Wyoming Books

This was a wonderful book! It was beautifully written. The writer grabbed my attention by switching back and forth through time. I would recommend this book to everyone!

I enjoyed reading this story for the mystery and found the birthmother's story almost incidental to the plot. As a birthmother I appreciated the author's experience, but find that in my open adoption, I haven't experienced the same feelings.

However, everyone is entitled to their life experience. I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it if people read with an understanding that adoption has drastically changed over the years for the positive.

Set in the Wyoming of the late 1990s, and laced with memories of an earlier era, Burning Of The Marriage Hat: A Novel Of High Plains Women by Margaret Benshoof-Holler is the attention engaging story of a young woman who travels to lay her grandmother's ghost to rest, and to understand the genesis of her own ambivalence toward men. She learns of how women who became pregnant out of wedlock were once treated, and what it meant to come of age in Wyoming in the 1960s. A generational tale deftly written with penetrating insight, personality, and feeling, Burning Of The Marriage Hat is very highly recommended reading and would make an exceptional selection choice for women's reading groups.

I just don't buy the theory that Wyoming or Montana are truly as "narrow" as the author portrays. That is simply an excuse to hide behind. Montana and Wyoming have birthed a great number of strong women who managed to live through the perceived slights and do great things -- Jeannette Rankin for one.

As an adoptive mother, I appreciate the insight into the feelings of a birthmother, but I also did not appreciate the foreword which talked of the abuse of process in adoption. In MOntana, most adoptions remain performed through legitimate agencies with little cost to adoptive parents and very little in terms of attorneys fees. Additionally, the new wave for at least the past ten years has been open adoption which certainly should be promoted rather than continuing and berating the blight caused by the secrecy of old adoption practices. No wonder so many ill-equiped women continue to parent when the old practices are still advertised in this manner without any discussion of the realities of today's adoptions.

The Burning of The Marriage Hat is a compelling novel about growing up in the 60's in a middle class family in a small prairie town in Wyoming. It is a poignant story of the narrow-minded life style one encounters there, and the struggle to find answers. You can almost feel the prairie wind whipping against your legs as you read.This spell-binding novel begs to be read in one sitting.

Shane Garrison put Lisa Currick's mentor in jail eight long years ago, but that's not why she can't forgive or forget him. No, it's because he took her heart. She stopped seeing beauty, stopped feeling. She retreated into a world of logic and books. A world where she was in control. But now Shane Garrison is back in her life and control is the last thing she's feeling. As a matter of fact, she's feeling quite wild...about Shane. Together Shane and Lisa work to solve the mystery of a missing necklace, even as they work to solve the mystery of their hearts...hearts that can never be complete without if their apart.

Patricia Mclinn bring real depth to her characters as she creates a story of two people who were truly meant for each other! The third book of her Wyoming Wildflower series is every bit as lovely as her first two, Almost a Bride and Match Made in Wyoming.

Shane Garrison put Lisa Currick's mentor in jail eight long years ago, but that's not why she can't forgive or forget him. No, it's because he took her heart. She stopped seeing beauty, stopped feeling. She retreated into a world of logic and books. A world where she was in control. But now Shane Garrison is back in her life and control is the last thing she's feeling. As a matter of fact, she's feeling quite wild...about Shane. Together Shane and Lisa work to solve the mystery of a missing necklace, even as they work to solve the mystery of their hearts...hearts that can never be complete without if their apart.

Patricia Mclinn bring real depth to her characters as she creates a story of two people who were truly meant for each other! The third book of her Wyoming Wildflower series is every bit as lovely as her first two, Almost a Bride and Match Made in Wyoming.

Eight years ago nineteen-year-old Lisa Currick recognized that the detective Shane Garrison had used her when they arrived in court. She sat at on the side of her mentor Alex, the defendant, while Shane took his place with the prosecution. A bare nod was all she got after weeks of intimate talks, long walks, and hours of fantasy. Lisa was disillusioned to realize that Shane had spent all those hours with her that spring because he wanted information that would convict Alex. The needs of his profession had been the beginning and the ending of their relationship. Indeed, Lisa had believed in two men then. One disappointed her hopes. The other broke her heart. With the trial over, she left New York to return to Wyoming, where she built a life of logic, schedules and control.

After all these years on the force, only one outstanding case still haunts Shane. Before he accepts his newest job offer, Shane intends to locate the missing necklace Alex absconded with. Certainly, Shane had gotten a conviction, but even after eight years he wants to know where the necklace went. At least that's his justification when he walks back into Lisa's life. His entrance into her life results in unexpectedly confronting a cold woman that distances herself from everyone rather than the joyful, spirited, artistic Lisa of his memory. Her life is so busy with work and school that Lisa doesn't have time for people. Shane intuitively knows, however, that somewhere behind those carefully constructed walls still exists the woman who identified with the Bur-Marigold, because "they got around, and brighten up everywhere they went." He intends to bring that woman back.

Once again Patricia McLinn pens a touching romance in MY HEART REMEMBERS. The third installment of the Wyoming Wildflowers miniseries, the tie between heroine and flower seems quite appropriate. Hardly survivors who only need the slightest nurturing, both marigolds and this heroine grow despite less than ideal conditions. But with a little nurturing and sunlight, they blossom into remarkable beauties. Lisa's tentative blossoming echoes Shane's growth as well, as he moves beyond reticence into self-honesty regarding his motivations and emotions. A compelling, poignant read, MY HEART REMEMBERS comes highly recommended.

"Strength, sensuality and substantial plotting fabulously blend to make Patricia McLinn's MY HEART REMEMBERS first rate." - Pamela Cohen, Romantic Times Magazine

"Patricia McLinn doesn't waste a single word in this third story of the Wyoming Wildflower series. ... MY HEART REMEMBERS has no fluff; it's a story of emotion and sensuality that also features strong family bonds. I read this in one sitting and enjoyed it so much that now I've got to try to find the first two prequels in the series." - Carol Carter, Romance Rewiews Today

"It is difficult to put the book down, and even more difficult to tell the characters good-bye at the end. MY HEART REMEMBERS is another winner for Patricia McLinn and all of her fans!" - Martine Bates, RomanceandFriends.com

"Not only touching and tantalizing, it haunts your every heartbeat. ... Suspense, clever prose and heartwarming characters. She paints a picture with words no one will soon forget. Once again, she's produced a masterpiece of emotion"- Pamela James, Old Book Barn Gazette

"I thoroughly enjoyed reading this outstanding book. Even though it is the third book in the Wyoming Wildflowers series, it is a complete stand-alone. I do know that I will be looking up the other stories to this wonderful series as soon as possible. This is the first book of Patricia McLinn's that I've read but it certainly won't be my last!"- Kathy Boswell, The Best Reviews

Lisa Currick had an exceptional talent for designing jewelry, and at age nineteen she moved to New York City to work with a famous jeweler, Alex White, who saw her potential and encouraged her. Lisa felt as close to Alex as she did to her family, and admired and respected him. The feelings never changed, but she was disillusioned when he was arrested and jailed for stealing clients' jewels. Worse though, was her feeling of being used by the detective working the case. She'd walked and talked with him and dreamed of love, yet he never spoke another word to her after Alex was convicted. After the trial she immediately left New York and returned to her small hometown and never revealed what had happened.

Eight years may have passed, but Lisa Currick recognizes the voice and the man speaking them instantly, when she hears him say, "You cut your hair". Fortunately, she has her back to him, which gives her time to recover long enough to turn around to face him. Her plan to pretend she doesn't know him falters immediately when he simply says, "Hello, Lisa", and she looks into the face of Detective Shane Garrison, a ghost she has not been able to banish.

Shane Garrison has a reputation for being a detective who solves his cases down to and including the smallest detail. But there is one case he's never been able to completely put an end to. He's never found the emerald and diamond necklace Alex White stole. Before accepting a position with the District Attorney, Shane wriggles an agreement out of his new boss to give him two months to close this case, and heads for Wyoming to find the woman his mind cannot erase - Lisa Currick, the sprite who made him feel alive eight years ago. It's a beautiful woman he sees today though, and one with a hostile look. How will he ever convince her to help him?

Patricia McLinn doesn't waste a single word in this third story of the Wyoming Wildflower series. MY HEART REMEMBERS is a perfect title for this book, as memories return to both Lisa and Shane. Focus is almost totally on the lead characters, but family members with stories in the prequels are present to give advice, and help Lisa recognize hidden fears and hurts that she's buried. Ms. McLinn tells a little of the life of a policeman and the need to have an anchor for balance. Shane discovers what he's really looking for as he spends time with Lisa and tries to restore her sprightly personality. He's a man who doesn't understand what `N' - `O' means and he constantly reminds her he doesn't give up. MY HEART REMEMBERS has no fluff; it's a story of emotion and sensuality that also features strong family bonds. I read this in one sitting and enjoyed it so much that now I've got to try to find the first two prequels in the series.

Carol Carter, as written for Romance Reviews Today

I was a resident of Boulder Colorado for 40 years. Tom Horn is buried in the old Columbia cemetery there. I have seen the pink granite stone with the simple inscription In Loving Memory Of Tom Horn. Everything I have read about the man never disclosed why Tom was buried in Boulder until I read Dean Krakel's book, The Saga of Tom Horn, A Vindication written by Himself. Tom was born in Missouri, not Texas. He left home after his Dad gave him a severe beating for skipping school and chores to go scouting for varmints. Tom had a natural talent to speak other languages. On his way to the Southwest he learned Spanish and later Apache after he was assigned to live with the Apache at San Carlos and Cibecue to keep an eye and an open ear on the Indians. After the Indian wars he became a Pinkerton detective, a miner, and a cattleman's detective. It was in this last capacity that got him into trouble. Tom had a brother, Charles, who operated a freighting business in Boulder. After Tom was hanged his body was sent to Boulder where Charles received him and was buried in the family's cemetery. This was his only connection to Boulder.
I have read microfilmed letters that were sent to Tom by nieces while he waited in jail.The Boulder library has these microfilms,
In 1993, Sept.16th and 17th a new trial was ordered for Horn in the Laramie, Wyoming courthouse. Charles O'Neal was the oldest living descendant of Tom Horn at that time and was gratified that the modern day retrial won Horn a posthumous acquittal.
However the descendant of Willie Nickel, a niece named Viola Nickell Bixler, then 70 years old stated that she didn't think it was wise or reasonable to change history so many years after the fact. This information was taken from an article written by Kevin McCullen and published in Rocky Mountain News.
Another article about Tom Horn and written by William Hafford and published in the May 1996 issue of Arizona Highways is also interesting reading along with a few great photos.

The Saga of Tom Horn is a very good book on the trial of Tom Horn.It recreates the trial that found Tom guilty,and hanged him for the death of a 14 year old boy. A crime a lot of people including me belives he did not do. The book is very detailed on the trial, and about Tom Horn himself. A must read for all western history buffs.

This is a 'must read', for anyone interested in the 'Old West' and 'cattle country'. Mr. Krakel, dis-spells rumor and conjecture about Tom Horn. Through newspaper articles and interviews with the people who were 'around' at the time, Mr. Krakel, unfolds a story of mystery surrounding the killing of a 14-yr. old boy. With actual court transcripts, he relates the trial of a Wyoming 'Stock Detective'and his eventual hanging. This is about as close to the truth as we may ever get on the subject of Tom Horn. This review is in regard to the 'un-expurgated' edition.

I have read more western history than many and while the book is good as far as it goes, it overlooks most of who and what Tom Horn was. He hailed from Texas of German stock and had a very Wild West life - mining, Indian Scout, spoke the Apache language, worked with the legendary Al Sieber and was in on at least one capture of Geronimo. The Apache Chief in whose camp he learned their language called him Talking Boy, his Apache Name (used to describe one's character or most salient trait), and the one that proved his undoing. I believe Tom Horn was a great frontiersman and, like so many, used by the government, discarded without so much as a by-your-leave to either discard all the government had set his life to, or else be brought down. I believe many a Viet Nam Veteran will know whereof I speak on this. What is missing from this book is Horn's early experience, which is nowhere documented properly in print. He, Mickey Free, Al Sieber and a handful of other white and Apache scouts won the Apache Wars. And they were all dropped like hot rocks so soon as the war was over, with lesser men garnering glory and acclaim for what others in fact did. Tom Horn's story, here, shows what happens when a man out-lives his time, when a soldier used to truly vicious conditions plies his trade for his own purpose, and in service of the way of life he thought he was defending. I rate this at 3 stars only because I wanted to more know about Tom Horn from this book, and less about the penny-ante locals. The book's evidence shows pretty clearly, to my mind, that Tom Horn was railroaded to top it all off.

Tom Horn devotees will be enthralled with this book as it uses historical evidence and trial documentation to tell the truth. It is the most comprehensive book on the Wyoming years of Tom Horn.

I met Finis some 20 years ago when he was giving a presentation on the Wind Rivers to a club of some sort. A captivating presentation with amazing photos of carrying the fish up to the lakes in old coffe cans and the like.

As others have said, this is a primitive book by today's standards, my biggest gripe is no index. But if you want to know about the trials, along with some insights as to where to go, this is the book to have.

I do agree that you will be best served by a second book, and some good maps... and with google earth you can see it as well.

But my autographed copy is a special possesion, and I higly recommend it. I wish I could have hiked with Finis, when he passed much that was known about this high country passed with him.

Finis Mitchell is the real thing; a true nature lover who hiked the Wind River Range so many times, that he can actually give you landmark by landmark directions to hikes, fishing and scaling peaks. He has a no-nonsense wisdom paired with a poetic nature. The story of how he stocked many of the lakes with trout is fascinating. Very clear routes to Gannet and Dinwoody Pass.

Finis Mitchell (Author) is known as the ultimate authority on the Wind River Range (Wyoming). He began exploring the Wind Rivers as a teenager (1920s), later worked as a guide and outfitter there, planted most of the lakes with fish. Book is small (fits in backpack). Has maps (including USFS/USGS references), photos, very detailed written descriptions of trail systems in Wind Rivers. Marvelous detailed accounts of how he planted hundreds of lakes with Fish back in the 30s. Great detail on which trails are best for which purpose, etc. There are other, fancier, newer-style books on the Wind River Range, but only this book is written by a man who literally walked every single inch, scaled every peak, fished every lake in the entire range....the book is sort of a novelty item as well, in that it is actually printed in what looks like his original typewriter font...the maps are hand-drawn, but are actually more reliable in some ways that actual USGS maps of same area. FANTASTIC BOOK...A COLLECTORS ITEM..AND A VERY USEFUL TEXT AS WELL.

A hiking guide by the "elder statesman" Wind River mountain man. One of the highlights of this short book is the autobiographical sketch. Finis Mitchell has hiked the Wind Rivers since 1909, taken 105,345 pictures and has scaled 244 peaks. The book provides short descriptions of numerous hikes, gives directions to trailheads, and, for fishermen, describes the fish species that the lakes along the trails contain. Scattered throughout the book are poems and sayings by Mitchell. Only 144 pages long, the book lacks details found in other Wind River trail guides, but nonetheless is a gem.

This is a no-nonsense, old-style guide to the Wind River Range. The author has been a guide there since the Great Depression. He provides some autobiographical information about his guiding business. He recounts, with pride, stocking high-mountain lakes that had never had fish before -- a practice that runs directly counter to today's views about preserving ecosystems.

The book is small (about 4x6 inches, 144 pages) with poor production values -- Courier font that has not been typeset, old black and white pictures, hand-drawn maps. It's organized by access point. You'll need a road map of the region to make sense of the directions, however, and there is no map of the Winds as a whole. There is elevation information for some peaks (not all), and no elevation for anything else.

The prose is straightforward. He tells you where the trail is, and how to follow it. Mitchell doesn't provide any information about why you might choose this route or that, this destination or that one. He just tells you that Trail X goes to point Y by route Z. There is no sorting of routes by day hikes, overnights, week trips, or the like, which have become standard in hiking guides.

Mitchell clearly knows every inch of these mountains well -- so well, in fact, that mileage information is irrelevant to him. So too is elevation, for the most part. Sometimes he'll tell you that "a Boy Scout troop would make this trip in two or three days," or similar information. He also sounds entirely credible when giving advice about likely snow conditions on peaks.

Standards for hiking books have changed. A LOT. Don't rely on this one all by itself, and buy a Wyoming map and topos for your route. But when I go to the Winds, I'll carry this little book in my pack. It's full of an old-timer's sharing of his wisdom.

Entertaining and accurate history of characters from Carbon County's past including outlaws, copper kings, mountain men. I throroughly enjoyed this.

In "Dreamers and Schemers", by Lori Van Pelt, the reader is given a front row seat into the personal lives of some of the more colorful men and women that carved out and settled Carbon County, Wyoming. The author has done a phenomenal job of pulling together the history of these people and bringing it to life for the reader. If you've ever wondered what it would have been like to be one of the first white men to walk in the Wind River Range or what the outlaws were really like back in the old west, this is the book for you.

Vivid biographical glimpses of thiry-one colorful personalities who helped shape Carbon County's historical legacy are informative and fun to read. Delightful descriptive accounts make the reader feel as if they had been on the scene and had met the characters personally.

As a former Carbon County resident who is familiar with all the people mentioned in this book, I know the author did a super job of telling their story. The author paints vivids pictures of each characture and relates their stories in an easy to read style. Great gift for anyone who loves the lore of Wyoming.

I don't usually read young adult stories, but the title of this book caught me, and the story kept me. The author did a wonderful job of taking me into Elena's world, a place filled with wonder and fear and love. As a once truly horse-crazy little girl, my memories meshed with Elena's journey, and her discovery of what would shape her life. I loved this book with tears in my eyes.

Elena of the Stars is definatly one of the best books I have ever read.The story of Elena's struggles to discover who she really is takes place in the vastness of Wyoming, where she is sent to visit the grandfather that she hardly knows.He teaches her not only how to ride like her famous rodeo grandmother, but about how some things experienced in life can not be explained. And in turn, she teaches him that life is not just about what you lose, but what you gain from losing it. Elenas parents thought that sending her to Wyoming would calm her restless spirit, but instead it awakened something inside her that had been hidden. She discovered that she posessed the same connection with horses that her grandmother had and that when she rode, she felt a peace that she had never felt before and a oneness with the animal. I loved this book because it taught me that not everyone fits the mold that is set out for them and sometimes it takes an amazing experience to discover who you really are.

This book wonderfully touches on the girl and horses mystery in a realistic, accurate manner, especially since it is written by a man(someone who has not expericed this first hand). The book is very well written, every other sentence being one you want to copy down into your quotebook.. even non-horse people can appreciate this story because it is not only a horse story, but about people in general.Beautiful!

So often coming of age novels melt into the same overplayed simplistic formula. Not only does this novel tell the story of a young girl learning about herself, her family and life, but it does so in a way that is honest and believable.

The writing style is very poetic, and I would venture to say there are not many wasted words, if there are any at all. But the writer treads just softly enough to use language in a way that evokes imagery and emotion.

Some of the plot line is a little bit predictable, but only as much as life can be predictable. There are enough twists and turns to keep readers interested though.

Overall this book is definitely worth the read. It reminds us how naive we all once were, and some of us still are. It reminds us also how it felt to realize for the first time how quickly those we love can be taken from us.

Planning a trip out west to visit the National Parks, Bach's book was one of my first purchases. I'm glad I did. It not only prepared me for Yellowstone, but it also prepared me for my visits to Glacier and Yosemite National Parks. The gear lists and the general guidelines for hiking in the backcountry were invaluable in preparing a beginner backcountry hiker to the path ahead.

This is the best trails book for any of the mountain states national parks. I have not found a book for Glacier or Rocky Mountain National parks as good as this book. The Kent and Donna Dannen guide to RMNP comes close. This book may look as if it is for backpackers, but it has lots of info for day hikes, too.

This is the best trails book for any of the mountain states national parks. I have not found a book for Glacier or Rocky Mountain National parks as good as this book. The Kent and Donna Dannen guide to RMNP comes close. This book may look as if it is for backpackers, but it has lots of info for day hikes, too.

Bach does a wonderful job of describing each hike in brief detail. The book guides you in every direction, from locating the trailhead to the start and finish of each hike. As he describes each significant turn of the trail, he also points out natural features and wildlife to watch for. A great addition to your Yellowstone library.

This book was a great resource for planning and enjoying our trip to Yellowstone and the Tetons.

Although this is not the only book you should have for your trip to the Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, it's a must-have as a starting point. It's descriptions of the lodging choices were very good and we were happy with our decisions. The dining descriptions were also very good although it omitted the Geyser Grill in the Old Faithful area. The descriptions of activities in GT were very good but the descriptions of activities in YNP were merely okay and neither great nor complete. There were some omissions...chief among them were the Antelope Creek Drainage area and the Brink of the Upper/Lower Falls trails. We also found the Norris Geyser Basin highly overrated and the following highly underrated: West Thumb Geyser Basin, Midway Geyser Basin, Blacktail Plateau Drive and Osprey Falls. This book is a great starting point but by no means should it be the only book you have. It's perfect for making your dining and lodging choices but suffers in adequately describing activities (for that check out "An Outdoor Family Guide to Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks" by Lisa Gollin Evans).

This guide was a staple for our ten day trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton. In locating places to stay and activities to do this is a book to lead you to other books and web sites. Its approach to trail descriptions also allows for a day hiker to figure out what trails are popular and easy and what are difficult. It gave us several great ideas as well like boating on Lake Yellowstone and cheaper ways of fingin lodging.

One of the best travel guides I have ever used (and I have traveled all over the world). As of the summer of 1998, when I visited Yellowstone, the guide was highly accurate and offered very useful ideas on where to hike, where to stay, where to eat, etc. The authors clearly know Yellowstone intimately, and should be complimented for imparting their enthusiasm about this marvelous park. My trip was one of the memorable in my life, and I was very grateful for the help I received from this concise guide.

Having read this book and just spent a week using it in hiking in the Tetons, I found it generally useful and accurate. The maps and directions for finding trailheads are good, and the mileage counter provided gives a good indication of progress on the walks. I would make several recommendations for changes, however. First, I disagree with the level of difficulty ranking for some of the trails. For instance, the Amphitheater Lake trail is clearly more strenuous and difficult than the Holly Lake trail. Second, there should be numerical figure giving the actual elevation gain in addition to the useful elevation profile graph. Finally, the book did not include the excellent Hanging Canyon trail, which though unmaintained, is still a great climb. I found the book Day Hiking Grand Teton National Park by Tom Carter to be equally useful and much more packable based on its small size.

This guide lists 35 trails, organized by region. Unlike (say) the Yellowstone guide it does not sort the trails into short, medium, and long hikes. Like other Falcon guides, it provides maps of each trail and valuable information about elevations and steepness. Each listing include elevation diagrams that are very useful for letting you know what you are getting yourself into.

This is probably the best all-around guide to hiking the Grand Tetons. It's especially useful for finding good hikes while sitting at home. Bill Schneider writes well and does a good job describing the hikes so that you can decide which ones are best for you. Like other Falcon guides it has a chart listing best flat terrain day hike, best wildlife viewing, most strenuous, best scenery, and so on.

This book gives a pretty good summary of the hiking trails in Grand Teton National Park. My one complaint would be regarding the trail for Granite Canyon/Rendevous mountains (Chapter 3). The elevation map showed the trail being flat at the end. You actually ascend a bit at the end. I wish I had known that before because I was pretty tired at the end. Other than that, I found the book accurate, and a a great guide to hiking in the area.

This book covers only Grand Teton Nat'l Park, which is great beacuse most trail books throw GTNP in with Yellowstone trail books and those never seem to give the attention GTNP deserves. I have vacationed and hiked GTNP several times over the past ten years and purchased more than a few of these books looking for details on the longer hikes while being mindful of the abilities of my children (pre-teen and early teen). This book allows you to plan for both. The author provides elevation profiles for each hike as well as the usual distance and difficulty rating. Like most people, the ratings are always a bit hard to match with one's ability and stamina. The elevation profiles give you a real sense of what you're in for! In addition, each hike is described to you in detail: what you experience, what you'll see, what to watch for, how much time the hike will take, and offer some options for shorter or longer combined hikes. Excellent! If I had to recommend only one of the dozen or so that I have read about GTNP, this would definitely be the one!

This a very helpful and informative book on anyone who should want to hike in the Cloud Peak Wilderness. It gives trails, elevation, distances from trail head to each connection on the trail for the end of the journey. I highly recommend this book to hikers.

I live in Wyoming within 40 miles of the Cloud Peak Wilderness Area, and have been hiking in it off and on for the past 20 years. On the hikes I've taken since purchasing the book, I found Mr. Molvar's guide useful. The trail descriptions and ratings are accurate for the hikes I've compared to the text, and the author has a clear easy to read style.

I recommend this book. It will not take the place of a detailed map or tell all that one may discover on a particular hike, but it is a useful tool.

I lived in the Buffalo, WY area for ten years and bought this book to help plan a "homecoming" backpacking trip from afar. Erik Molvar's book covers all the classic trails in the Cloud Peak Wilderness area. In addition, the last half of the book covers hikes in the Big Horn Mountains outside the interior wilderness area. Apparently one reviewer who is not from the area missed this fact. This book is an excellent introduction to the Big Horn Mountains and will guide you through the marvelous scenery of one the the West's least visited but truly unique mountain ranges.

I live in Wyoming within 40 miles of the Cloud Peak Wilderness Area, and have been hiking in it off and on for the past 20 years. On the hikes I've taken since purchasing the book, I found Mr. Molvar's guide useful. The trail descriptions and ratings are accurate for the hikes I've compared to the text, and the author has a clear easy to read style.

I recommend this book. It will not take the place of a detailed map or tell all that one may discover on a particular hike, but it is a useful tool.