We are planning a trip to Yellowstone and this book has gotten me excited to see the different kinds of forests that exist throughout the park. Not only does the book cover how fire affects forests, but how time affects forests -- by looking at the types of growth in a forest you can tell how old it is (i.e. how long it's been since the last major fire). Fascinating. The only slight critique I have is that I wish the book were longer -- it's a good length for upper elementary and middle school children, but high schoolers and adults will want more.

This describes in great detail regions that the typical touristis likely to easily pass by. The information and fishing tips arepriceless even for the seasoned fisherman. Great especially if you love the Madison River...Well done from a Montana man.

The book has two main sections. The first is a review of the geographic features. The second is a history up to the creation of the park in 1872. The early history, of fur trappers and explorers, is the meat of the book and is fascinating. I'll admit the book is a bit of a slow read, but I couldn't find any other book with near the detail that's in this one. Strangely, it was not available at the stores in the park when I visited last week.

This is a departure from the many books that focus on Yellowstone's natural history. Meyer, instead, traces the park's human history and the development of images that first captured the public's attention and led to establishment of the first national park. Most of the book is quite scholarly and analytical, gaining momentum when Meyer attempts to delve into the minds of the first explorers to record and stand in amazement at Yellowstone's wonders. Illustrated with many early drawings of the park, The Spirit of Yellowstone is not exactly light reading, but is a must for any serious student of the park.

You can't lose with a book about Wyoming wildlife written by a man with 35 years experience as a game warden for the state. However, know what you will and will not be getting. This book reads like a series of short stories detailing the author's decades of experience as a game warden in Wyoming. It has a conversational style. When I picked up this book, in my ignorance I thought it might be about his general experiences in the wilds of Wyoming, perhaps covering some of the wildlife management issues of the state, and maybe relating some of the joys of his work.

Rather this book describes a career of seasonal antagonism, story after story of individuals attempting to violate wildlife and exploit the system designed to protect wildlife. In this regard he does describe wildlife issues in the state but with a conflict orientation. Might be expected, that is his job, after all. But this is a discouraging book and a real eye-opener. Giving him the benefit of the doubt, I would like to think that the author's jaded tone is a result of year after year of struggle. However, it was not always easy to see things from his point of view when his list of antagonists grows and grows as the pages progress, to include groups such as indians, scientists, welfare recipients, lawyers, ranchers, Texans, and especially unethical hunters ("slobs" and "nimrods"). I admire someone who could struggle for so long in a situation where seemingly everyone is against him and the wildlife he stewards.

I found that the author's perspective has enriched my understanding of the complexity of wildlife conservation issues, and the role played by outdoor sportsman, for good or ill. Outdoor sportsmen, as much or more than urban environmentalists, are in a position to make a greater difference towards conserving what little remains of our country's wild lands and species.

I have to say I was wishing that he would have written about what it was that kept him at it for so many years. I can't imagine that this man didn't have daily joys and amazing experiences related to the Wyoming wilderness that made it worthwhile for him to defend those lands and deal with all the "nimrods" and "slobs" . I got the sense that this is a man with a deep understanding and appreciation for the natural world, and an account of his wisdom in this area would have perfected this book for me. As it stands, however, I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in conservation issues, hunting and outdoor recreation.

This book is really great for reports and projects about Yellowstone National Park. It includes a lot of information about one of the most important parts of our country's first national park- animals. From bison to elk, pronghorn to mule deer, this book has everything you need to cover the wildlife aspects of a Yellowstone project.

Learn about the flora and fauna, geysers and hot springs of Yellowstone Park from this beautifully illustrated collection of verses. An excellent glossary is included as well as an identification challenge to the reader. A first-rate gift for youngsters who have already visited Yellowstone, those who may visit in the future, or those who simply like lovely pictures and verses.

This is a great look at the history of Yellowstone Park. It combine photographs from the early days of the park with modern photos. Also included are photos of a variety of souvenirs from Yellowstone. This book is worth owning just for the photographs that it contains.

CAUTION! The maps in this book are terrible! You can almost read them in some areas but many spots are too dark gray to be legible.
The maps look like a bad black and white photo copy of a good color coded National Geographic map. The book's maps loose information because of the colored background in the original map.
We went on a trail walk (to fairy falls in Yellowstone) using only this book. We walked for about 1 hour then came to a junction in the trail which we couldn't figure out. As we were looking at the book another family came along and showed us they had the same book. We both were lost!
After a while using another map they had we came to the conclusion that were were about 5 miles from were we wanted to be. So we laughed and started heading back to the car.
On our way back we ran into another family using this same book heading for the same place. Obviously it was not just one's person's interpretation of the book.
I'm disappointed that we wasted about 2 1/2 hours but more importantly, it could have been dangerous had any of these families continued on their path using this book!

This book was small enough to fit in a day-pack, but contained a lot of useful hiking information. It ranked the hikes on difficulty as well as letting you know how gratifying they were. It was nice to know what to expect along the way, and what to look forward to.

This is the perfect book if you are new to Yellowstone and looking for a guide on what hikes to take the family on. Accurate reviews of the hikes with good directions and maps.

A must have.

I personally have over 125 days in the park and I found the book very helpfull in planning family hikes.

I purchased two guides for my trip to Yellowstone: this one and Moon Publications. I'm glad I did. Moon offered more in the way of maps and color photos. This book was a much more entertaining read, contained much information about the history of early settlers, interesting wildlife information, and the formation of features within Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park. If I had to buy one guide it would have to be this one: There are tons of heplful and free information available from the park service if you want lots of colorful photos. Pick up the free stuff and bring along this book for a deeper study of the area.

A personal and detailed account of Yellowstone and Grant Teton National Parks that not only describes the beautiful scenery and where to find the wildlife, but also informs you how this area evolved thousands of years ago. The writer also offers a distance and difficulty rating of each of the trails listed. While the trail descriptions are brief, we weren't concerned since it was noted in the book that these are some of the more popular and senic trails that the park has to offer, though not a comprehensive listing by any means. For that I would reccommend "Hiking the Yellowstone Back Country" as a supplement to this guide. This book will give any first time visitor a great idea what Yellowstone, Grand Teton and the town of Jackson has to offer!

It's obvious that the writer has spent considerable time in this part of the country. We hiked three trails that the book recommended. The directions to the trails, the descriptions and the level of difficulty were highly accurate. Best of all, we found dozens of insider tips. For instance: a certain upscale restaurant offers 20% off the price of your meal between 6-6:30. We learned the best place in the park for glimpsing a grizzly bear. The book told us where to find the cheapest bike rentals. You'll certainly find all the other information; where to stay, what to see, maps and other services. But what we found most helpful were all the tips that can only come from someone who actually lives in this area.