When in the summer of 2002 I was researching a resource book that would help me climb the Grand. After reading through numerous reviews on Amazon I was thrilled to hear how highly regarded this book was, and without a doubt it's a single most useful book I have ever owned, besides Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, of course.
If you consider to climb anything in the Tetons, look at this book to guide you through the difficult approaches, its photos are really detailed and offer enough inside information to pinpoint your destination and the routes of ascend.
This is it, buy it and take it with you on all your Teton Climbs ( or take the pages you need to save the bulky weight).

A good climbing guide is a personal friend. You spend hours reading about possible climbs, adventures awaiting for you. There is much pleasure in browsing a climbing guide, remembering the climbs you have made, those climbs not completed due to severe weather or other reasons, and all those climbs you have yet to try. My Teton guidebook has particular value as I always inscribe notes about my climbs: the date, my companions, the weather, route finding tips (or conversely, where I went astray), elapsed time, and other items of interest.

This third edition, 1996, is more than four hundred pages. It is much to bulky and heavy to carry on a climb. But it is a remarkable reference of virtually every climbing route in the Teton Range. The descriptions are detailed and well-written. I have not encountered any climbing guide that is comparable in detail and scope to this work by Leigh Ortenburger and Reynold Jackson.

The number of routes and variations on the favorite peaks can be overwhelming. (The most commonly used route is highlighted.) Route descriptions range from easy scrambles to difficult climbs requiring substantial technical skill on ice, snow, and rock. Numerous excellent black and white photos with climbing routes overlain are scattered throughout the texts. Also, there are many detailed ink drawings of more difficult climbs.

For climbers new to the Tetons, the authors have listed more than 130 of their favorite routes ranging from easy scrambles to severe climbs 5.12 in difficulty, as well as difficult technical ice climbing routes.

The first sixty pages provide an overview of the Tetons that alone is better than most publications on the Tetons. Major topics include a history of Teton climbing, descriptions of great climbs and traverses, details on the national park service policy, and a discussion of the difficulty rating system.

In my view the most helpful parts in this introduction were the sections on Teton weather and climatology and a detailed description of the Teton canyons and approaches. The hints provided by Ortenburger and Jackson can save you countless hours of frustrating bushwacking.

I have used A Climber's Guide to the Teton Range for many years beginning with the first edition dating back to the 1960s by Leigh Ortenburger. In the intervening years a condensed version, an extended version (volume 2), and a second and third edition have been published. This third edition is really quite exceptional and I highly recommend this guidebook to anyone planning to climb in Grand Teton National Park.

I used this book on a 3 week climbing trip where I climbed the Teton 7. On the routes I climbed I never felt as if I was misled or not provided crucial information. This is the best Teton guide book I have seen. There is such a wealth of information in this book that I couldn't imagine one person actually ever completing all of the routes. I chose to ignore one of the warnings in the guide book and did not rent a canoe for the approach to the CMC route on Mt. Moran (I instead walked around the lake). Lets just say they know what they are talking about. The only thing bad about it is that the book is rather large. Copy the pages you need and bring them on your climb.

Red Shirt tells her story in clear, oral-story format, using Lakota words where appropriate (and translating them -- she is a 'breed,' and the Lakota word for that means "translator." This gives a very effective sense of culture, time and place. Like most autobiographies by American Indians, her tale is marked by poverty, illness, and the death of loved ones, but it also conveys the strength of the family and their relationship with their past. Red Shirt reminisces about her own experience, and recounts how different her life would have been had she lived during traditional times; but this is not only a tale of loss. It speaks of the strength and permanence of their traditions and the power it gives the people.

I am interested in reading memoir and also in sharing literary memoir with secondary students and with preservice teachers who need to understand so many different ways of growing up. Bead on an Anthill tells the story of someone who seems to be my own contemporary and to hear her story, growing up and learning Lakota ways in Minnesota as well as dominant culture Anglo customs when she goes to public school offers quite a different story from own middle class, white, suburban, East coast growing up. I was riveted from the beginning with Redshirt's integration of her Lakota language in her text as if no Anglo phrases could truly describe what she wanted to say. I was taken with the acts of discrimination she suffered as a child and with her wondering about the clash of two cultures she experienced. I read many passages out loud to my students and will assign it as a text to represent good memoir to mystudents next semester in order to offer a realistic view of today's Native American.

Bead on an anthill:

Though a relatively short book, Bead on and Anthill by Delphine Red Shirt is rich with stories about the author's early life in a Traditional Lakota family. The Lakota language is spoken by everyone at home; many customs and practices of the "old way" are continued by the author's mother who also practices the old faith and its ceremonies. Interlaced throughout the book is the Lakota language as an illustration of how a language is at the heart of a culture. The author writes the phrases and words that apply to each situation, translating the meaning each time. There is also a separate chapter on the Lakota language in which it is compared to English. In her introduction, the author gives the reason for writing her book as "primarily for the joy of remembering what was good in my life." Her purpose has been fully realized in this gem of remembrances. Although poverty, alcoholism and other hardships were ever present, the basic goodness in her early years dominates her book. First and foremost is love. Delphine Red Shirt loves her mother, the one who takes care of her family and keeps the Lakota ways. She reveres her older brother who is like a mentor and whose future death is tragically hinted at by the author. Death is a constant presence here. The most moving part of the book is the chapter devoted to Delphine's oldest sister. She is described as a loving sister. Her death from alcoholism is devastating to Delphine. Just as the Lakota language graces every page of the book, the Lakota customs and traditions are also interwoven with the stories. How the Lakota handle death, their beliefs about the afterlife, and what is done at the wake is described as a community coming together and carrying out the rites from long ago. Many other religious ceremonies are described as, for example, the author's passage from childhood to womanhood, her return from the military, the Sun Dance, etc. Often, she notes that a certain practice was formerly prohibited by the government but has survived to be freely expressed today, thanks to religious freedom legislation passed in the 1970's. Aside from her mother, she also greatly values her grandfather not only for her enjoyment of him but for his knowledge about the Lakota history and ways. When he dies she is painfully aware of how much he has taken away with him and will be forever lost. Everyday life is also described in wonderful passages where Delphine plays by herself or with her brothers, learns from her elders, attends a County Fair or describes life in different types of schools - public, government and Catholic. The Traditional community she lived in as child was poor but a good place for children because of the great value placed on them by the Lakota. Perhaps this love is what made everyone of her relations loving to each other as well. This book is recommended for anyone interested in Lakota culture, especially the language. For those who have read works by Charles Eastman (Ohiyesa) or Luther Standing Bear, this book will be a contemporary addition. And for those who do not understand why Indian people cling to their culture, this book will illuminate why they hold their land and culture so dear.

Rinnah Two Feathers has always longed for adventure. But nothing ever happens in her small community on the edge of the Sioux reservation. One day, on the way to school, she sees a suspicious stranger examining the Jackson house. And the school bully won't leave her, her best friend Tommy, and their new friend Meagan alone. Then the museum in Tommy's house is robbed and mysterious guests arrive at Rinnah's family's guest house. Soon, Rinnah has more excitement then she knows what to do with. Can she figure out what is really going on?

I thoroughly enjoyed this fast moving young adult mystery. All the characters are well developed. The plot is complicated enough to keep me guessing with a couple of nice twists, but comes to a logical conclusion.

This book is a definite step ahead of the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books and I'm looking forward to Rinnah's further adventures.

The Secret of Dead Man's Mine is a truly fascinating mystery. It makes sleuthing look so fun and pleasurable. It's a good work out for the mind. It is great for a school report, because it will really get the class on the edge of their seats. Kids from ages 10-15 will enjoy this book.

Do you remember the thrill of reading Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys mysteries growing up? The straight-forward stories kept you guessing until the last page, and they were filled with characters you liked and could identify with. If so, it's time to rejoice! "The Secret of Dead Man's Mine" brought back wonderful memories of those old-fashioned (in a very good way) mysteries, while updating the concept by making the lead character a Lakota Sioux Indian girl -- just imagine a Native American Nancy Drew. And at a time when many so-called "children's books" are nothing more than toy commercials, "The Secret of Dead Man's Mine" is a breath of fresh air.

Author Rodney Johnson takes us into a fascinating world with a plot that is simple but extremely effective -- by being naturally inquisitive, Rinnah Two Feathers finds herself in the middle of a mystery that leads to a search for the legendary Dead Man's Mine. Fortunately for us, the clever writing, the glimpse that the book provides into the Indian world and the fun illustrations (by Jill Thompson of Scary Godmother fame!) take this book to the next level.

Rinnah is the type of girl you want to know, and her best friends, Tommy and Meagen, are wonderful, fully drawn characters, similar to the kids in the Harry Potter series. In fact, all of the characters are not only interesting but also integral to the story, such as the bullies at school, the Indian family members and the numerous adults staying at the lodge run by Rinnah's mom.

I won't give away the ending, but I will say that it was both surprising and satisfying. I can't wait for the next Rinnah Two Feathers book!

To experience the full impact of this book read "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" first and then read this book.

Before I even picked this book up from the shelf I thought of the Cheyenne proverb, "A nation is not conquered until the hearts of its women are on the ground. Then it is done, no matter how brave its warriors nor how strong their weapons." Then I opened the book, and this quote was written at the beginning of the first chapter.

This book is essential for understanding what has been done, and is being done to Native American women and girls. Mary Crow Dog tells her own courageous story, and that of many brave women before her.

Born on a Sioux reservation in the Dakotas to a wayward father and a mother who left the traditional life for Christianity, Mary Crow Dog overcomes the difficulties of a young Native American girl to become a leader in her people's movement. This autobiography follows her early days in a Christian school and culminates with her protesting and giving birth at the 1973 Wounded Knee standoff between the troubled Lakota Sioux and the US government. Written in a conversational style, the book is tragic and, at times, funny as Crow Dog demonstrates her incredible strength and sense of humour in the face of seemingly unstoppable adversity. A stunning read

This is one of the best books available to people interested in contemporary Native Americans. Mary Brave Bird's life story sheds light on traditions of her Lakota (Sioux) people from the Pine Ridge and Rosebud reservations in South Dakota. She shows, in a very clear way, their tortured history with the missionaries, state bureaucracy, the courts, the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). We see to what extent the government has succeeded in destroying the old life and how small groups of the Sioux managed to preserve traditional ways and ceremonies.

The book is written in a way which preserves the unique appreciation Indians have for unadulterated truth - a style which is simple, direct and in which personal experiences are recounted in a frank, almost brutally dispassionate manner. It reveals perfectly the heartless school system ran by abusive Catholic priests and nuns trying hard to deprive young people of their traditions (don't these people have better things to do?); we see the corrupt BIA system designed to prevent cultural and economic emancipation of the Native American "traditionals" (and steal federal money) and the pointless fear that the FBI has of organized Indian movements. Above all, we see the violence that the Sioux face daily from the white South Dakotans as well as the inter-Sioux violence caused by the hopelessness of the life on the rez. I was especially amazed to see that South Dakota has preserved, at the least up to early 1980ies, the barbaric attitudes towards the Native Americans (who are, after all, the original inhabitants, and who were cheated out of their own land by the very same whites who persecute them) which have by and large disappeared from the rest of the civilized world. This includes (unpunished) assaults by drunken lumberjacks and ranchers, systematic discrimination in the courtroom, forced sterilizations at the provincial hospitals (Mary's own sister Barbara was sterilized against her own will) and a system designed to eliminate all of the Indians' most courageous and spiritually conscious young people. A system that would make Uncle Mao proud, but which made this reader very sad, ashamed and angry. I suspect many of these things are still going on in our name. I mean, why can't these people leave the Indians in peace, allow them to practice their religion and (is this too much to ask for?) respect their desire to be different?

There are also many wonderful things in this book. The descriptions of relationships between Lakota men and women, between the young and the old, between the full and half-bloods and between the host and the guest are simply priceless. Likewise Brave Bird's descriptions of peyote meetings, Sundances and Ghostdance revivals. Mary has very strong opinions about the Sioux male machismo and the reluctance exhibited by many Sioux men to providing a comfortable and loving home for their families yet she understands that this is the inevitable consequence of the systematic destruction of the old ways of tribal life. After having read the book I can see the challenges facing the indomitable Sioux nation, the challenge of preserving and honoring the old ways while educating a new elite familiar with the white system (without considering them to be sellouts); only when they gain political representation and economic self-sufficiency will Native Americans be able to keep at bay the greedy timber, mining and ranching industries whose interest is to keep the tribes divided and the people dispirited and lost in alcohol. The Lakota of today need to find a way to create loving conditions for their children. And they need to speak their truth, as often as they can, just as Mary Brave Bird has done in this amazing book.

This guide was a staple for our ten day trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton. In locating places to stay and activities to do this is a book to lead you to other books and web sites. Its approach to trail descriptions also allows for a day hiker to figure out what trails are popular and easy and what are difficult. It gave us several great ideas as well like boating on Lake Yellowstone and cheaper ways of fingin lodging.

This book was a great resource for planning and enjoying our trip to Yellowstone and the Tetons.

One of the best travel guides I have ever used (and I have traveled all over the world). As of the summer of 1998, when I visited Yellowstone, the guide was highly accurate and offered very useful ideas on where to hike, where to stay, where to eat, etc. The authors clearly know Yellowstone intimately, and should be complimented for imparting their enthusiasm about this marvelous park. My trip was one of the memorable in my life, and I was very grateful for the help I received from this concise guide.

I was hoping there would be options for river floating. The book is mainly about open water canoeing and some small stretches of rivers that connect two lakes. But it is a National Park, so lots of land/river management is expected to protect the rivers and habitat. Don Nelson does an excellent job with his descriptions, day or extended trip itineraries and maps. However, the crowds and fees would make me think again about choosing Yellowstone as a canoe trip destination (only a personal decision). One more thing, there are grizzlies there if you didn't already know!

I have traveled extensively by canoe in the Yellowstone/Grand Teton area and was happy to finally see a book devoted to the often overlooked waters of this area. The author has particularly good information on Yellowstone Lake, which has a reputation for being a nasty bit of water with very unpredictable weather. Nelson explains the risks and rewards of traveling on these high altitude lakes. This book is a must read for anyone wishing to bring a canoe or kayak to Yellowstone or Grand Teton.

Turner's book is a look at a year in the life of a climbing guide in Grand Teton National Park. Turner, an Exum climbing guide, also relates to nature, wildlife, and the overall experience of the lifestyles of those who call the park home throughout the year. As I read the book, I felt like I had been transported to the park with Turner. His vivid descriptions and lively writing style make the book a must read for anyone interested in climbing, mountaineering, or this country's national parks.

Teewinot - A Year in the Teton Range. Jack Turner. Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's Press. New York. 2000. 248pp.

Jack Turner is a mountaineering instructor and guide for Exum Mountain Guides, the oldest and most prestigious guide service in America. He has lived and climbed in the Tetons for over 40 years and so is uniquely qualified to write this book.

A philosophy professor by academic training, Turner has deeply contemplated the essential nature of the mountain landscapes of the Teton Range. Teewinot, named after the peak that looms above the Exum Guides' summer base and climbing school, is an ode to the mountains, streams, plants, animals and people that he loves. However, this book is far more than just an account of one of America's most beautiful mountain ranges or the remarkable climbers, rangers and biologists that know those mountain holds better than anyone ever will. It is also about achieving a tranquil and happy life by strengthening personal connections to the seasons, cycles and rhythms of the land.

Turner speaks of the "gifts of returning" - certain routines observed year after year, season after season, which in time have become personal and meaningful rituals that uplift and reconnect him to the landscape each time they occur: the first circumambulation of the Cathedral Group every Spring; the first snowfall in Lupine Meadows, snow that will not melt until the following summer; battening down the guides' hut for the winter off-season; and the final hike around Jenny Lake each year.

Turner reminds us that such simple gifts are available to anyone who attunes one's self to one's surroundings and the people and places one loves.

In its major themes and conclusions, Teewinot is in a class with Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings' lovely book, Cross Creek. The latter book is a loving testimonial of the joy Rawlings experienced during her long residence in the land between Orange and Lochloosa Lakes in North Central Florida in the 1930's and 40's. Like Teewinot, Cross Creek teaches that meaningful connections with a place are hard-won after patience and persistence and determination.

I recommend Teewinot to anyone who loves and contemplates landscapes and their meaning in our lives, and who believes that developing a sense of place and exploring one's inner landscapes go hand-in-hand in one's attempt to live a deliberate, meaningful life.

This may be a great book for summer Yellowstone adventurers, but there is nothing mentioned about the beauty of Yellowstone during the winter. So, basically it was worthless and a waste of $$. We just got back from a winter snowmobiling tour, and it was amazing. I would suggest the Moon Handbooks - Yellowstone - Grand Teton National Parks...

Lots of good information in this book really helped prepare us for our trip to Yellowstone. Hike information was great and even pointed out when certain trails opened. This was very helpful in planning since we were traveling in May before many trails were open.

I purchased this book and several others for my trip to the Tetons and Yellowstone. This book was very informative on lodging, trails, sightseeing and travel. This guide was a time saver as well giving me ideas of the trails and difficulty and estimated time. Many things to do and lots of recommendations for children but its so much more. Definately a keeper and will use next time im planning a vacation to the area. Oh by the way, i do recommend a trip to the Tetons and Yellowstone. The tetons were breathtaking and definately do the trip accross Jenny Lake. Yellowstone, WOW the gysers, wildlife, fishing it was terrific. Have Fun. Jeff

Priscilla Cogan's extraordinary talents as a storyteller are once again both forcefully and subtly demonstrated in the Crack of Dusk: Crook of Dawn, the final book in the trilogy. The story of good vs. evil is both horrifying and gripping making it almost impossible for the reader to put the book down. As in the previous 2 books, the reader is given the opportunity to witness the intertwining of the healing traditions of the Lakota Sioux and Western psychological thought and the powerful effect it has on the life of a young Native American boy. The only recommendaton I would make to readers is to read the other books in the trilogy first so than one has a more complete understanding of the characters and Native American traditions.

In the third book of the Winona's Web trilogy, Priscilla Cogan has carried the thread of each of her characters and woven a spell-binding story of good overcoming evil. She doesn't shy away from the topic of evil, nor does she sugarcoat it. Even though it's impossible to stop turning pages, it's also difficult to read of such horror happening, let alone to characters we have come to care about. This is a thoroughly satifying conclusion to a wonderful series of books. I highly recommend Crack at Dusk: Crook of Dawn. Even though it stands on its own as a fine piece of writing, I suggest that you read all three books to gain the full impact.

Again, Priscilla Cogan writes a marvelous story that is excellently crafted and brutally real. Her writing holds the attention of the reader and her characters spring to life. Very hard to put down, one is forced to either slow down and enjoy the beauty of the language or to speed up to discover what happens on the next page... I look forward to her next work. Altho the book stands alone, it can be better enjoyed if read after the first two books of the trilogy.. thank you to Priscilla.."Mitakuye oyas'in"

You will find yourself laughing out loud at the antics in this book numerous times. I almost fell out of my chair when the book detailed Lame Deer's crime spree of moonshine whiskey and stolen cars. ;-) This one story alone os worth twice the price of the book!

There is much wisdom in this book; but the ceremonies in this book are not entirely accurate.

Many American Indian Nations witheld accurate information, but now more and more of them are coming forward and releasing accurate information. Even some of the Hopi Elders came forward about two years ago and released some of their sacred prophecies. I hope it is not too late.

I am deeply disturbed by the Kettle dance, but I am not of that culture, and have no right to judge it.

I would like to give this book five stars but I can't because some of the ceremonies are wrong.

I say the ceremonies are wrong because I have read ceremonies in many other books, and I have several full blooded American Indian friends, and they confirmed what I read in these other sources.

I recommend these books regarding American Indian Spirituality in the order listed.

"The Sacred Pipe" Joseph Epes Brown

"Native Wisdom" Ed McGaa

"Mother Earth Spirituality" Ed McGaa

"Foolscrow: Wisdom And Power" Thomas E. Mails

"Black Elk: The Sacred ways of the Lakota" Wallace Black Elk & William S. Lyons.

I recommend "The Sacred Pipe" highest because Mr. Brown actualy lived with the famous holyman Nick Black Elk for a few months while gathering information for this book.

Then; there are some books written by Indians that are full of new age pap because it sells. ;-(

I am the proud carrier of a Catlinite (pipestone) pipe that my American Indian friends helped me obtain. I agree with the 1990 quote by Orval Looking Horse "No one should be denied a peace pipe.".

If you have questions or comments; E-mail me. Two Bears.

Wah doh Ogedoda (We give thanks Great Spirit)

People here are prasing this book for the insight it gives into the lives of Native Americans. Not that this book isn't important for its take on Amerindian culture: to say that John Lame Deer doesn't have a grasp on what is important to himself and his people would be improper and negligent.

People are missing two of the things that make this book so powerful: its humor and its take on the white world that exists outside of the reservation. Erdoes commentaries on his Indian visitors, Lame Deer's comments on EVERYTHING, and the voice and process of this book are FUNNY. This book is well-constructed and fun to read. On to the second point: Lame Deer is fairly sucessful in making Europeans often look like clowns-- stripping their culture and sophistication, making them more human....

This book should have a much wider audience than it has ever had (and that is actually fairly substantial, strangely enough....) Not that this is a book that could change a person's life: it could at least give direction to the perplexed. I highly recommend this book....

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Without a lot of unnecessary rhetoric it will have a powerful effect on you, if you only read the introduction.