The eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada and the White Mountains are fascinating geologically and biologically. Years ago we were graduate students working on the eastern slope. Revisiting this summer we used this book as a guide to places, the plants and animals. From the bristlecone pines to the wildflowers and trees around Mammoth Lakes and Convict Lake the book was a wonderful source. We used it to find the names of birds, trees, and flowers along the trails we hiked. We brushed up on geology before visiting Devil's Postpile, Hot Creek, and the rest of the Long Valley Caldera. I would strongly recommend this book to any one interested in the Owens Valley and the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada and the White Mountains. The region is fascinating and the book represents it well.

The Story of Inyo presents a comprehensive view of the history and geology of the Owens Valley, beginning with its first inhabitants, and extending through the conflict with the City of Los Angeles.

What makes the book special is that it presents it from the perspective of one of the prominent citizens of the Valley during its formative years, newspaperman and author W.A. Chalfant. When you pick up this book, not only do you get some very insteresting facts about the Owens Valley, you also get to read them in a writing style that was prevalent at the time that the history was being made. It's like reading about history and stepping back into it at the same time.

The Story of Inyo should be perhaps the first choice for anyone interested in the history or geology of the Owens Valley.

What promise this book held. There it was smack dab before my eyes on a shelf in a store in Death Valley. I was drooling. I had to buy it. I did.

What a tremendous disappointment. Don't know if it was the ineptitude of the writers or of the editors, but this book is filled with errors and lacks continuity. On every page characters are brought into the discussion from nowhere and without as much as an introduction. Then, as soon as they appear . . . they are gone.

There are many maps, but they offer little and are not located in the appropriate places in the book.

Still there were tiny crumbs that kept me reading. To see the names of those who sought their fortune or sought a place to hide . . . forever. the book whet my appetite to go and find a better book.

Save you money and put it to a trip to DV. It is a glorious spot on earth that allows you mind to run as far as you will allow it.

Cheers,

Dave Ross

This book puts together two of the most comprehensive writings on southern California ghost towns under one cover. Both L. Burr Belden and Mary DeDecker retell the stories that many of which were told to them by first hand citizens of mining towns of the late 19th century and early 20th century. The book is historically informative and holds the interest of this reader. I highly recommend the work, but due to its early publication,(both authors originally released their books in the 60's.) I do not recommend it as a guide to the modern day ghost town visitor. Nonetheless a great and interesting read.

As an officianado of Death Valley and the surrounding area, I found this book a really great read, and in fact I couldn't put it down! Lots of fascinating true history and tales packed into a nice package. Highly recommended!