Mountain West Books

I read this after reading "A Terrible Glory" and was amazed that so much Native American testimony of the battle is available, even if it is fragmentary, contradictory, and often given decades after the events they describe. Some of the Native veterans of this battle were still alive in the 1940s and 50s and still offering views of what happened. Of the thousands of people in that village that was attacked by Custer, it seems a shame that only 40 or so seem to have ever had their memories recorded by historians or military or civilian interviewers. Why were so many of the others neglected? This is a compelling account of the battle and, along with the archaeological record and Army records up to the time that Reno's unit split from Custer's, is basically all that is available. Unless something else turns up.

Michno's work is excellent, with the exception of his failure to include the reports of the Crow scouts. The main question that plagued me (and historians) is: Did Custer or any main body approach or cross the LBH? Michno partly answers the question: By focusing on the stories of the four to eight defenders at the river, Michno proves an Army force went to the river and was repulsed. He also provides strong analysis that it was not Custer, nor were there two deaths at the river. The best book on the incident by far.

Author Greg Michno put a valiant effort into reconciling the multitude of Native American testimonies that surround the Little Big Horn battle. I personally wish he would have quoted their exact testimony, THEN provided his interpretation of their statements. It would have saved me time in looking up their actual statements in my collection. Obviously, there is much dispute over what a particular warrior was trying to say and in most cases, Mr. Michno's views are as valid and thoughtful as most. I did find some of his "Discussions" contradictory however. For example, when discussing the "Henryville" archeological finds, Mr. Michno states that these shots could not have been fired at the soldiers on Calhoun Hill. In support, he states that the Native Americans did not shoot it out with the soldiers at close range, preferring instead to snipe from long range. Thus, this position "had to be" occupied later in the battle. He also states in that discussion that the warriors did not close for hand-to-hand combat. This is contradicted by his interpretations that 1)they did charge in this battle,overrunning the soldier positions 2) that in the earlier stages of the battle they primarily used bows and arrows (very short range weapons, especially when firing uphill), 3) in order to reach positions to charge they had to close to very short range, & 4) that tests proved that the effective range of the Henry and Winchester rifles was only about 100 yds, with hits dropping off dramatically at greater ranges.

Overall, however, his book provides food for thought and helps fill a niche that has been too often overlooked.

researched and written by an author who makes his point by badmouthing and criticizing all other authors. His points are well taken, however; this has been written by a person who has never witnessed, or experienced the fog of war. Much of his less than honorable mentions of other ideas would have had more bearing if he took that into account. Still, much of it is enjoyable, although hard to follow with his jumping around, discounting one indians theory while using another to make his point.

This book is excellent for those who are interested in a detailed history of the battle at Little Big Horn - "Custer's Last Stand" from the indian's point of view. The author painstakingly breaks the battle into 10 minute intervals from start to finish based on interviews with the various tribe members. His goal is not to "De-Bunk" all that we have read and studied about the battle but to give a well balanced narrative based on those who did survive it. It is well worth the time and effort of the reader.

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.

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.

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!

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.

One of the best if not the best hiking guides to the park. I have led and/or followed hikes to 30 or more locales in the park and find this book to have the most complete and accurate write-ups.............

One of my all time favorite books.
If you like westerns and outdoor adventure books, you must read Mountain Man. The story and the story telling are riveting.
I have owned a copy of this book since 1972! All of my friends were compelled to read it(by me) and all enjoyed the book.The book stuck a lasting chord for us.
I could call an old friend up today and say "watch your topknot" and he would reply "watch yourn". Back then we all wanted to be mountain men.

If you happen to be a fan of Bob Redfords 'Jeremiah Johnson'or a lesser known work by Richard Harris called 'A Man in the Wilderness', or of just a good tale of the early, open west then this book by Vardis Fisher is one you must read at least once.This is one of an extremely small number of books that truly transported me into another place and time and made me wish I was right there along side them.Beautifully written it is the story of one, Sam Minnard.An educated man who gave it all up to live little better than a civilized savage on the open ranges and endless plains of the northern midwest territories.It encompasses and incorporates music,art,flora and fauna,survivalist skills and the truly hard but satisfying life these men had.These men did exist and they helped to tame and open the west to others who would follow much to their disgust and saddness of just what that meant to their way of life.Loners who belonged to a very select club mostly knew each other and would come together to aid Sam in one final showdown against the Indian nation.The book focuses on his life but opens up his inner self and emotional makeup and does maintain a rather negative viewpoint toward the redman which was widely held by many mountain men at that time.The encroaching westward movement of civilization and the day to day hardships and joys of living free are examined with subtle yet powerful story telling.The need and enjoyment of no taxes,free food provided by the land itself, no bills,mortgages,laws,police or government control were gladly accepted by these men who lived off the land and knew how to survive in a sometimes hostile but glorious landscape that was the untouched west.The American Indian was there first, lest we forget, and we were trespassing but the number of men were so small that their presence was barely felt. That is until the rest of us came along and mucked up the works for everybody.Sam's happiness is abruptly and violently ended setting him on the path of vengence both sealing his fate and securing his legend.This book is remarkable and will not let you down.If you tire of the crap written today and long for something you can sink your teeth into,something that will stay in your head for a while with its crystal clear clarity and descriptive beauty, then read it.True, it is only a work of fiction but it is based on the lives of real men and women for that matter in real situations during the early to mid 19th century American west.For mountain men, life was probably very much like this, it had to be and Fisher nailed it right on the head.That alone will allow you to safely observe a life story of survival without the benefit of civilization all around you.A situation that could be upon us again if our world turns upside down.Would any one of us today live as good as Sam Minnard did with just a gun, a knife and a horse,I truly doubt it.There is something to be learned from this book. Read and learn.

I really liked Vardis Fisher's colorful writing style....He paints a picture of the world the Mountain Men lived in so well....This book has A LOT of info on what Mountain Men ate...Vardis pretty much describes every meal the guy ate....This book does have a lot of violence and it is kinda sad at some parts..But then again the life of a Mountain Man was no cake walk...There is some good Bowie knife and tomahawk action too!!!....This is a fiction book but it has alot of REAL Mountain Men "characters"..Jim Bridger..."Old" Bill Williams....Kit Carson..They are all there....The story is pretty good too...A story of love and vengeance would be the best way to describe it....Now I see why so many people regard this as a CLASSIC in Mountain Mnn literature...I fully agree..This is a classic book.

MOUNTAIN MAN continues to be a classic in American Western literature. The major foundation for the movie, Jeremiah Johnson, MOUNTAIN MAN tells the story of Samuel John Minard, a mountain man known for his physical prowess and for his quick and educated intellect. A renaissance man who has chosen the life of the great American West.

In his adventures Sam meets up with Indians of various tribes, other mountain men and a crazy pilgrim woman. HIs marriage to an Indian maiden leads him into a one-man war with sweeping consequences for himself and for his enemies.

MOUNTAIN MAN, as is the case with most books upon which movies are based, considerably outshines JEREMIAH JOHNSON in its story and characterizations. But, hey, I love the movie as well. I guess that says a lot about what I think of the book.

THE HORSEMAN

I didn't read this book until after I had seen 'Jeremiah Johnson', and was pleased that the movie and book were so different. I enjoyed the movie very much, but with Fisher's story I felt as though I had put on my huntin' clothes, laced up my boots, grabbed my Hawken Rifle, and joined in on the adventure. Coming from a family of outdoorsmen, some of us certainly fantasized about leaving it all behind from time to time, and making our way in the remote wilderness. In fact my two brothers moved to the Pacific Northwest after college and still spend much of their free time wandering the Cascades. Anyone who loves the wild west will find this one to be a real gem, and simply by reading it, will be richly rewarded. It is a diamond in the rough, but not one to be missed, and has inspired much of my own writing. This one comes highly recommended.

James Hart Isley
Author of The Bear Hunter

An ton of useful information is packed into this book. That leads to what I think is the only real fault, which is the denseness of the type and the lack of white space. But I'm not going to mark it down for that. There is more covered here than any other guidebook I've seen on the subject. Some fine photos, too, although I also find his spelling "fotos" annoying.
As to directions, in the wilder parts of the southwest it only takes one small mistake and you're off the route pretty quickly. Anyone who used the guidebook only and didn't have a good map and compass or GPS would be making a mistake.
In response to those who think guidebooks like this are a bad thing, since they expose the natural and archaeological sites to more people, I can only say: How would you feel if you hadn't yet found this treasure, and those who had tried to keep you out? I know it's an instinctive thing to want to protect certain areas from overuse, but really, not that many people will visit this area. It's too harsh and unforgiving for all but those who are serious hikers, so we don't really need to worry about hordes of people overunning the canyons.
While I'm as concerned as anyone about the effect more people will have on the Colorado Plateau, I applaud Mr. Kelsey for giving us the benefit of his many years experience in book form.

Just looking at this book makes want you to go, let alone reading it ! Clear description of all the 120 hikes on this subjects :
- Location and acces
- Trail and route
- Elevation
- Time needed
- Water
- Maps
- Main attractions
- Best time to hike
- Author's experience, adding a personal flavour.

Color photos, through coverage of hikes, lots of tips for traveling the backroads to these trails.

Michael Kelsey guide books inspire only two reactions--you love them or you hate them--and I must admit to being a fan. These are not the greatest guides ever written, those would be the Steck "Loop Hike" guides, but for this area of the planet NOBODY knows more than Kelsey. The "readability" could be better, and yes, there is no index, but this book will get you to explore places nobody else even mentions. Kelsey does appear in the "fotos" (Kelsey spelling--kind of annoying, really) but I find this provides helpful scale. If you are buying a guide book for artistic photos, buy Sandra Hinchman's book--Tom Till did most of the shooting. Alternatively, you could just buy one of Till's books--they are ALL spectacular! Kelsey's hiking times ARE quite fast, but he gives these in the "Author's Experience" section and provides more "realistic" times in the "Time Needed" section so I don't see the issue. As for the metric system, well the USGS has started printing topo maps in meters so you might want to get used to it now.... The bottom line is this--if you have the canyoneering experience to be thinking about exploring these areas this guide is your ONLY choice!

Controversy surrounds this hiking guide. On the one hand are those who criticize Kelsey for giving innacurate directions, exposing the pristine lands of southern Utah and northern Arizona to more people, and giving ridiculously fast hiking times. On the other hand are those who find this guide extremely helpful in exploring the Colorado Plateau canyon country, land which is open to all. I used different editions of this book for over a decade and found the book invaluable. This newer edition contains many beautiful color photographs and updated maps.

Admittedly, the book is a bit eccentric. Kelsey insists on giving directions in metric, though this is certainly helpful to the many foreign visitors who visit the Colorado Plateau. I agree that an index would help as well. But the amount of time and energy that went into the research for this book must have been staggering. I never had a problem finding a trailhead or route with Kelsey's directions and maps. And after one hike, I had a general idea of how my hiking times compared to Kelsey's. His books have always contained ample warning about potentially dangerous canyons like the Black Hole.

His book has helped me to explore canyons in one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Believe we need more books like this - geared to fun and entertainment for family. Since I was born in Phoenix, was tickled to see such a refreshing approach for the "tourist" but in actuality there is tourist in each person residing in the Phoenix metroplex. Such a fabulous part of the world and indeed a family treat.

Thank you, Michelle, for finally providing a comprehensive, easy to read source for Phoenix fun. As a mother of three children who has barely survived 5 summers without the book, I am looking forward to a much less stressful sizzling summer. For a local Mom, this is truly the answer. I am impressed with the way the book is laid out by activity, location, season, etc. Having locations and phone numbers makes finding additional information a breeze. I would certainly recommend this book for anyone residing in the area who knows there is a life beyond thier stucco walls!

I found this book to be extreemly helpful in planning activities for my grandchildren. I enjoyed the way in which the book was written, too. Rather that give a bunch of dry facts (when, where, how much) the author used humor and interesting descriptions of the events and places in and around Phoenix. I also enjoyed the illustrations done by the author's children.

I enjoyed the book as it offered great suggestions for parents on ways to enjoy spending time with kids and explore all that the Valley has to offer. The illustrations were great!

While I think this book was written mostly for residents, we found some cool stuff in it. If you want an insider's guide to some activites that are not in the typical tourist guidebook- check it out!

While the topic of taking young children on a long distance hike is interesting, and the author knows how to write, you quickly get the feeling that she would be an insufferable if she worked in the cubicle next to you.

I had no idea when I began reading "Scraping Heaven" that it would be such an exciting story, so full of love and emotion. I have long been a fan of true adventure books and have read many, and the best. And "Scraping Heaven" is now included among those I will recommend to friends. I thought it was so brave of Cindy to include the issues of her heart- to question her parenting skills, to examine her marital relationship. Who among us hasn't done that at some point, but NOT for public scrunity! It took courage to be self-critical, and to be honest about what she wanted from her husband, her children, and her life. There were times when I laughed out loud, and times when I shed tears for her.
I was pleased to read in the epilogue that her sense of adventure has not waned, and that she continues to seek out exciting ways in which to relate to nature. Perhaps one day Cindy will write another book, dealing with how she is living life to its fullest.

In an age when children are being raised on Teen Nick, Disney World and Bart Simpson, Cindy offers an alternative. Expose your chilren to the rain in life so they'll appreciate the rainbows, whatever they may be. Gratitude is the natural result. And, isn't that what we all wish for with our own children? As for Todd...well you have your hands full. Well written, Really inspiring!

My first reaction was why would anyone want to take two very young children on such a trail? The logistics alone were death-defying: baby food, cloth diapers...and five years to complete the struggle. Couldn't they have waited until the kids were potty-trained?

Although nicely written, with a unique topic, I'm not sure I can admire people who undertake such endeavors because they have to beg corporations for the finanicial support. And that alone makes one dependent on someone or something else to finish such a journey. I got the feeling at times the book was to endorse pack animals rather than hiking with young children through the wilderness.

Two long-distance hikers who have spent a lifetime hiking tackle the 3,100-mile Continental Divide Trail -with children in tow - in Scraping Heaven, an involved and involvingly dramatic story of a long-distance trek testing hearts and minds. Any interested in stories of survival and the outdoors will find Scraping Heaven to be a thoroughly moving, intensely memorable account of a family's impossible endeavor.

This author gives a comprehensive overview of everything to do here. The photos are fantastic and I love the snippets of history too. I only wish he wrote more guides for other places.

The Grand Canyon is universally acclaimed as one of the great natural wonders of the world. Now in a fully updated and beautifully illustrated third edition, James Kaiser's "Grand Canyon: The Complete Guide" is the ideal guide for novice visitors and a superbly informative reference for the seasoned visitor as well. A complete and 'user friendly' travel guide and planner for visiting the Grand Canyon, this ideal reference includes the Havasu Falls, topography maps, trail descriptions for both day trips and overnight hikes, mule rides, scenic flights, Colorado river trips, public campgrounds, historic lodges, the canyon's geology, native wildlife, history, and a great deal more. Compact and easily portable, "Grand Canyon: The Complete Guide" truly lives up to its title and is an invaluable addition to personal and community library travel guide collections -- as well as the supplemental reading lists of the armchair explorer!

Out of all the Grand Canyon guides I bought, this one was my favorite.
The color photos are amazing, and the background info about the
canyon's history, geology and wildlife is fascinating. If you're going
to Grand Canyon I would definitely recommend buying this book.

This guide had beautiful pictures, detailed maps etc... It listed lodging but no reviews of lodging, just a glorified description. Had I not seeked out advice and reviews about lodging at the Grand Canyon, I would have been seriously disappointed. This book is more of a thick glossy brochure than an actual "guide" to help you plan a trip.

One of the best Grand Canyon guide books I've seen. Useful for the first-time visitor as well as the experienced hiker.

A great book for all skill levels. These books have areas of my backyard that I didn't know existed. Everything is well thought-out and organized. They're compact enough to leave laying around in your vehicles pockets. I only wish my Jeeps glove compartment wasn't as shallow as it is. My father always said, "If you walk even 100 feet away from the parking lot you'll lose all the tourists". The same goes for driving. Take one of these trails and experience true silence, serenity, beauty, solitude, etc. Don't let the 1 star review dissuade you, there must be ulterior motives at work. Competing book maybe?

The spiral binding version is available on his website!! It lays flat!! funtreks dot com

Absolutely must for any offroader, great info, accurate, great description of each area with all you need to have fun and safe trip.
Most of the time I don't even need to use a map with this guide!(always carry one anyway). I have both books and there is no better outhere-I did read them all. Make sure to get newest edition-up to date specs and more pics!

This is the best one yet. I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed the first editions, but this one is the best Chuck has done. I can't wait to see what's next.

My husband and I have used Chuck's books on all of our 4-wheeling trips, and have come to count on them for making sure we're adequately prepared for the trail, have enough time to complete it, and take all of the appropriate turns. From a planner and navigator's perspective, this book is absolutely invaluable for an enjoyable trip! Thanks for the Northern Colorado edition. We've used the Moab book as well as the original Colorado book, and we greatly appreciate them all.

Wow what a thrill ride Chucks new book provided us this past summer. I have been using his books for 7 Years and have found all of them have given me an opportunity to learn and not to get in over my head by progressively working my way up the ladder of difficulty. We used our new Jeep Rubicon and drove most of the Hardest Difficult Trails in the New Northern Book. As usual Chuck is completly accurate on what to expect and has one well prepared for what is encountered. We especially liked the Miller Rock, Plane Crash and IronClad trails and feel that all of them will provide plenty of excitement for even the most experienced 4-Wheeler. I constantly look forward to each new book or revision since great new challenging drives are relealed. I plan to retire in the next couple of years and will spend most of each summer driving the trails in all of Chucks books. The new Northers Colorado revision should be in Every ones 4-wheeler when driving in Colorado.

Utley provides plenty of color mixed with easy reading and a biographical narrative style.

The biographical style, with each chapter focused on one or two mountain men, brings the personal color and larger-than-life characters of these rugged individualists to the forefront. It keeps the story as history moving forward at the same time, with the irony that these runaways from Eastern U.S. civilization often wound up serving as scouts for the U.S. Army, the vanguard of the very civilization they had earlier fled.

A Life Wild and Perilous is a thorough and scholarly work of the mapping and settlement of the West. However, it is not dedicated exclusively to the mountain men and how they opened the path to the Pacific, which is the stated premise of the book. I recommend this if you are interested in the efforts of fur business and the military in opening the West, but not as a description of the life of the mountain men. At the times, the detail and prose bog down the narrative, but this book is educational nevertheless.

Robert Utley's "A Life Wild and Perilous..." is a wonderful story of just about the most iconoclastic Americans produced by this country of ours.

The Mountain Men were risk takers, rugged individualists, optimists and American patriots rolled into one (although being patriots did not interfere with some of them taking Mexican or British citizenship when it would help them settle in parts of the West that were not ours before the Mexican-American War).

Utley begins right after the Lewis and Clark expedition, when two of those intrepid expedition members returned to the new lands in search of beaver pelts. The story progresses through the fur trading companies, the likes of Jim Bridger, Kit Carson and ends shortly after the time of Charles Fremont. By the time of the Gold Rush, the mountain men had spent their moment, the victims to changing fashions (beaver pelts were in demand for men's hats primarily) and over trapping as well as growing popular interest in settlement and exploitation of the land.

This book is mostly a chapter examination of the doings of the most famous of the mountain men. Their hard life in the open, scrapes and alliances with natives (many had Indian wives and families), habits of trade and merriment and their epic journeys from there to there are explored in well written and at times riveting detail.

Utley has added to an understanding of the American West by bringing back to life the men who established trade routes, guided the first settlers and importantly mapped and explored the great interior lands of the American continent. This is a great and interesting story told well.

I've read several about this time period and this one was very good, easy to read, interesting.

This is a serious work that gives a complete
chronicle of every detail you could ever want
to know about how the mountain men lived
their perilous lives.
Color maps are a very helpful addition too. It
amazes me how so many books like this
actually leave out any pictorial illustration.
I do wish they were reproduced with the state boundaries
superimposed over them to give you a better idea
where the locations are. (Yes of course those states
weren't founded yet, but we are reading this book at
a time after they WERE; it would help immensely to
know what state the Green River runs through, for example....)

Author Utley appears to have a profound love for the
subject about which he reveals no end of knowledge.
It would be a little difficult to recommend this though
to the casual reader, mainly because Utley doesn't attempt to
reach out to a wide audience. He assumes
a predisposition to the subject, making this book
perhaps not an easy introduction to the mountain men.
There is nothing at all wrong with that, but I feel the
need to take off one point (from what would otherwise
be a sure five-star grade) for his focus on concrete detail,
at the expense of placing the subject into a larger context,
to give the broader significance of what the mountain
men did and what it meant for the country as a whole
-- how their accomplishments shaped our attitudes towards
the idea of westward expansion, and changed (if at all) our
symbolic image of ourselves as a people. Maybe
they didn't change our attitudes about ourselves
at all.

My book jacket summary for this book would be "an American Angela's Ashes, only better!" This book is great. Gregory Martin does a fantastic job at pulling you into the middle of this miniscule town in Nevada. I grew up in New York and now live in Los Angeles, but every time I drive through the deserts of Nevada or Arizona I think of this book.

When I read about the History of America, two aspects come to mind. And that is that America is made up of many different groups and many small towns. While the USA is perhaps more ethnically diverse then ever, small towns like Mountain City are disappearing from the landscape. I fear that one day we will all be living in cities, and then America will have lost something. Gregory Martin writes of his immigrant community with great affection and feeling. Many of the characters in his book are individuals who had lived in Mountain City when it was a relatively thriving town, and refused to leave when the town declined after the mines played out. It was somewhat chilling to imagine that in our lifetimes Mountain City may well cease to exist. The fact that I would be concerned about this is a testement to Martin's writing.

I was very touched by the story of the people in Mountain City. I enjoy books about real people, whom from the outside seem as if there is no story but from the inside have warmth and wisdom. How many towns have you driven through and thought ," who lives here, what do they do?" Well now we know. Greg Martin wrote an excellent book and it should be must reading for all people interested in the real heartland of this country.

I was fortunate to hear Greg Martin give a reading from this book. Reading this book from end to end I heard the echo of his voice, the caring for his family, the strong feeling of place and anchoring he gets from Mountain City. Driving by, I have often wondered what it must be like to live in some of the small, lonely, almost-empty towns that aren't too hard to find in the West. I wonder where the people came from-and went to, and what happened, and this book gives me a glimpse into one such place. The smallness and sparseness aside, there's more history and depth than I would have thought driving by it. I'll look more carefully at other small places now.

Thomas McGuane says that "...all literature is about loss, or the recognition of loss..." and Gregory Martin's debute memoir certainly shows this to be true.

In Mountain City, Martin writes poignantly about a small town and a huge loss, about a place in rural northeastern Nevada, its people and their way of life--all leaning toward extinction. "Thirty-three people live in Mountain City," he says. "I come and go, but when I'm here that makes thirty-four." The community of ranchers, Native Americans, widows, and Martin's relatives, who are descendants of the original Basque settlers of the area, is already mostly abandoned to the past. There are no young families; one one, in fact, under forty.

"I sweep the floors," Martin writes, providing us with his intimate perspective as he helps out at his Uncle Mel's store. Martin is always in the background, always observing. He lets us see the salient details, without judgment, without pity. From the hub of Tremewan's general store, an anachronism not unlike the town itself, he shows us the slow erosion: a circle of widows who won't allow any other woman to join them until her husband is dead; a grandfather who no longer recognizes life-long friends due to his failing eyesight; an Owyhee Indian who lives from one government check to the next and on many bottles of wine in between.

By the end of the book there are two fewer people in Mountain City. But by then, we've come to see all of them as survivors. We admire them for their fierce tenacity, and we appreciate that Martin has shared their spirit with us.