A crucial figure in the creation of our national parks system and a far-seeing prophet of environmental awareness who founded the Sierra Club in 1892, he was also a master of natural description who evoked with unique power and intimacy the untrammeled landscapes of the American West. The Library of America’s Nature Writings collects his most significant and best-loved works in a single volume.The Story of My Boyhood and Youth (1913) is Muir’s memoir of growing up by the sea in Scotland, of coming to America with his family at age eleven, and of his early fascination with the natural world. My First Summer in the Sierra (1911) is his famous account of the spiritual awakening he experienced when, in 1869, he first encountered the mountains and valleys of central California, of which he wrote: “Bathed in such beauty, watching the expressions ever varying on the faces of the mountains, watching the stars, which here have a glory that the lowlander never dreams of, watching the circling seasons, listening to the songs of the waters and winds and birds, would be endless pleasure…. No other place has ever so overwhelmingly attracted me as this hospitable, Godful wilderness.”The natural history classic The Mountains of California (1894) draws on half a lifetime of exploration of the High Sierra country to celebrate and evoke the region’s lakes, forests, flowers, and animals, its glaciers, storms, floods, and geological formations, in a masterpiece of observation and poetic description: “After ten years spent in the heart of it … it still seems to me above all others the Range of Light, the most divinely beautiful of all the mountain-chains I have ever seen.”Stickeen (1909), Muir’s most popular book, is the affectionate story of his adventure with a dog in Alaska. Rounding out the volume is a rich selection of essays—including “Yosemite Glaciers,” “God’s First Temples,” “Snow-Storm on Mount Shasta,” “The American Forests,” and the late appeal “Save the Redwoods”—highlighting various aspects of his career: his exploration of the Grand Canyon and of what became Yosemite and Yellowstone national parks, his successful crusades to preserve the wilderness, his early walking tour to Florida, and the Alaska journey of 1879.

    A classic, humorous look at turkey hunting, which has fast become a cult classic.

    In McManus's world, nothing is what it should be. All steaks should be chicken-fried, strong coffee is drunk by the light of a campfire, and fishing trips consist of men acting like boys and boys behaving like the small animals we've always assumed they were.

    Herbalist and naturalist Gregory Tilford provides a thorough introduction to the world of herbal medicine for everyone interested in plants, personal well-being, and a healthy environment.

    Without consultation, Abbey based the central character of eco-guerilla George Washington Hayduke on his friend Doug Peacock. Since then Peacock has become an articulate environmental individualist writing about the West's abundant wildscapes.Abbey and Peacock had an at times stormy, almost father and son relationship that was peacefully resolved in Abbey's last days before his death in 1989. This rich recollection of their relationship and the dry places they explored are recalled in Peacock's honest and heartfelt style in this poignant memoir.

    They soak the beans before planting them, then they water, watch, and wait--until the day they can pick fresh beans for dinner! Children will love learning to grow their own beans, helped by vocabulary throughout and Harvey's gardening tips at the end of the book.

    Burger, Afrikander and author of this book, would heartily endorse any theatrical effort to simulate the charge of an African bull buffalo—if no human life is to be risked. This notable professional hunter, who is here being introduced to the American public, has miraculously survived to live and tell of many last-ditch encounters with the powerful and crafty buffalo. Mr. Burger’s experiences in the game fields of his native continent cover a period of forty years, and in that time more than one thousand of the massive brutes have fallen to his rifles. As he takes care to explain, only a small number of the animals in that record bag have actually charged; but in that temperate statement there rests proof of his usual success in placing a first, effective hit—the shot that renders a charge improbable. Failure of that first shot, or the effect of factors beyond the hunter’s control, constitutes the explosive cap that can set this specimen of black dynamite into action. Once the buffalo’s charge is actually under way his only objective is to produce a dead hunter. The animal has accomplished his grim purpose in many instances. Too frequently the gored and trampled victim has been a veteran of the trails, not a novice hunter or a defenseless native. In some vitally unaccountable way the buffalo had gained advantages at a rate faster than was allowed the hunter. The man was then denied that last precious asset for survival, luck. Our author lives to tell of his close encounters with the horned death simply because luck never failed to tip the scales in his favor.”

    And tameness is a tender, innocent lie."  So writes Richard Nelson, award-winning author of The Island Within, in this far-ranging and deeply personal look at our complex relationship with this most beautiful, but amazingly elusive, creature.Heart and Blood: Living with Deer in America  begins with the author tracking a deer on a remote island off the Alaskan coast. From there he takes us on a kaleidoscopic journey, visiting such disparate territories of the deer as a hunting ranch in Texas; a state park in California; a Wisconsin forest on opening day of the hunting season; Fire Island, New York; and the suburbs of Denver--where the deer have become so numerous that they pose hazards to landscape, motorist, and pedestrian alike.Nelson examines the physiology of the deer, explaining how its unique digestive system and grazing habits have enabled it to thrive in the varied environments of the United States, whether wild, suburban, or urban. He investigates the different methods of controlling the deer's skyrocketing numbers, from the more "humane  methods of relocation and sterilization, to hunting--in all its forms. Nelson also explores the role of the deer in traditional Native American life, takes us with him on a hunt, and awes us as he witnesses the birth of a fawn--an event rarely seen by humans.By the end of this journey we understand the deep reverence in which the author holds this magnificent animal. For to know the deer is to glimpse the hidden heart of wildness itself. In Heart and Blood, Richard Nelson has produced a book of outstanding insight and intelligence that brings us closer to our natural world and, in the process, closer to our own true nature

    Woodswoman III: Book Three of the Woodswoman's Adventures [Paperback]

    This edition has been replaced by an updated, expanded third edition!

    First published by Stackpole in 1991, NOLS Cookery is in its 7th edition with 125,000 copies in print. Whether you're a first-time backpacker or a seasoned backcountry cook, you'll learn from the cookbook used by the experts in outdoor education. With more than 2 million meals prepared in the wilderness, NOLS speaks with authority on the art of outdoor cooking. This new edition includes important nutritional information that supports the 200 recipes plus a special section of recipes from around the world, new recipes for lightweight backpacking and recipes that can be prepared in advance of the trip.

    Yet interesting things do happen in Travers Corners, all the time, and this remarkable first collection of stories by Scott Waldie builds a true sense of a small town and the wonderful characters who fill it: Jud, who left to travel the world and returned to build boats and fly fish; Sarah, an emigrant from New York City who needed to find some peace; her uncle Sal, the local bartender with the Brooklyn accent and Yankee baseball cap; Dolores, the town beauty of years past and present; Junior, the general store owner who has a thorough knowledge of fly fishing but no discernible skill; and many, many more.Written with warmth, wit, and a shrewd eye for rural characters, "Travers Corners" will remind some readers of Winesburg, Ohio, and others of A River Runs Through It. And for fly fishers anywhere. Travers Corners will be a second home.

    Be patient. And so begins an encounter with the promise and wonder of nature that will last a lifetime. Deep Woods, Wild Waters traces the winding path that carried Douglas Wood from one wonder to the next, through a landscape of rocks, woods, and waters, with stops along the way for questions and reflections that link human nature to the larger mysteries of the natural world.Like life itself, the author s way is not linear. One landmark leads back to a favorite campsite, another prompts him to consider the gospel of rocks, another launches him into the wilderness beyond the stars a contemplation of time and space and humanity s place in all of it. The creator of thirty-four books, including the classic Old Turtle, and an expert woodsman and wilderness canoe guide, Wood brings all his storytelling and bushwhacking skills to bear as he takes us hurtling down wild rapids, crossing stormy lakes, or simply navigating the treacherous currents and twisty trails of everyday life.A warm, generous, and knowing guide, Wood maps a journey that, as he says, anyone can take, through a landscape anyone can know. Turning the pages, hiking the portages, running the rapids, or scanning the wild country from high promontory, he invites us to say, in a soul-satisfying moment of recognition, I know that place."

    Clear, accessible format, charts, diagrams, field tips, practical pointers, and historical profiles.

    The book is organized by geographical regions to help you plan your trips around the state. For every park, Laurence Parent provides all of the essential information:The natural or historical attractions of the parkTypes of recreation offeredCamping and lodging facilitiesAddresses and phone numbersA locator mapMagnificent color photographsSo if you want to watch the sun set over Enchanted Rock, fish in the surf on the beach at Galveston, or listen for a ghostly bugle among the ruins of Fort Lancaster, let this book be your complete guide. Don't take a trip in Texas without it.

    They are enjoying unprecedented popularity as hikers and vacationers flock to the area to enjoy the magnificent scenery. It has been estimated that most good weekends, even in the winter, attract close to 50,000 visitors. Cameron McNeish, editor of The Great Outdoors magazine, provides an essential reference for readers either planning a trip to the region or wishing to relive the adventures they enjoyed there.

    An introduction to bamboo fly rod fishing by a master of the sport.

    Gruchow turns a naturalist's eye on a wilderness of wolves, moose, and loons as he visits national parks and other scenic spots. Drawing on the works of Thoreau and Wendell Berry, he explores the relationship of person to place.

    You'll learn the traditional methods of brain tanning as well as how to use a dozen eggs or soap and oil instead. This revised and updated edition includes substantial improvements to the process that make it even easier for you to produce soft and durable buckskin. What's New A new 15 minute step that creates: • Easier to soften hides • Hides that come out super soft • Hides that take the dressing even when dry, which in turn: • Removes the variability of trying to get the perfect moisture content before dressing • Makes it much easier to get complete brain penetration on thick hides, which makes tanning thicker hides such as moose, elk or even thick deer, way less work. • Makes it so you can skip one of the wringing steps (which takes 15 minutes itself). Other key new highlights include: • Different skinning cuts for a better hide shape. • How to tan Moose, Elk & Antelope • Bibliography (thorough and user-friendly) • Important improvements to the Bucking process. • Important improvements to the Dressing step to ensure success for first timers. • A step-by-step guide to varying this books' Basic Method if you want to try the `pre-smoking' method, or if you want to tan without the bucking step. Buckskin is durable, soft, washable and warm. A hand-made garment for people all over the word for millennia, it breathes and stretches with your body, cuts the wind and won't tear on briars. It is excellent to wear hiking, hunting or around the house. Plus you don't need to hunt. Deer skins that would otherwise go to waste are available every fall from neighbors, locals and butcher shops.

    Up to date and featuring the latest research, this handy volume represents every bird species of New Zealandin seventy-four stunning, original, color paintings by a leading New Zealand bird artist, including rare and recently extinct species. Renowned New Zealand bird experts Barrie Heather and Hugh Robertson have written a brief and informative identification guide which provides the reader with a summary of what is known about the birds of New Zealand. Each page contains a color plate and accompanying distribution map on the facingpage. The maps provide sufficient plumage and behavioral details that should help identify the species, sex and/or age of the bird in the field as well as where species breeding in New Zealand may be found in suitable habitat. An additional handbook section provides details on distribution,populations, conservation, breeding, behavior, and feeding habitats of each species. Maps for vagrants, stragglers, and non-native seabirds, and for migratory waders (which can turn up in any estuary around the coast) are also included in this section. The only field guide to New Zealand birds officially endorsed by the Ornithological Society of New Zealand, the Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand is a wonderful addition to the libraries of birders, nature enthusiasts, and travelers alike.

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    A Wilderness Within is the award-winning biography of this writer, teacher, and activist who was a harbinger of the raising of America's ecological consciousness.

    Every sailor, whether or not they plan to sail over the horizon, should read the Pardeys. This book is what the title says. It is the distillation of what the Pardey’s have learned in 150,000 miles of sailing on board their two cutters, Seraffyn and Taleisin, and on scores of other boats they have delivered or raced. Lin and Larry tell how they have sailed in comfort and safety without large cash outlay– on a pay-as-you-earn-as-you-go plan and by simplifying. In its first edition, this invaluable text has seen nine reprints. Now Lin and Larry have updated and revised the information to make it current and a valuable edition to any sailor’s library.

    With this guide you will learn the basic steps that will help you to easily and confidently navigate through the wilds with or without a compass, with or without a map, and then will all the tools together.

    Each account includes a full-color and detailed illustration, along with information about habitat, nesting, feeding, voice, similar species, as well as a range map. Also included are a glossary of terms, a birder's checklist and separate indexes for scientific and common names. A map features the best birding sites and describes the most notable viewing locations. Perfect for beginner birders and beyond.

    In the widely acclaimed Another Country: Journeying toward the Cherokee Mountains, Christopher Camuto describes the tragic collision of natural and cultural history embedded in the region. In the spirit of Thoreau’s “Walking,” Camuto explores the Appalachian summit country of the Great Smoky Mountains--the historical home of the Cherokee--searching for access to the nature, history, and spirit of a magnificent, if diminished, landscape.As the author takes the reader through old-growth forests and ancient myths, he tells of the attempted restoration of Canis rufus, the controversial red wolf, to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. He details the impact of European occupation, and his meditations on the enduring relevance of Cherokee language, thought, and mythology evoke an appreciation of what were once sacred rivers, forests, and mountains.Through this attempt “to catch glimpses of the Cherokee Mountains beyond the veil of the southern Appalachians,” Camuto forges a new consciousness about the complex, conflicted past hidden there and leaves us with an important, thought-provoking book about a haunting American region.

    It should be of interest to those working with young people (including youth workers, teachers and social workers) as well as trainers in people-oriented organizations and businesses. This book was published in USA in 1995 by Project Adventure Inc and the Kendal/Hunt Publishing Company. It is distributed in the UK and Europe by Russell House Publishing Limited.

    Includes knots, info on transporting victims, skills required, scenarios and possible situations.

    Tom Huggler has devoted this book to the woodcock and to those who await his return to their favorite coverts each autumn.

    Now, thanks to Jim Schollmeyer, the guessing is over.Hatch Guide for Western Streams is the third in Jim's successful Hatch Guide series. Jim covers all you need for a productive trip on Western streams: water types you'll encounter; successful fishing techniques; identifying the major hatches, providing basic background information about these insects. Information is presented in a simple, clear manner. A full-color photograph of the natural is shown on the left-hand page, complete with its characteristics, habits and habitat; the right-hand page shows three flies to match the natural, including effective fishing techniques.

    This is Benedict Allen's account of his thousand-mile trek with camels through the Namib Desert and along the Skeleton Coast. Allen prepares for his journey with the nomadic, goat-herding Himba tribe in the north of the Namib, learning essentials for desert survival. Submerging himself in the community, he comes to understand the everyday fears and aspirations of these extraordinary people. He then travels south to the fringes of the Kalahari, where he undertakes a gruelling three-week period, training his reluctant camels. Escorted by security personnel through diamond areas closed to the outside world, Allen moves north past ghost towns and through some of the highest dunes in the world. The journey continues through lion, rhino and elephant country, where Allen battles to maintain authority over his faithful but nervous camels, until he is reunited with the Himba nomads.

    Five multicolored topographic maps, with elevation profiles, produced by the Keystone Trails Association and Potomac Appalachian Trail Club

    Who hasn't wondered what's going on when the wind outside your window blows and howls all night long? In this magical explanation for stormy weather, one small child joins the wild and woolly Wind Bears as they cavort in the moonlit sky to music performed by the stormy night band.

    She has distilled her vast experience into the 50 hikes offered here, representing a cross-section of the wilderness and wild forest: rugged peak climbs, gentle trips to distant waterfalls, bushwhacks to wild rivers. In all she describes 360 miles of trails to caves, uninhabited lakes, wetlands, cliffs, and fire towers across the Park's 6 million acres.The hikes range in length from 1.5 to 13.5 miles. Each hike description includes a topographic map, mile-by-mile directions, and information on distance, difficulty, terrain, and hiking time. An overview chart makes it easy to pick a hike for every ability. Throughout, McMartin provides commentary on the natural history of the region, along with colorful incidents from Adirondack history.

    Meticulously researched history of ski mountaineering combined with 54 "must do" mountain descents.

    Wilderness First Aid: Emergency Care for Remote Locations is your comprehensive guide. This indispensable book provides information on how to handle common injuries and illnesses when medical care is an hour or more away. Easy to follow, Wilderness First Aid directs you through the most appropriate type of care.