Timely, authoritative guide to exploring or just reading about this historic region. A must for those who have a day or weeks to seek out historic places.

15 years after his journey around the Great Lakes region, recorded in his almost famous book "The Late, Great Lakes", Ashworth made a return trip to review the state of things. "Great Lakes Journey" is an account of this second visit, during which he explores many of the same issues covered in his first book, visits with many of the same people that he interviewed 15 years prior, and tries to draw a bead on the health of the Great Lakes and the Great Lakes region. There are some success stories---many of the hideously polluted areas have improved---as well as variety of new issues that plague the largest source of fresh water in the world. Urban sprawl and the invasion of 'exotic' species are two of the most significant problems that Ashworth uncovers in this very readable, cold-eyed assesment of the life and health of one of the States most important, and most disregarded, natural resources. Highly recommended for anyone interested in environmental issues, Great Lakes ecology, or for anyone passionate about the incomparable Sweetwater Seas.

This is not a book but a laminated, fold over pamplet. Good respresentative of flora from the area. Description of evergreens very good, of broad leaf plants could use more information. Classifying wilflowers in groups by color of flower makes ID of plants quick and easy. Pictures could be larger, would make it easier to distinguish difference among leaf types that appear similar.

...since the subtitle of this book is "132 Family-Friendly and Accessible Nature Sites in Illinois." What the Zyznieuskis have done is compiled information about these wild areas with total disregard for differences in site administration. Thus, the book includes state parks, county forest preserve centers, and sites owned by private organizations. No other source I'm familiar with has done that for the Prairie State. Even spots like the Chicago Botanic Gardens, the Brookfield Zoo, and the Cahokia Mounds are listed here. Each entry includes a general description, a list of programs and events, regulations, hours, directions, contact information (formal address, phone number, and often web site), and begins with the highlights and what makes the place special. I've been to 18 of the 132 -- I've got some traveling to do, I guess -- and can verify that the details seem to be correct, as far as I know. I'm giving the book just four stars for two reasons: (a) the authors didn't include any sites managed by the McHenry County Conservation District and (b) the b&w photos are muddy at times and not necessarily indicative of the uniqueness of the sites. (A photo of a trail sign next to a path could probably be taken anywhere.) Still, this volume is a wonderful guidebook for any Illinoisan to own. Let's hope its publicity will help Prairie Staters to understand that Nature *is* alive and well here, and they don't have to go to Wisconsin or Michigan to see it. Now, how can we get the authors to do the same research for all the other states in the Union??? [This reviewer was an Illinois resident when these comments were written.]

Designed as an "outline for most of the major canyons in the Grand," this volume is a treasure trove of scarce (and otherwise impossible to locate) information on not only the seldom explored western reaches of Grand Canyon, but also on the more frequently traveled heart of the Canyon. Its author, J.D. Green, and editor, Jim Ohlman, have together and separately logged many thousands of miles in the Canyon, describing new routes and accomplishing technical climbs. Ohlman is credited with over a dozen first ascents in John Annerino's 1986 guide (see references). Green's expertise is clear from the pages of this book.

While non-climbers may find its sometimes-terse descriptions lacking in comforting detail ("From the Tonto you can climb down Serpentine Canon to the River and routes go to the river in Copper Canyon and across from Hakatai Canyon." "Ruby has a cairned bypass to the right of the fall."), I found these tantalizing comments more useful than the replies from the BRO on the question of Tonto-to-River routes in Serpentine and Ruby-"Wouldn't even try it."-"Maybe if you used ropes."

To a climber, a "ropeless" route offers encouragement. A non-climbing backpacker, however, will balk at the mere presence of the word "rope" in a trail description. Green frequently offers more hiker-friendly information, such as, "...Travertine Canyon provides a not-too-difficult access for hikers wanting to reach the Colorado River." Green's limited descriptions of little-traveled routes must be contrasted to Butchart (who ignores Travertine, and says of Ruby and Serpentine, "...there are routes...almost surely in Ruby, and certainly in Serpentine..." though Butchart's marked map of the area shows none) and Annerino (regarding emergency hiking to the river from the Tonto between Hermit and Bass, "hike to the river...using either Boucher Creek, Ruby Canyon, Serpentine Canyon or South Bass Trail."). Green's guide gives us Tonto-to-River routes at Travertine, Boucher, Sapphire, Turquoise, Ruby, Serpentine and of course Bass.

The narrative makes enjoyable reading, laced with the mythology of some of the Canyon's unusual place names, historical vignettes and personal experience. Green recounts numerous confrontations with the reclusive Grand Canyon Rattlesnake as well as several near-fatal mishaps and unfortunate turns in the weather.

"Making the summit late in the day, darkness fell during the return series of rappels through the Supai cliffs north of the peak. The storm made me hypothermic and when clouds cleared the temperature dropped sharply. In the darkness my flashlight dropped, going out some forty feet below me. Not having made it past the cliffs I was unable to get back to my sleeping bag that night. It was a very cold December night as the South Rim recorded a temperature of 0 degrees. Unable to continue in darkness for fear of running out of rope the option for a very cold night seemed logical. Without a stove or a sleeping bag and only wearing a wool sweater, the situation was serious. To stay alive that night I burned some of my climbing sling along with every dead bush within reach. NPS frowns on open fires, especially those using native vegetation as fuel, but as the saying goes, "desperate times call for desperate measures!" It was one of the most miserable nights I have ever spent and I learned a great deal from it."

His comments on water sources are a welcome addition to descriptions of less-traveled areas. "This rough trail makes a rapid descent to the saddle below Shiva Temple, where water-filled pot holes remain for a week or more after rainstorms."

Numerous hiker and climber routes are described for Marble Canyon, below the East Rim Drive, below the Walhalla Plateau, Main Corridor, Clear Creek, the threshold trails from Indian Garden west to Hermit, west from Hermit to Havasupai, west of Bright Angel to Kanab, Tuweep to Kelly Point, National to Diamond, and both the south and north sides of the Canyon at Lake Mead. Most of the trail descriptions for the heart of the Canyon include little-known alternate routes, such as hiking up the Redwall and Supai at the head of Hermit to reach Dripping Springs Trail. Some are clearly described as hiker trails, some as climber's routes, and still others as "rugged route."

The volume is well illustrated with topo maps and historical photos. A real treat was the inclusion of sections of Harvey Butchart's hiking map, marked with his wanderings. (This reviewer was stunned by the sheer mileage represented on them. In comparison to Butchart's three tiny volumes, the map is an awesome testament of the 20,000 Canyon miles covered by the legendary hiker.) A ten-page index references all place names, numbered peaks and canyons. An annotated bibliography lists 77 references, as well as Green's comments on their value and where they may be obtained.

This book is not for the novice planning a first hike. But after the second or third Canyon hike, an ambitious hiker or climber will discover in its pages answers to the questions that usually elicit a shrug from many backcountry rangers. [E.g. busy trying to bite J.D. Green and Jim Ohlman.]

This solidly bound paperback is difficult to find in bookstores, and difficult for booksellers to special order, since it is "self-published." to the inner canyon routes, La Siesta Press, Glendale, CA (1970). 72pp. Also G.C. Treks II and III.

This book has great hikes in it, especially if you are looking for a daytrip to get outdoors; and the descriptions of the trails are very well done. Sometimes the directions to the locations could be better explained. Overall a good guide to dayhiking Ohio and would be a great gift for any nature lover moving to the state

This book is excellent because it gives detailed information about various types of landscaping plants. For example, how fast they grow, how tall and wide, even if they have poisonous parts. (This was important to me as a parent with young children.) It gives you the good and bad of each plant. It also informs the reader of which types of plants are best for spring, summer, fall, and winter so your yard will look great all year long.

This work is very good about Ignatius and the people in his world. Probably the most complete works on Donnelly to date.

The information about Governor Waite's Bloody Bridle Speech is distorted and incorrect. In fact this page # 323 isn't even footnoted in the Waite index. To get a correct copy of this speech, feel free to E-mail me. Frank S. Waite

Illinois State Parks's Guidebook is a great resource of information divulging a wealth of information. This is a great source for readers who are not familiar with the parks, offering a brief history of the park, detailed information about the facilities and available activities, and park maps. The book however does not appear to be totally complete, as some parks have been omitted from the book. In addition, the book seems to be biased to activities which the author has an interest in, rather than being comprehensive coverage. Overall, it is a good book to have as a reference for day trips throughout the state.

Who knew The Land of Lincoln also gave us the Lava Lamp. This book is filled with facts, photos and artwork related to The Prairie State. There is also a great deal of historial info on The Windy City to the far south area known as Egypt. A great collectors edition. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Illinois or just wants to add to a collection of United States history.