I am a Colorado Plateau freak who probably has better than 50 books on the area, and who has taken at least a dozen vacations to the area. Of all of my own books and some I don't own, but have read on the area, this is one of the very best.

The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument was created in 1996. It was long overdue. The monument (And it should be a full-fledged National Park, IMHO.), preserves the most single significant block of Cretaceous strata in the world, numerous exquisite arches and slot canyons of exceptional size and beauty, tremendous geological faults, colorful, spectacular rock formations, fossilized animals and plants, and irreplaceable Native American relics and structures. The area is still being explored and more of these and other wonders are being located each year.

This excellent book covers all of these matters and more in considerable written detail. Magnificent color photography follows the text and lays open this wonderful country for all to see. The text is carefully drafted, and the photos follow the text very well.

If you never have the good fortune to visit this area, this book will give a very fine glimpse into the need for its preservation. If you have visited it, as I have, the book will evoke countless pleasant memories. IF YOU ARE GOING TO VISIT IT, for the first time, or on a repeat basis, read this book thoroughly to make intelligent decision about what to see and do, since you can't possibly see it all in one trip.

This book receives the highest recommendation.

Heart of the Desert Wild, first book by author Greer Chesher and first complete book for photographer Liz Hymans, won the nonfiction category at the Utah State Book Awards in November 2001! Last year Terry Tempest Williams won that award, and the competition was excellent this year - the third year Utah has participated in the Library of Congress, Center for the Book's program. In addition to the usual information found in interpretive books, "Heart of the Desert Wild" features an opening chapter that describes the importance of public lands in general and this monument in particular. Ms. Hymans, one of the leading professional panoramic photographers in the US, illuminates the text with 135 magnificent photos, and Ms. Chesher's text is both informative and a pleasure to read.

This is an excellent book. If you've never been to the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument -- and few have -- you'll want to see this book. It's like a voyage to another planet. And if you have been there, you'll certainly want to have this book. It's a memorable summary of an unforgetable place. The photographs of panoramic photographer Liz Hymans are spectacular -- breath-takingly beautiful. And the text by Greer Chesher graphically captures the amazing details of this exotic land. My words, however glowing, can't do justice to the scope and wonder of this book. So I'll just save my effort -- and save you reading more of this dull review -- to say: Go look at the book itself! You won't be disappointed.

This book was our bible on our 10 day excursion to Isle Royale (royal like a king, not like royale with cheese). Coupled with a good topo map, we were able to get around the island with ease. Was also great for planning our route before the trip. This book tells you everything you need to know for a backpacking/fishing trip to this beautiful place.

If you're considering a backcountry trip to Isle Royale, this is the book to have. It covers everything you need to know to plan a trip to IR: how to get there, campgrounds, trails, lakes, portages. Plan your trip with this book, and carry it along in your pack!

Visit the largest island in the largest lake in the largest island in the largest lake in the world. Isle Royale National Park: Foot Trails & Water Routes will tell you how to get there. See if it, too, has a lake with an island with ...

Isle Royale National Park has nice hand drawn maps. It rates the difficulty of hikes and it gives trail distances, elevations and hiking times.

in elementary school we actually watched this as a movie too. this was one of the most profound books that i have ever read. it would make me sob! but it is such a great book to encourage compassion and remind "tough" children that it is ok to be tender and to show that you love something...

I was a 4th grader in a lot of trouble and detached from school. Our librarian gave this book to me and I read it hundreds of times that year and the next. I rememberd it only recently. I now work as an international photojournalist and assume that Gordon Parks images kept me intersted in literacy as a child and had a profound impact on the course of my current career. This book was to me what the kitten was to J.T.- a saviour.

I have used J.T. for years to reach reluctant readers. The pictures and dialogue give an easy context for lower readers to decode and comprehend the text. J.T. is a wonderful character that anyone can relate to. The copies I have are falling apart from much use and love.

All of Crichton's books are good, but these are three of the absolute best. Sphere, an excellent science fiction thriller quite possibly IS his best (although I tend to lean toward Disclosure). And, of course, everyone knows Jurassic Park and how good it is. And if you haven't read it, I'll tell you that it's a lot better than the movie, and the movie wasn't that bad! A definite classic. Rising Sun is an excellent detective story set in modern times... complete with early 90's Japanese paranoia. It was his first book that I read and it got me hooked. Buy this if you haven't already read them separately.

I think that Sphere is one of the best books that Michael Crichton has written.I've read several of his books and so far I think that Sphere is the best by far. I reccomend this book to everyone.

I really liked this book. I can't wait to see it in the movie theaters. I told all my friends they had to read it. Those that did agreed with me. If Micheal Chrichton sees this: Good Job!!! Write more books just as good as this was please!!!!!!!!

This book has vivid, exciting, colorful illustrations and wonderful langauge. As an inner city elementary school reading specialist, I look for engaging books with a creative use of language. This book has rhythm and rhyme that may inspire many children to try to emulate the style and write their own book. Also, the language is rich and lends itself to a study of synonyms and words that appeal to all five senses. I took it out of the library and now I am adding it to my own.

Heard this book on NPR Saturday edition 10 days after the twin towers bombing. This book was among the first things that provided healing of the shock--allowed me to get my mind off of terror and sadness and onto my child and life going on (like the seasons). Daniel Pinkwater's rendition is priceless and I plan to use this book to read to my son and treasure forever.

happy and fun!! imaginative lyrics and drawings that spill right off the pages and into the dreams of the little ones who spend the afternoon reading this book with their loved ones.

a great book.

As one of the Friday Riders listed in this book, I have known and ridden with Bob Sobie, the author of the Elroy Sparta Trail Guidebook, for a number of years. As a matter of fact it was my Bachelor bike ride that Bob mentions in the book. As an author and a psychologist I believe I have a unique perspective of Bob and the words he wrote in this book. If the famous analyst C.G. Jung were to meet Bob he would probably call him a "sensing" person. Let me tell you why I believe that's important for an author of a guidebook. Being a sensing person Bob writes what he gets through his senses. He writes about what sights you will see. He describes the sounds you'll hear. He includes how much the trail will incline or decline. He even includes what you should expect from sleeping and eating at various places along the trail. Though his own passion about the trail definitely does leak out, he leaves whether you ride or how much you ride up to you, as he does with all the other attractions in the area.

As one of the Friday riders listed in this book, I have known and ridden with Bob Sobie, the author of the Elroy Sparta Trail Guidebook, for a number of years. As a matter of fact it was my Bachelor bike ride that Bob mentions in the book. As an author and a psychologist I believe I have a unique perspective of Bob and the words he wrote in this book. If the famous analyst C.G. Jung were to meet Bob he would probably call him a "sensing" person. Let me tell you why I believe that's important for an author of a guidebook. Being a sensing person Bob writes what he gets through his senses. He writes about what sights you will see. He describes the sounds you'll hear. He includes how much the trail will incline or decline. He even includes what you should expect from sleeping and eating at various places along the trail. Though his own passion about the trail definitely does leak out, he leaves whether you ride or how much you ride up to you, as he does with all the other attractions in the area.

Finally....the essential trail guide worthy of the scenic Elroy Sparta Trail----America's first rails-to-trails bikeway. From tunnels to trails to history to tourist attractions to accommodations, the Sobie Guide is a celebration of cycling and the natural beauty of the unglaciated regions of southwest Wisconsin.

Like most Falcon hiking guides, this one provides useful and reliable information. The only shortcoming is it doesn't provide comprehensive information on all the trails and destinations. It wouldn't take much to add this info so that a reader who wanted to cobble together a different hike from the ones described in detail could figure out distances and altitudes gained (similar, for example, to AMC guides for hiking in various locales out East).

I purchased this book for a trip to Yosemite that I took earlier this year. The descriptions of the hikes were wonderful and included such key details as where to park and what the water & facility opportunities are on the trails. Another key detail in the book was a breakdown of elevation gain per foot. I used it to help plan my Half Dome hike and it was essential. Unfortunately there was an incident in my pack with the bug spray so I'm online today to purchase this book again to help plan my new conquest - El Capitan.

Great book. Has maps and descriptions for a ton of hikes in Yosemite. Contains a chart of hikes by difficulty, scenery, etc. I'll definitely go with FalconGuide for future hiking books.

Isabella Bird was an astounding woman. Adventurous, courageous and full of good humor, she traveled by horse through the Rocky Mountains when it was still virgin territory. Although she lived under difficult circumstances, especially during the winter months, and met a number of rough customers along the way, she never lost her nerve or her good nature. This is an excellent book to get a feel for Colorado in the late 19th Century and to admire a woman way ahead of her time.

A must for the reader who is searching for a first hand description of life in the Rocky's in the 1800's. It includes wonderful sketches by the author and great descriptions of characters and adventures in the untamed West. A great book for bedtime and rainy day reading.

This is a wonderful book to bring on your vacation to the Rockies. Miss Bird travels to what are now popular tourist destinations, only she does it before the convenience of a SUVs, Motels, or even plumbing. She meets overworked settlers, fascinating (and surprisingly polite) desperados, and English dandies. She revels in the mountain vistas, sunrises, sunsets and orange moonlight. Her many mile treks on horseback over frozen landscapes, alone in the wild west are an inspiration.

Extremely Detailed, to detailed for me. It had a lot of reading and did not get down to the point on where, what and when. If your looking for lots of detail and history of everything about the park this book is for you. If your like me and time is limited you may want to look for a different book. But if you got all the time in the world or you want to know it all this is the book for you.

...just returned from driving trip to yellowstone/tetons/jackson hole....having bought 5 different guide books from Amazon.com to insure a trip that covered everything and missed nothing... I feel it is important to let potential driving travelers to yellowstone know how valuable this book is. Of all the books I purchased, this is the only book I used as we traveled the park by car. I used it daily as we went from one location to the next. I kept saying to myself as we toured the park using this book, that I wanted to thank the author and let the public know how valuable this book was. In fact. I saw this book for sale in the national park visitor centers. Get yours before you arrive to ensure a knowlegeable trip. Thanks, susan,

Butler's way of writing reminds me of my grandmother and our trip to Yellowstone. While reading her travel guide, I revisited the cold-sweat panic of sitting in the front seat of a car driven by my grandmother.

It's a great, fast read... it's like I had a private tour of Portsmouth and the Carolina coast.

This was a great book and I have recommended it to all my friends. Held my interest throughout!!!.

Book was exciting from the beginning. Twist and turns kept you intrigued and on your toes. Very well written.