of the family. Another item is the statement issued by Randy Weaver from his jail cell, trying to present himself to the public as an American who didn't want a confrontation with the authorities. Also significant is an article titled "Sara's Story" by Jess Walter (from the Spokesman-Review) written the month after the incident. This text has many statements from daughter Sara Weaver in her own words. In each of these cases, Campbell lets the materials do their own talking. In an article reproduced later in the booklet, Campbell periodically "interrupts" the text to comment on "the Beast's propaganda ministry" or the "communist editors". Even still, he concedes that it is "generally well done"!

Campbell's writing style is very very inflammatory (see quote at bottom of review) and this booklet probably won't "convert" anybody who doesn't already agree with him. Of course we are talking about a situation where government agents killing American citizens, so I can understand why the text is so... impassioned. However Campbell frequently goes off on various tangents about all sorts of things. Showing a picture of the Weaver family's dead dog, Campbell states his belief that the pet was killed with a special "scalar" radio weapon that instantly mummifies people and animals. He mentions his own racial theories and even provides a diagram. He also boasts that he hasn't paid his taxes since 1974. Did I mention that he also included an article on public school by John Taylor Gotto? All this is fine and sort of adds to the eccentric "zine" feel, but I would say that maybe half of this 80 page book is actually about what happened to the Weavers! (Incidentally I like Gotto's work very much.) I rate this item 4 stars for the historic value of the materials, and 2 stars for focus!

Maynard Campbell was an interesting character in his own right. He was incarcerated after an "Angry Joe Bass"-type dispute over a co-defendant's right to move dirt in a particular area. He was brutally killed in his jail cell in early 1997. His best known booklet was called 'KINGDOMS AT WAR'.

"You need to stop reading here.
Go outside for a few minutes,
breathe some fresh air, smell a
flower or two. Then look into the
innocent eyes of your children
or grandchildren for however
long it takes to repent of your
own detestable indifference to
the affairs of our country, and
your own conspiratorial part in
sucking on the breast of socialism!"
~Maynard C. Campbell, page 46

Must admit that, as a mining engineer with 30 years experience, I was pleasantly surprised at the breadth of the book. Despite the nature of some of the topics addressed, it was not "dry" in tone.

The author provides a good flavor of the grassroots level mining activity of individuals of the period. Moreover he gave some unique insights of Depression-era government policy as it affected the larger mining industry, especially silver and gold. President Roosevelt's explicit desire to maintain the status quo with the federal mining law (to enhance mining employment) was one example. Another example was the historical review of hydraulic mining in California--both contemporaneously to the Depression as well as the 19th century.

This is one of the very rare books on the western outlaws and the original edition exists in but three known copies.

The authorship has never been determined, though it has been variously ascribed to a newspaperman visiting the area.

The book is an accurate and certainly and eye-witness account of the crimes of the Slade gang."

Includes 11 woodcut style illustrations.

Brigham Madsen provides a good through history of the Bannock nation. His focus/speculation on how they became seperate from the Snake nation and on their continued existance in regards to buffaloe hunting provide an excellent benefit to reading this book. Though somewhat dry in parts, this book gives a reader insight into the life of the Bannock and the history of the american west. Great for anyone interested in the history of southern Idaho, Oregon, NA history or History of the American West.

This book is as fine as a float down the Boise River on a sunny day. Although the writing isn't as clear as the Wood River's waters(That's what the Boise River was more commonly called pre-1836) it pleasantly meanders about Boise's rich history. Your eyes will strike gold with the many fascinating pictures of old Boise. Mine the words and there too you'll tap a vein of history as keen as any yellow nugget.

Madsen(the foremost authority on the Shoshoni and Bannock Indians of Idaho and Utah) here gives us a portrait of the real Chief. According to Madsen, Pocatello was simply a Chief who was interested in feeding his people and making peace with the white man. While it is true that Pocatello led many raids on wagon trains most notable at Massacre Rock, Madsen says that he was credited with many more raids than he was actually involved in. Madsen also sets for the many fanciful tales that the anti-Pocatello media attributed to him. But the thing that Pocatello is most famous for is the small Idaho town that has his name.

I read this as part of my university study on the Owyhee Region. Its a great way to learn about some of the recent local history and politics of SW Idaho. It's also a window into grassroots environmentalism, land management and the EIS process. So if any of those topics interest you, I recommend this book.