Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
This book traces the epic clash of values between traditional scenery-and-tourism management and emerging ecological concepts in the national parks, America`s most treasured landscapes. It spans the period from the creation of Yellowstone National Park in 1872 to near the present, analyzing the management of fires, predators, elk, bear, and other natural phenomena in parks such as Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, and Great Smoky Mountains. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Valuable history of national parks from the standpoint of nature
This book lies halfway between (1) a history of the national parks as a whole and (2) a history and critique of National Park Service policy toward wildlife, ecosystems, and science.The first several chapters discuss the history of park system, which is characterized mostly by an absence of policy toward "nature" other than scenery.This half of the book is pretty conventional, and follows material available elsewhere.It is best seen as an update of other histories such as Runte's _National Parks: The American Experience_.

The second half of the book focuses more narrowly on (for lack of a better term) "nature policy."This half provides a valuable history from a critical standpoint, and it marks the book's central contribution.

Several themes reappear throughout the book.The first is the park service's disregard for scientific research.Sellars doesn't quite distinguish the two, but the NPS has little use for either the scientific method or scientific evidence.Briefly put, the NPS does not want to learn facts that conflict with current management policy.It also does not want to use a method that might give it answers that differ from the answers that it wants.

Other themes can be grouped together: wildlife, forests, and fire.The NPS seems to lack any understanding of how predators and prey interact, and how top-level processes (wolves and elk) can affect other processes (aspens and beavers).It also has a purely scenic view of forests, which leads to policies that spray insecticide on native beetles in the Rockies and Sierras.Fire policy has evolved toward a greater appreciation of how fire affects ecosystems, but here politics stands in the way of better management practices.Sellars provides an excellent discussion of these and similar issues throughout the book.

To understand the politics here, it would be helpful if Sellars spent more time looking outside the NPS to American society as a whole.What does the public want, and why?How has the growth of the environmental movement affected the park?How has Congress changed its management of the NPS?For example, the growth of earmarking in budget legislation has strengthened the pork-barrel elements of national park policy, ultimately leading to the embarrassment of Steamtown USA.

Like most histories of national parks, Sellars takes an elitist, wilderness-oriented perspective that is critical of tourism and economic development.I'm sympathetic to that perspective, but we should recognize it for what it is.Sellars doesn't reflect on his own values here - - if an overwhelming majority of the public in a democracy want national parks developed for recreational tourism, what right does a pro-wilderness minority have to disagree?

Those criticisms address more what Sellars doesn't do than what he does.I'll give it 5 stars for what he does, but it's really more of a 4.5.

Thoroughly detailed -- almost too much!
The Organic Act, which in 1916 created the National Park Service, implied that preservation of nature was part of the new agency's mandate to leave parks unimpaired for future generations. The legislation did not specifically authorize scientific investigation as a part of park management. Just as the Founding Fathers did not directly address slavery in the U.S. Constitution, the authors of the act in effect placed a "to be dealt with later" stamp on the issue of how the fledgling bureaucracy would manage nature preservation. Richard Sellars, in Preserving Nature in the National Parks: A History, details how the NPS, for most of its existence, has paraded as a bastion of environmental management while strongly advocating recreational tourism development and placing little importance on scientific investigation.

Throughout its history, the NPS has been ignorant of its natural resources and unaware of the ecological consequences of park development. The NPS is steeped in the tradition of visitor accommodation as the most important measure of success set by Stephen Mather and Horace Albright, its first directors. In the agency's first 25 years, no public organizations demanded scientifically based management of park resources (147). Not until the 1960s, according to Sellars, was park management judged far more on ecological criteria (203).

Scientific management received sporadic support in the NPS. At times the notion was shunned. The NPS wanted to do little more than meet the regulatory standards of the Environmental Policy Act of 1969, which gave science power it had never enjoyed before. George B. Hartzog, NPS director from 1964-1972, created the Division of Natural Science Studies within the bureau, but the NPS underfunded the new division and its first two directors complained that the park service hierarchy only paid lip service to scientific investigation. Five years after its inception, the division lost its high organizational status and was buried lower into the park service bureaucracy. Sellars reveals that the NPS, even as late as 1991, was short on self-criticism, overlooking its failure to adopt a truly ecological perspective on park management (277).

The book's biggest strength is its abundance of self-criticism, due to the fact that Sellars served as a historian with the NPS for over 20 years. Preserving Nature in the National Parks explains a story most in the park service hierarchy would be afraid to tell. He thoroughly covers the subject of the lack of scientific management within the NPS, sometimes redundantly and with too much detail, but more critically than previous volumes on national park history. If the NPS were to respond positively to Sellars' admonition, it could be what it portends - a leader in nature preservation. If the bureau discounts such chastisement, it will continue to be a leader in only one field, recreational tourism.

Helpful but lacks a real-world perspective
In a workmanlike, if unexciting, literary style, Sellars provides a good deal of helpful information about the way the National Park Service hasgrown to maturity.Nevertheless, he lacks sufficient interest in thepolitical world that has molded the NPS.(Disinterest in the publicreaction to the 1988 Yellowstone fire is one indicator.)Had Mather,Albright, and the other founders of the Park Service not promoted tourismin their day, there would be less, not more, park ecology for"dedicated scientists" to manipulate in our own.As the authorhimself says, national park development is locked with preservation in astate of perpetual tension (181). May that tension long continue.

America's Best Idea Brought to Light
The concept of national parks, setting aside unbroken tracts of land and sea for the enjoyment of people, has been called America's best idea. In Preserving Nature in the National Parks, Richard West Sellars meticulously traces the evolution of the national park concept and America's national park system from 1870 to the present. From beginning to end, he confronts readers with evidence that disputes tradition. Among other beliefs, he authoritatively challenges the romantic campfire myth of an altruistic birth of Yellowstone National Park and the national park concept.He offers in its place a pragmatic rationale more consistent with the times.This book is a scholarly presentation of carefully researched and documented facts, woven into an unbroken story.

The tale unfolds from the perspective of the National Park Service, the primary governmental agency responsible for conserving parks.It starts with the campfire myth and renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. crafting and shaping the National Park Service's mission "to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life [in parks]...unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations." It ends with the 1993 creation of the National Biological Survey and the sweeping reorganization of the National Park Service in 1995.Throughout, readers get an insider's view of America's favorite government agency.As the story approaches the present, it necessarily shallows to encompass ever more territory, losing its rich historical texture, but gaining a journalistic perspective that serves readers well.

Great new ideas always create tension and elicit vigorous debate.Sellars skillfully draws our attention to a series of tensions created by the national park idea that shaped the concept and its manifestations in the 20th century. Creation of national parks was an attempt to resolve conflict over how to wrest the greatest good and profit from the land: consumption through private exploitation or through public tourism.Sellars also examines the tension between development in parks to facilitate access, lodging, and consumptive recreation versus wilderness preservation.Landscape architects, engineers, and biologists expressedconflicting interpretations of "unimpaired" during the 1920s and 1930s.This tension has evolved into a continuing discussion of scenery or façade versus ecosystem management.

Clearly, early promoters of national parks had no qualms about developing facilities in parks and consuming park resources. In promoting creation of the National Park Service in 1916,Robert Sterling Yard wrote in The Nation's Business "We want our national parks developed....We want good fishing. We want our wild animal life conserved and developed."The first two directors of the National Park Service, businessman Stephen Mather and lawyer Horace Albright, both believed the public needed to be enticed into parks with roads, lodges, and enhanced fishing, in addition to the parks' scenery and other natural assets.They set about building facilities, including fish hatcheries, and planting alien fish in parks as their first order of business for the new agency.They also believed they should `enhance' the parks by suppressing fires, eradicating predators, and controlling forest pests and diseases, which they did vigorously.

At its inception, national park management was a new human endeavor.No one before had tried to preserve intact large tracts of wild land and seascapes for public enjoyment and to pass them on to future generations. Unlike forest and fisheries managers who had centuries of practice, park managers had no precedents.They were truly exploring the unknown and relied on extant professions for guidance.Foresters, landscape architects and engineers who used land to produce commodities and who molded landscapes to fit human perceptions of idyllic and pastoral settings came the closest to fitting the new paradigm so they got the job: directed by businessmen and lawyers. However, national park management is more than a simple combination of these early professions, it also requires applied sciences, particularly ecology.Adding ecologists to this mix, was like combining oil and water.We're still looking for an emulsification agent.

Sellars makes it clear that the tension between scientists and non-scientists regarding national park management was the same in the 1930s as it is today.In part, the differences arise from non-scientists' reliance on untestable, belief-based consensus versus scientists' adherence to a testable knowledge-based system of learning from experience.If one believes that fire destroys forests, or that wolves threaten elk populations, there is no reason to waste time and money testing the concepts.One simply acts on their beliefs and suppresses fire and kills wolves.Testing such beliefs threatens the belief and the believers, and thus creates a perception that science would make park management more costly,difficult, and time consuming.This may be at the root of the issue that creates the tension between so-called traditional and ecological approaches to park stewardship.

Science as a way of knowing should make attainment of the National Park Service mission more certain and cost effective.The true costs of ecological restoration and of losing America's heritage to unfounded beliefs is vastly greater than the costs associated with learning first how ecosystems work and doing the job right the first time.We paid dearly for early misguided forest fire suppression.First we paid the unnecessary costs of suppression.Now we are paying the costs of restoring fire, and if we delay any longer, risk losing the very assets we sought to protect.We paid to eradicate wolves and other predators, then paid to reduce elk and deer, lost soil and vegetation, and now we must pay to restore wolf populations.This kind of cost dwarfs the minimal costs of using science to learn what is in parks, how to restore impaired assets, how to maintain restored parks, and how to protect parks from pollution, unsustainable uses, fragmentation, and alien species.In short, using science to learn from our experience reduces both uncertainty and costs.

In the last century, the parks could afford the boosterism, `enhancements,' and facilities of Mather and Albright and still recover, because parks were not the islands in a fragmented and diminished landscape they are today. Few refugia exist today, outside legislated wilderness, from which to find replacement genomes and species to repair the damage wrought by misguided policies. Time is short.Options to conserve and pass unimpaired parks on to future generations become more limited every year.

Change is inevitable. Will we use science to learn from experience, or continue to blindly accept and act on unsubstantiated beliefs?The National Park Service will not accept a change from its primary goal of recreational tourism to science-guided resources protection until its leaders personally experience success with science. As a result, people such as Richard Sellars run great risk of being attacked by opponents vested in the old system and only moderately supported by skeptics of the new, science-based system.Since the national park concept is new, unique, few have the necessary personal experience, yet.Perhaps the introspection in this book will lead to trying new ways to conserve parks.

Until we learn our history, we risk endlessly repeating the same mistakes. This account illuminates our path.Read it. You will like it. You may not agree with everything in it, but you will learn from it.We and our national parks will all be better for it. ... Read more

Product Description
From the rocky shoreline of Maine’s Acadia to the barren crater and lush rainforest of Hawaii’s Haleakala, America’s natural beauty is celebrated and preserved in its national parks. This beautiful volume will encourage readers to experience our national treasures with a greater awareness of their history and unique qualities.American Wilderness features 200 full-color photographs capturing the breathtaking beauty of the parks, along with a summary of each park’s history. The most important features and particular wildlife of each park are discussed in the individual entries, and the information contained within will enthrall armchair travelers and entice others to lace up their hiking boots and reach for the sporting gear.Parks featured in the book include: Acadia, Great Smoky Mountains, Everglades, Mammoth Cave, Isle Royale, Carlsbad Caverns, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone, Channel Islands, Sequoia, Redwoods, Mount Rainier, Joshua Tree, Hawaii Volcanoes, Glacier Bay, Denali, and Katmai. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Gorgeous pictures
I love paging through this book. The pictures are beautiful and the different perspectives of the scenery are appreciated. The scenes make me want to plan a trip to many of the places selected to see them in person.

America's National Parks
Extraordinary coffee table style book.
Gorgeous photography.
Many National Parks.
Highly recommended.
I bought 2 copies!!!
Michae

Great Coffee Table Book!
Wow! Just look at the front cover. Arches National Park. Or the back cover. Yosemite. The book has a simple mission, exemplified by this line at the outset of the book (Page 8): "Travel through these pages and discover the fascinating natural wonders of 'America's Spectacular National Parks.'"An Amazon Friend reviewed this and I could not resist the temptation to purchase this volume.And I'm glad that I did!

This is a classic coffee table book. My trusty tape measure says that this is a 16 inch by 12 inch book.The photography is well done, giving a sense of the grandeur of the nation's national parks. Having seen some of these parks, I must confess that no photo can truly capture the wonder of these places (e.g., The Grand Canyon).

The book itself begins with a bit of the history of the national park system and how it evolved.But the heart of the book is the photos and brief descriptions of each. The organization is straightforward--by geography.

First, the eastern parks. Acadia and Shenandoah and the Great Smoky Mountains. Page 20 features a gorgeous photo of the Smoky Mountains at dawn, with the pink coloration absolutely stunning.

The Midwest? Think of places like the Badlands or Mammoth Caves or Wind Cave. Photos on pages 34-35 illustrate the austere beauty of the Badlands.

The Southwest. . . . Big Bend, Carlsbad Caverns, Petrified Forest, Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and many more. The photos of Bryce Canyon (pages 56-57) look almost otherworldly. Captivating!

Other regions where national parks are described--Rocky Mountains (Great Basin, Yellowstone, Grand Teton), Alaska (e.g., Glacier Bay, Lake Clark, Katmai), and the West (Death Valley, Yosemite, Crater Lake, Redwoods).

This is a beautiful book and makes any reader realize some of the natural wonders inside the boundaries of the United States.If you want a taste of such beauty, this book will satisfy the reader.

"To reinvigorate the visitor"

From glaciers to volcanos, from deserts to waterways, the national parks of the United States are a resource belonging to the people. America's Spectacular National Parks is a gorgeous book celebrating our ownership of this resource, and it's a treasure in its own right.

The book begins with a brief history of the acquisition of the parks, beginning with Yellowstone in 1872. How do we keep the parks accessible while curtailing traffic? Has environmental education been successful in shifting public interest "from scenery to science?" What amenities are essential for the comfort of visitors and how do we integrate these needs with the parks' unique ecosystems? Our commitment is won with glorious photography and brief essays about fifty of our parks.

Editors Letitia Burns O'Connor and Dana Levy have organized the book by region from east to west. Each park from Maine's Acadia to Hawaii Volcanoes is featured with a two- to four-page spread by some of the country's most eminent nature photographers, among them Craig Blacklock (The Lake Superior Images), David Muench and Marc Muench (Canticle of the Earth: The Words of Francis of Assisi Celebrated in the Photography of David Muench; California: Portrait of a State (Portrait of a Place)), and Mike Sedam (The Olympic Peninsula: The Grace and Grandeur). There are a number of fold-out panoramas and the color values are breathtaking. If you can't go there, at least experience our wild places with this big, beautiful book.

At 16 x 12 inches and 132 pages, with full photographs on the covers and dustjacket, "National Parks" is a great addition to anyone's "coffee table library."It's a wonderful present -- that's how I got mine, from a good friend, and I love it. Consider yourself invited to remember our heritage; the National Park Service was established by Congress in 1916 with the following stated purpose:

"...To conserve the scenery and the national and historic objects and the wildlife therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."

We and our children are those future generations. Enjoy!

Linda Bulger, 2008

Other recommended readings
Just to add on. To see more great scenic shots, see books by David Muench, Galen Rowell, Art Wolfe, among the very best nature photographers/writers out there, not to mention many others.

Wildlife photography? See them. Arthur Morris, Tim Fitzharris ... Read more

Product Description
Fifty of the nation's most spectacular parks covered in staggering detail. From Acadia to Yellowstone, these parks have been selected as the most scenic in the US. And Larry Ludmer tells you everything you need to know about them.

Candid evaluations steer you to the best sections of each park, including those hidden sections rarely visited by the mass of people in summer. Ludmer offers valuable tips on how to avoid the crowds (by visiting early in the morning, mid-week), where to take lunch (deserted backcountry areas), and how to stretch your dollar (park passes and deals). You'll also learn about driving routes to and from each park, with suggested places to stay just outside the entrance. Inside, the book reveals the best walking tours and scenic drives, telling you what you must see and what you can afford to miss. Maps, color photos, index. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Very thorough. An excellent reference.
Fifty of the nation's most spectacular parks covered in staggering detail. From Acadia to Yellowstone, these parks have been selected as the most scenic in the US. And Larry Ludmer tells you everything you need to know about them. Candid evaluations steer you to the best sections of each park, including those hidden sections rarely visited by the mass of people in summer. Ludmer offers valuable tips on how to avoid the crowds (by visiting early in the morning, mid-week), where to take lunch (deserted backcountry areas), and how to stretch your dollar (park passes and deals). You'll also learn about driving routes to and from each park, with suggested places to stay just outside the entrance. Inside, the book reveals the best walking tours and scenic drives, telling you what you must see and what you can afford to miss.

Describes 53 parks in depth, giving advice on planning your time--vital when it comes to setting priorities. Invaluable.--Physician's Travel & Meeting Guide This is a straight-talking author who reminds me of a smart, blunt friend... no pussyfooting around.--The Armchair Traveler, Daily Herald

Although it does not include every site administered by the NPS, this book is very thorough in its treatment of the 50 parks it covers. The author also describes 13 suggested driving trips of five to 12 days each, incorporating nearby attractions. Includes detailed information on accommodations/campgrounds, activities available in each park, handy tips and tidbits, maps and photos. A great travel reference book! (Maxye Henry--Amazon.com)

Touring America's national parks has become a passtime for me. I've been from Acadia to the North Cascades to the Grand Canyon and this book is an excellent reference. With an emphasis on travelling via automobile, it also has several suggested hiking trips in each park as well as other points of interest. They say that most people never get more than 100 feet from their cars in parks. Well, this is the book to help get you there, and point out the best routes outside of your car. It covers more territory than anyone could possibly see in a lifetime...but it's sure fun to try. (Amazon.com)

Invaluable
"... describes 53 national parks and monuments in depth... giving advice on how to plan your time - vital when it comes to setting schedule priorities. Ludmer's tips are invaluable." Physician's Travel & Meeting Guide,

National Park pasttimer
Touring America's national parks has become a passtime for me.I've been from Acadia to the North Cascades to the Grand Canyon and this book is an excellent reference.With an emphasis on travelling via automobile, it also has several suggested hiking trips in each park as well as other points of interest.They say that most people never get more than 100 feet from their cars in parks.Well, this is the book to help get you there, and point out the best routes outside of your car.It covers more territory than anyone could possibly see in a lifetime...but it's sure fun to try.

Exploring 50 parks and nearby sites
Although it does not include every site administered by the NPS, this book is very thorough in its treatment of the 50 parks it covers. The author also describes 13 suggested driving trips of five to 12 days each,incorporating nearby attractions. Includes detailed information onaccommodations/campgrounds, activities available in each park, handy tipsand tidbits, maps and photos. A great travel reference book! ... Read more

Product Description
A delightful travelogue by one of the most popular and prolific writers of this century. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Worth waiting for!
This was one of the few titles I lacked of MRR.I ordered, and it was back-ordered for so long that at one point I didn't think I'd get it at all. But I did and I'm really happy to have it. This book tells of many ofthe real-life adventures Mary Roberts Rinehart and her family had--backwhen the great Northwest really was only becoming known.She brought thecowboys, the trail drives, the friendships--and the dangers--to lifewonderfully. ... Read more

Product Description
This charming tale of Michael, Emily, and their parents as they explore Olympic National Park is designed to both entertain and educate. Wildlife can be elusive, and both kids are disappointed when at first they don't encounter many animals in the park. The kids quickly learn, however, that there are animals all around, and these creatures leave behind scat and tracks. Colorful illustrations of animals and their leavings supplement this lively tale, and a quick-identification chart at the back makes field identification a breeze! ... Read more

Product Description
Get ready for a fascinating tour of America's national park lodges and read about ten of its most charming structures and their locations.

This is the official companion book to the popular PBS television series Great Lodges, and the second volume in Christine Barnes s popular Great Lodges of the National Parks series. Volume Two contains stunning contemporary photographs of the exteriors and interiors as well as historic photographs of these ever popular buildings.

From the grand resorts such as the Lake Hotel in Yellowstone National Park and the Furnace Creek Inn in Death Valley National Park to the classic lake lodges such as Lake Crescent and Lake Quinault Lodges in Olympic National Park to the new visions such as Volcano House in Hawai i Volcanoes National Park and the Glacier Bay Lodge in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, this stunningly illustrated and meticulously researched volume offers new insights into these historic landmarks and the scenic American landscapes where they are located.

This beautiful 176-page full-color book will transport the reader to recall past vacations and inspire future travels and adventures to these magnificent locations in our national parks. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Read before traveling!
Intent on visiting all National Parks, we found this book a superb objective guide to the lodges.
Even if you dont leave home, a stunning coffee table book to dream by.

Definitely a keeper!
I have a number of "coffee table" books containing good photography that enticed me to make the purchase and take them home, only to soon find myself placing the books on a shelf in a closet because, beyond the photography, there was not much there to engage my mind. To my delight, this is not the case with Christine Barnes' latest offering.Here I've found a treasure that has earned its place in my living room where I can discover the who, what, when and how of these great lodges.It presents a fascinating and detailed review of the architectural history of these American cultural assets, and is made all the better by the high quality of the accompanying photographs.

Great Lodges is a Great Read!
As with Christine's other publications...a great read.Especially if you've visited some of these lodges, but weren't aware of their history and architectural significance.Reading her latest book inspires me to visit the lodges I've yet seen. Her series of books is a great tribute to these national treasures.She shows a true connection to these magnificent buildings and their surroundings. There is a noticeable passion for this topic in her writing.The photography compliments the text perfectly; making you feel as if you've just walked through the door or are taking in the breathtaking panoramic view of one of these fabulous lodges.I can only hope she continues to find, explore, and write about these diamonds in the rough.An excellent Christmas gift for anyone interested in travel, architecture, the National Parks, or all of the above!

National Treasures
We sometimes forget what an amazing gift we have in these National Parks. But Christine Barnes clearly gets it - her book is a beautiful tribute to these parks and their magnificent lodges. It's a great coffee table book, with stunning photography -- the kind of pictures that make you feel like your there. But the book goes deeper, with detailed history of the parks and the lodges, and the human stories behind them. I hope I can visit all of the parks in this book. In the meantime, I'm glad I have these photos and stories to take me on a virtual vacation.

Good Historical Piece On American Lodges
Fun reading if you are an explorer of the National Parks, which I am.Certainly the most detailed descriptions in general circulation of these historic places.The second edition had a few places in it that I did not know about and have now placed on my list of lodges to stay in.Without a doubt all these places still have great position.For example the Many Glacier Lodge was the most dramatic nature setting of any hotel I have ever stayed in.This includes some really fabulous places in Europe.But the level of the rooms does tend to vary.Check Frommers, AAA, or others to get a sense of what the room quality may be.Frankly with some like the Many Glacier, it did not matter.But to those wanting to stay at a "Four Seasons" level accommodation in a National Park you may not be happy. ... Read more

Product Description
Lace up your boots and sample eighty-four of the finest trails in the Canadian Rockies. Let Hiking Yoho, Kootenay, Glacier, and Mt. Revelstoke National Parks be your guide to Canada's best-kept secrets.

Explore the spectacular snow-capped mountain peaks, alpine lakes, and Cambrian fossils of Yoho National Park. Hike beside the enormous 55-kilometer-long Rockwall in Kootenay National Park, then take a dip in Floe Lake, the best swimming hole in all Canada. Experience close-up views of some of the more than 400 glaciers that gave Glacier National Park its name. Enjoy a hike in the temperate inland rainforest of Mt. Revelstoke National Park.

Use this guide for: up-to-date trail information; accurate directions to popular as well as less-traveled trails; difficulty ratings for each hike; detailed trail maps; zero-impact camping trips.

Whether you are a day-tripper or long-distance hiker, old hand or novice, you'll find trails suited to every ability and interest. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Awesome coverage for this area!
This guide has awesome coverage of the trails in these 4 parks.I have not even found another book that will cover Mt. Revelstoke NP, although I have seen a couple out there for Glacier NP.As far as coverage on Yoho and Kootenay NP, I think its even better than what's avail in "Canadian Rockies Trail Guide" which I also own. This guide by Michelle Gurney and Kathy Howe is better for the following reasons: It provides an at a glance category of the trail difficulty from easy, moderate, and strenous.It has maps for each of the individual trails accompanying the write up. There is vivid detail of what you might see on the trail and why its worth the effort, or not and to skip it.There is a chart at the back of the book that categories according to lakes, waterfalls, etc of what you might want to see and which hikes provide it.

This is such a great book I am surprised that there isn't an updated version since 2002.The only reason I can think of is that there is not as much demand for info on these remote less known parks.

Glacier National Park in Canada
Note that the Glacier National Park mentioned in this book is in Canada, not the United States.

Excellent & an Excellent Value (4 Parks in One Book)
The only reason I usually buy Falcon Guides is if there's no other guide for that park, I think they're just OK. But the two women that wrote this one did an excellent and thorough job. The descriptions for each trail tell you what to expect at literally almost every turn. (They'll say things like "at 1.3 kilometers you'll come to this mountain, at 1.6 km you'll reach a lake where the turn can be hard to find, so..." etc.) If you've ever had to find your way through a poorly marked national park trail, you'll know how valuable that can be. Also, they have the guts to come out and say things like "this trail is too much work for not enough scenery" and then back it up with evidence, not just leave it as their opinion. This will probably let you save a lot of time if your vacation time is limited, as it usually is. I would have liked to see a few more pictures, but other than that they did a great job. Plus, it has four national parks in one book, so it's a pretty good value. ... Read more

Product Description
Frommer's Yosemite and Kings Canyon/Sequoia is packed with all the facts, tips, and descriptions you need to have perfect park vacation, in a pocket-sized guide:

• The most memorable natural wonders, from majestic Yosemite Falls to Kings Canyon's towering sequoias.
• Great places to stay in and near the parks, ranging from historic lodges to family-friendly motels, plus a complete campground guide for each park.
• A fully illustrated nature guide to help you spot and identify condors, bobcats, wildflowers, and more.
• The best hikes, from ranger-led interpretive walks to challenging backcountry overnights.
• Detailed, accurate park and trail maps.

Customer Reviews (6)

Book Review
I ordered this book to learn about where to stay and what to do in Yosemite and surrounding parks.I made my reservations based on what I read and have used this company before in National Park reviews.

Godd details for trip planning
Over the years I have learned to buy a Frommer gude when planning an adventure because it points out things to look for that I might have missed if I hadn't made some study of where I was going. For example, on my recent Yellowstone trip I was able to take a photo of the Lower Falls of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone that won a nice award and a place in the international Pentax Photo Gallery. Had I not studied the guide I might have missed the canyon part of the park. This is typical for many of my trips, so a Frommer guide is an essential purchase for me and worth the price every time.

Yosemite-Sequoia pocket guide
Very nice pocket book. It was very helpful for my trip to Yosemite and Sequoia Parks. Brief, but informative. The only thing I want is pictures. If the book had color photos, it would be great addition.

awesome little book
Awesome little book that summarizes the highlights of Yosemite, Sequoia, and King's Canyon National parks. Easily fits into a day hike pack. Info. about "must dos", trails, lodging, eats, and drive times.

you get what you pay for
I wish this guide had colorful maps. I originally bought it looking for information about hiking and trekking activities in the Parks and was somewhat disappointed by the monochromatic maps with poor information about trail distance or duration. ... Read more

Product Description
Made by Hollywood's most inventive and successful director, Steven Spielberg, JURASSIC PARK was one of the most talked about, most anticipated films to capture the American imagination in years.Now you can go behind the scenes for a rare, inside look at the making of the movie.Learn the story behind the story--the road from novel to screenplay; Watch as the finest f/x team in movie history pooled their talents to create the lifelike dinosaurs; Read exclusive interviews with Steven Spielberg, Michael Crichton, and the key actors, and so much more! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Amazing!
This book is amazing! It has informations about everything We watch in the movie and a LOT of information about We don't watch in the movie :-) But the most incredible in this book is the "Crash" Mc Creery 's Drawings, this is unbelievable!!!

Making of Jurassic PArk - Excellent condition
I was impressed by the timing of delivery as well as the condition of the used book.

i thought this book was awsome
i thought this bokk was awsome and if you liked the movie you will love this book.

Great book!Great Pictures!
I'm looking for another copy of this book right now since mine is rather worn out.That's just because it's a great book.It has storyboards of key scenes, and great behind the scenes pictures of preproduction, and production.If you liked the movie, you'll love this behind the scenes book! ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (6)

A lushly-illustrated gem
The centennial of Chicago's Garfield Park Conservatory inspired this lushly-illustrated book. It includes both historical pieces and stories from those who have lived in the area. Architect William LeBaron Jenney leads off the story with his plans for West Side boulevards and gardens and continues to the Conservatory's present rebirth. Chicagoans' memories are fresh of the dramatic reglazing project of 2003, which, for a time, made the Palm House look like a dinosaur skeleton on display in a museum. I loved reading about the double coconut trees, the "Mona Lisa of palms," which were moved after the reglazing to the center of the structure where they would have room to grow. The forward by Alex Kotlowitz is a gem.

A City in a Garden: Growth, Decline and Renewal
The rich and diverse history of Garfield Park, which was the former headquarters of the West Park Board (the former park board office building now serves the public as a field house), and its surrounding residential neighborhoods is put on full display in this magnificent new book which includes a fascinating collection of period photographs and a lively and thoughtful text. While many Chicagoans are vaguely aware of the historic park district conservatory and the botanical gardens located on the grounds, there is so much more to the story!

Much of the West Side was annexed to the City of Chicago a few short years before the Chicago Fire of 1871. The annexation required the city to move its border past the eponynmic Western Avenue to Crawford Avenue(which was subsequently renamed Pulaski Road as city politicians courted favor with Polish-American voters decades later). Following the great fire, many displaced residents of the central city opted to settle on the West Side which had been buffered from the flames by the Chicago River. Within a few years, the elegant Ashland Avenue neighborhood, anchored by Union Park, experienced a residential decline and some property owners looked to establish new homes opposite the parks and boulevards planned farther to the West as warehouses and tenements replaced mansions on the near West Side.

For a time, the horse racing industry, which included both legal and illegal track meets, depending upon the whims of the Illinois legislature and the official indifference of the Chicago Police Department to organized gambling, was based opposite Garfield Park, close to the city limits. Eventually, sufficient pressure was applied by reform elements to shut down the popular horse tracks.

Chicago's Central Park was renamed for President James A. Garfield following his assassination. William Le Baron Jenney, the noted architect who is credited with building Chicago's first skyscraper, was the initial developer of the park who cleared the land, drained the swamps and laid out the grounds. After this promising start, corrupt patronage politics and wasteful spending nearly bankrupted the West Park Board.

The development was renewed in large part due to the appointment of the acclaimed landscape designer Jens Jensen who labored to beautify Garfield Park and frequently had to battle political interference to realize his prairie inspired vision for the green space. In time, Garfield Park would have its own golf course and lagoon. Jensen was also instrumental in creating such beautiful neighboring parks as Douglas Park to the south, Humboldt Park to the north and Columbus Park to the west. Eventually, the multiple park districts serving the city were consolidated into the unified Chicago Park District in 1934.

Urban decay and white flight to suburbia hastened the decline of the West Side during the Fifties and Sixties. The construction of the Congress expressway divided portions of the community and necessitated the demolition of several blocks of homes. What was once a racially and ethnically diverse area which had included African American, Italian, Irish and Jewish households and a thriving retail shopping district became an almost exclusively African American enclave within the space of a few years. The urban riots of 1968 which were accompanied by arson and looting caused many people to avoid visiting the impoverished Garfield Park neighborhood for decades afterwards.

Thankfully, there are optimistic signs of renewal centered upon the restoration and revival of Garfield Park as the conservatory observes its centennial. This book is a welcome addition to that worthwhile cause. Both authors are to be commended. This West Side story may have a happy ending.

Great book
As a west side resident who lives down the street from the conservatory, I have long been curious about the history of the neighborhood, the park, and the conservatory.This book had great information and leads me to want to learn more about the history of the west side.

grab it!
Having visited Garfield Park Conservatory multiple times, I wanted to know more about the neighborhood.I sensed that there was a lot more to the story for a place that has such a gem of a facility in its ranks.The book has GORGEOUS pictures that really tell the story or Garfield Park's evolution.This neighborhood is in the midst of another revitalization and this book really completes the picture of how all of it came to be.

History of Chicago West Side
This book gave me the history of the west side of Chicago from the Chicago Fire of 1871 to present day and a better understanding of the exciting ideas that Jens Jenson had for Garfield Park and its Conservatory. ... Read more

Product Description
Packed with maps and information on 87 state and national parks, lakes, beaches, forest, and recreation areas. For quick and easy access, this guide divides Southern California into three regions so you can better plan your vacations, holidays and weekend getaways. ... Read more

Product Description
The southwestern United States, with its astounding collection of national parks and monuments, offers travel unlike any other. Here, canyons record geologic time in a tableau of color. Frontier history unfolds in hundred-year old adobe walls. Impressive archeological sites connect us to the ancient people who lived here hundreds of years ago. Vast backcountries shelter flora and fauna found nowhere else on Earth.

The Guide to National Parks of the Southwest is for anyone who yearns to explore America's greatest places. This guide covers fifty-two sites with great historical, biological, geological, or archeological significance. Each one is different and unique; each has a story to tell. There are caves, canyons, rivers, deserts, mountains, frontier forts, Spanish churches, cliff dwellings, and million-acre wildernesses, all places of mystery and magic where the power of natural forces and human history can be directly witnessed and experienced.

The Southwest's treasures were recognized early on, and the gems of the National Park Service are included in this volume - Montezuma Castle, Chaco Canyon, Natural Bridges, Navajo, Tonto, Petrified Forest, Gila Cliff Dwellings, and Grand Canyon. At these sites, and the many others included in The Guide to National Parks of the Southwest, visitors find nearly endless opportunities to camp, hike, boat, bicycle, picnic, sightsee; chances to explore, learn, participate, and contemplate.

Through text and photographs, this guide describes each park and monument and gives practical information to help plan a visit. Over 175 stunning photographs are included, from some of the nation's most well-known landscape photographers. Discover parks that are in a geographic area that stretches from west Texas, through New Mexico and Arizona, and into southern Utah and Colorado. The book features descriptions of 52 National Park Service units, each with a detailed access map, descriptions of the area, and information on interpretive programs, hiking, camping, accomodations, hours, phone numbers, and addresses. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

guide to Natiomal Parks pf the Southwest
good source of info. took a lot longer to ship to my daughter than we thought it would take

The Guide to National Parks of the Southwest by Nicky Leach
Rarely does one find such a combination of gorgeous photographs, well written descriptions and useful information in one book. The book features 52 national parks, monuments, recreational areas, historical parks andhistoric sites.There are 170 color photos and a map of the southwesttogether with descriptions and access maps.George H.H. Huey's stunningphotos include the magnificent vistas of the American Southwest, close upphotographs of flowers and wildlife, accurate depictions of historicalsites and much more.They portray the diversity and glorious landscapes ofboth famous and lesser-known gems of our the area.They bring life to theland and entice one to visit. Vickie J. Leach's descriptions give factualinformation of what to see at each site in a clear and concise manner. Shegives useful information in an easy to read manner. I would heartilyendorse this book. It is a joy to read and an excellent reference guide. ... Read more

Product Description
How does an angler know when and where to fish, how to get there, and what kind of gear will reel in the catch? The answers are all here in Fishing Glacier National Park.Glacier National Park offers some of the most beautiful and exciting sport fishing in Montana. Trout, whitefish, grayling, and pike swim in the park's pristine alpine lakes, powerful rivers, and meandering streams. In this volume, Montana angler, fishing guide, and author Russ Schneider shares his intimate knowledge of this angler's paradise.This guide provides descriptions of more than 250 lakes, rivers, and streams within the park and answers the questions every angler asks before striking out.Look inside to find: site descriptions, including the species present and the best times to fish; tips on techniques, lures, flies, bait, and tackle; information about trails, distances, terrain, availability of campgrounds, river access, and regulations; maps and photos; an illustrated section describing the habits and habitats of Glacier's game fish.Whether you're planning an afternoon or a week of angling adventures, take Fishing Glacier National Park along for the trip. (6 x 9, 174 pages, b&w photos, illustrations, maps, icons) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Good Advice for the Glacier National Park Angler
There are plenty of fish to be caught in Glacier National Park; in fact, fishing in Glacier can be absolutely fantastic.However, one has to know which lakes and streams have fish (trout), and then when and how to catch them.This book gives the inexperienced Glacier angler a head-start on which lakes and streams to try, when the best fishing is, what species are in the waters, and how to catch them. The author is an experienced Glacier fisherman, and he gives great advise for the amateur and experienced angler.Sound advice is always welcome, and this book has plenty.It can be used by both fly fisherman and non-fly fisherman. You don't need a fly rod to catch trout in Glacier, a casting reel with the right bait or lure can often outfish the fly-rod.The author describes many different strategies for catching Glacier's trout.

If you plan to fish trout while in Glacier National Park, this is the book/help you need to get started.

konedog

Fishing Guide
The book was very helpful in determining what streams and lakes contained fish and what ones didn't.It was also pretty accurate as far as the quality of fishing in the streams that I fished.I would recommend this book to anyone who has never been to Glacier and would like a good opportunity to catch fish.

Very helpful
As an occasional fisherman, I had no idea how to go about fishing in Glacier.This book was very helpful at telling me where to go, what kind of fish to expect, and how to fish for them.The book had tips for both fly- and spin-casters, which I appreciated since I don't know how to fly fish.

Thanks to this book, I had a great time fishing (and catching) in Mokowanis Lake.
... Read more

Product Description
Rocky Mountain National Park is the spiritual heart of the southern Rocky Mountains, an alpine domain as lush as it is austere, as friendly as it is intimidating.The grandeur of its mountain peaks, the profusion of flowering plant life, and ubiquity of creeks, cascades, and waterfalls creates a setting unique on our planet.Despite its three million annual visitors and its proximity to sprawling urban communities, Rocky Mountain National Park remains as natural and wild as any national park in the continental United States.This book offers a unique perspective--a look at the park one hundred years ago and a record of it today, as we approach the twenty-first century.It is about a place that exists not only on the map, but also in the hearts of the American people.

Through the eyes of John Fielder and the words of one of its finest nature writers, T. A. Barron, the majesty of Rocky Mountain National Park is revealed as never before.The historical photographs and writings of Enos Mills, founder of the park, lend rare insight into one of nature's last great places.Rocky Mountain National Park:A 100 Year Perspective is not just a book, but an enduring experience certain to renew your relationship with places natural and wild. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent and Concise Overview
In a guide book showing lodging, food and general things to do, I recommend this to anyone traveling to Grand Teton National Park as a book to read before they go.

In a concise format, the National Park Service does an excellent job of explaining the geology and natural history of the Grand Teton National Park, the wildlife and the history of the development and use of the park as a public resource.The geology is fascinating and you'll learn a lot about the shifting of plates as well as what erosion can do over time.

The books also includes very good maps and wonderful pictures. An excellent primer that will whet your appitite to visit a beautiful National park.

... Read more

Product Description
Peter Nicholson, a geologist sent to a Mediterranean island, is pulled by the demands of his wife, his mistress, his employers, and unpredictable strangers when he stumbles into a web of blackmail, deception, and murder. 15,000 first printing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Over-analytical and tedious
Some writers can do a lot with a bare premise for a plot, expertly weaving interesting subplots and characters around in a mosaic that captures the reader's imagination even though the reader may ultimately remember little of the story.William Gay and Richard Russo are examples.Other writers, like Tim Parks, take what should be very entertaining premises for novels and turn them into psychological tales of guilt and deception, sapping almost all of the entertainment out of a good story.Shear is an example.

I had previously read Europa by Tim Parks, and while that book didn't overwhelm me I recognized Parks' writing skills and thought I should give him another try, considering the acclaim he receives in England and elsewhere.Having read Shear, I have to face the fact that maybe he just isn't my type of author.Shear takes place on a sunswept Mediterranean island, although we seldom learn very much about our setting other than that.The protagonist is geologist Peter Nicholson, sent from his home office to investigate a rock quarry and to write a report explaining a slab's collapse in a construction project that killed a worker in Australia.

Peter is not a terribly sympathetic character, he brought his 22 year old mistress Margaret along for a little fun in the sun, (he is 40 with a pregnant wife and kids at home).Peter receives a fax from his wife announcing her pregnancy, and much of what constitutes "drama" in the novel surrounds Peter's guilt at his inexplicable failure to respond, by phone or even by fax, to his wife's announcement.Peter is desperate to prolong his relationship with young Margaret, sensing that she is about through with him, and yet he wastes no time in bedding a beautiful interpreter on the island named Thea, even as he realizes she was probably put in his path to soften the blow of his report on the construction mishap.

You would think with all this infidelity, and with the drama surrounding a contruction accident (the widow from Australia shows up demanding answers, and determined to find a guiltyscapegoat), that the plot would be fast-paced and dramatic.Wrong.Parks endlessly piles on these rock metaphors, and spends so much time exploring Peter's guilty psyche that basically every other character is simply along for the ride.

We care little for Margaret or Thea, cause the author barely describes them. At times, when Peter is crawling in or out of bed with one of them, I had to go back a page or two to find out which girl he was sleeping with presently.We know nothing of how the affair with Margaret got started, and have no real visual picture of any character in the novel.As for setting, Joseph Conrad in Nostromo made his Central American mining locale a principal player in the story;here there is nothing very unique or memorable in the locale.

The book was relatively short, at about 200 pages, but seemed longer to me since after about 25 pages a night I put it down.Many love Park's psychological style, as the editorial reviews and positive Amazon feedback attests, but in this reviewer's humble opinion Shear was a swing and a miss.

The effect of shear on granite and a geologist called Peter
Tim Parks attained prominence with the Bookernominated "Europa", but "Shear" seemed the more interesting novel. As a one time quarry man turned novelist, Parks writes with rareauthority about a geologist called Peter Nicolson who is sent to aMediterranean island to inspect a granite quarry whose product for anAustralian project has resulted in the "accidental" death of aconstruction worker. Using the language of geology and images drawn fromthe world of mineralogy (eg, shear, quartz, feldspar, etc), Parks scoreswith a gripping thriller that has you on the edge of your seat all throughits 210 pages. The pace doesn't let up, in fact gathers pace until itdelivers a shattering climax at the very end. The words "there wasevil in the rocks" early in the novel sets the tone for what ensues.The philandering protagonist(Peter) isn't exactly a sympathetic character.He is unfaithful to his pregnant wife from a marriage gone stale, yetthinks nothing of cheating on his travelling companion mistress while onhis investigative mission. In the course of his five-day stay on theisland, Peter finds himself equally subject to the effects of"shear" that granite slabs are exposed to in their voyage totheir final destination. Even the moral choices that Peter is confrontedwith each step of the way are tainted by motives which are suspect. Withoutspoiling the fun for readers of this highly ingenious and dazzlinglywritten suspense novel, I can only say that "Shear" isentertainment of the first order and noboby who has read it will feeldisappointed.

A brilliant book combining geology and modernist fiction.
Tim Parks is the author of several distinguished works of fiction and non-fiction.In addition, he has produced well received translations of Italian fiction including the work of Italo Calvino. Sheer is a novel which demonstrates the author's usual linguistic brilliance along with a surprising knowledge of geology, both aspects of which combine to produce a work of extraordinary richness and vitality.A geologist, finding himself the dupe of big money interests, falls into an ever widening pit of sexual and ethical malaise. An extremely interesting novel by one of the best of today's younger English writers. ... Read more

Product Description
The National Park Service Camping Guide is a wonderful resource for anyone who enjoys camping in a National Park. The book describes nearly 450 campgrounds in 123 national parks, recreation areas, monuments, and other areas managed by the National Park Service. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

national park camping
anything to do with finding new areas to explore with camping involved is of
interest to us ... Read more

Product Description
This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process.We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more