Re: Book recommendations - Wanted!

Hi,

I used to go the US with a main focus on the West and Southwest for many, many years. Due to unfortunate circumstances my wife no longer can travel and due to extremely high medical bills I have only been to Yosemite and the other places I love very few times in the last 9 years (I live in Europe so it's a long flight and expensive too if you need a flight, rental car etc.).

I always enjoyed reading books and I have a lot of nice books about Yosemite, the Southwest, petroglyphs, the history of those places, guidebooks (from Schaffer to Kelsey) etc.
I also enjoy reading "adventure books", e.g. Camp 4, The Last Season, Death in Yosemite, more or less every PCT account out there etc.

As I'm not even close of having another chance to go I have to rely on books to quench my thirst for the places I love so much.

You guys are the pros and therefore your book recommendations are welcome.

Looking forward to hear your thoughts! Thank you.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/14/2018 08:50AM by Half Dome Hiker.

I few from my library....

"The Enchanted Valley Of Yosemite" by Albert Leo (I have not read yet)
"Missing In The Minerets" by William Alsup (a great companion to "The Last Season"
"Mountain Sage" by Elizabeth Stone O'Neill (about Yosemite's famous ranger/naturalist Carl Sharsmith)
"Gloryland" by Shelton Johnson ( a novel about a Buffalo soldier's journey)
"Seed Of The Future" by Dayton Duncan (Yosemite and the evolution of the National Park idea)
And of course, pretty much anything John Muir ever wrote.

Mountaineering in the Sierra Nevada is my all time favorite, by Clarence King---a series of adventures he has with the Whitney survey party.

And in terms of the southwest, if you haven't read any Tony Hillerman, you should. Really wonderful books that tie into Navajo life and culture, and still tell a mystery.

---

Check our our website: http://www.backpackthesierra.com/
Or just read a good mystery novel set in the Sierra; https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Falling-Rocks-Paul-Wagner/dp/0984884963

I wanted to thank you for your recommendations. I really appreciate that.
Looks like I already had a pretty good collection of books but found also some new inspirations.

As I'm always looking for good books keep those recommendation comin'!

PS: please also include guidebooks.

The Sierra High Route by Steve Roper is one I love reading along with a set of topo maps. Great history of the early Sierra explorers.

Under "adventure books", Where You'll Find Me: Risk, Decisions, and the Last Climb of Kate Matrosova (Paperback – August 25, 2017) is worth a read. I first read of her story on the Internet:

https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2015-trader-in-the-wild/
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/02/21/the-young-woman-and-mountain/SEBPucaGpA1Fun4R5uoj7K/story.html

Croatian coastline is one of the most astonishing pieces of landscapes in the world. It is the place where mountains meet the sea. Beneath them lie scattered ancient cities linked in the invisible bound with the Adriatic Sea. When you sit for a cup of coffee in one of those magnificent historic monuments, you’ll see dozens of islands emerging from the sea, bathing in Mediterranean sun. Almost every major town in the Croatian coast has its own archipelago. Just this fact is enough to evoke imagination and adventurous spirit of all who are in love with the sea and sailing. Especially ones who need to explore as many places as possible. The island hoppers. Croatia Island hopping is the real adventure from start to finish. If you are interested visit us at:
https://sebastus.com/sailing-blog/croatia-island-hopping/?lang=en

"Way of the Scout" by Tom Brown is a good read.