1 comments about Guide to Climbing and Hiking in Southwestern British Columbia.

1. The descriptions in this exhaustive guide are brief, but excellent. It covers the terrain within a long weekend's outing from Vancouver. It assumes that you know what you are doing and do not require trails to walk on. If you can navigate through the bush using a topo map, compass, and altimeter, then this is the best book for you. For more detailed info on hikes with trails, use the book "103 Hikes".

   This book is an exhaustive, complete list of pretty much every summit in the region. It covers approaches and routes in a summary-type fashion, e.g. "follow west side of creek to 3000 ft., then follow NE ridge, keeping to the left of conspicuous gendarme. Some parties may wish to rope up for the final 500 ft., which is class 3". It doesn't hold your hand, but the advice is good, and if you are experienced (or corageous!) then this is more than enough info.

   There are detailed descriptions for climbing and mountaineering routes. For popular climbing areas and peaks, i.e. the Tantalus Range, Sky Pilot, etc. there are photos with the routes marked on them.

2 comments about Indian War Sites: A Guidebook to Battlefields, Monuments, and Memorials, State by State With Canada and Mexico.

1. This work suffers from sloppy research and poor editing. Steve Rajtar book promises much, but fails to deliver. By way of example, he has placed the Battle of Hembrillo Canyon in Arizona rather New Mexico, he refers to the arms carried by Capt. James Powell's 18th Infantrymen as breechloading, Springfield repeaters. Breechloading yes, but not repeaters. They were .50 Allyn conversions, single-shot trapdoor rifles. According to Rajtar, Col. Ranald S. Mackenzie's 4th Cavalry lost hundreds of soldiers in the Red River War, a patently absurb assertion. According to his bibliography, Rajtar neglected using some well-regarded classics like Dan Thrapp's Conquest of Apacheria and James Haley's Buffalo War: The History of the Red River Indian Uprising of 1874. I'm returning my copy. Don't spend your hard-earned dollars on this slipshod work.



2. I found this book to be quite helpful and informative, as well as historically accurate (contrary to what the previous reviewer found). I think he may need to do a little more research.

5 comments about Arctic Aurora.

1. Holt takes you on a ride through the Northwest Territories and the Yukon with great humor and depth of thought regarding the land and the Dene, and Inuit who inhabit this beautiful country. He travels in a vintage 1983 Suburban which holds up to the rigorous roads, especially the Dempster Highway, a tough road with spectacular views. Holt's descriptions of the land are the best I've read in any book on the Arctic or any land for that matter. This book is filled with heart, mind and soul of the author. A great read!



2. Holt does it again. Artic Aurora shows us the intensity of the country and the love that Holt has for it. Reading the book made me, a man from the city sprawl of Delaware, want to go up and see the country for myself before it is touched by the outside world. Perfectly detailed, I couldn't put the book down. I felt that the added pictures that only hinted at the beauty of the land helped in imagining what it's like up there. I write this in that John Holt did what he does so well, give us a deep and honest look into the last of the untamed country. It's a must read for those trying to find the last great wilderness.



3. Arctic Aurora is a delight. Holt careens around the hidden Canadian northwest in a joyous rage, remarking on the land, the fishing, and the people, good and bad. From ice roads, to mosquitoes, to arctic grayling, and the native Dene, this book gives the reader a true taste of the Canadian north. There have been a number of books written about the arctic these days, but damn few good ones...and Arctic Aurora truly is.



4. Artic Aurora, Holt's latest and greatest literary work, guides us through Canada's Northwest Territories and the Yukon. For certain he describes where to find good food, good fishing and interesting places to visit, but this is no travelogue of where to go, what to do or how to catch fish. Instead, as he journeys through this wild, untamed and unfenced area of immense size in his 1983 Suburban, he discovers raw visceral power flows through the land in the Far North. A place where one can gaze out over the beautiful, intrepid landscape and see forever and beyond. Overhead, the aurora borealis dances and flickers with palpable energy. Immense rivers surge over countless waterfalls as they carve and gouge their way towards the ocean. An unseen power sizzles through the land.
   
   As Holt relates his many wanderings across the Far North he writes with a clarity and detail that create rich, mesmerizing visions that roll through the mind. The book is chock full of interesting details about the land, the people and their history. Several amusing anecdotes and stories had me laughing out loud.
   
   As in his book Coyote Nowhere, a precursor to Artic Aurora, Holt reflects on his life and also looks into the future as he bares his soul, warts and all. He shuns glitz, glitter and hucksterism. He hates the exploitation of the land and the people who inhabit it. He is passionate but not preachy. Holt is maturing; evolving as a writer and Artic Aurora deserves a place on the bookshelf next to authors like MacLean, Gierach and Travers.



5. I put this on my X-mas wish list based on the positive ratings. I ended up with two copies and having read as much as I could handle, can say I'm doubly disappointed. If you want some useful info on north country fishing and more than vignettes as stale as the air in a backcountry bar at 10 am, shop elsewhere. The first couple of chapters held my attention as I waited for some character development of the author's daugher as they travelled together in NWT but waited in vain as she comes off a shallow silhouette making and breaking camp or fishing with dad (some distance away in several senses of the word). I don't mean to impy anything about what she may be in reality, just how she comes accross in this work (albeit I wonder how she will make better choices than caretaker-of-dependant-personality-role in her own life). The balance of the book is strong on the tedium of driving long distance, booze, and a high fat, high sugar series of meals recounted in far too much detail. John McPhee this guy ain't, despite the detail of numerous turnouts and other attractions of Canadian roads. I hate to say it but my lasting impression is that the reality of the trips was a 'vehicle' for the booze and smokes and stoney sleep, lacking much meaning to relate after the guy sobered up. He'll make a buck on this book (or two in my case) but that ain't the same as making amends. As a parting shot, an angling writer who touts all the 3 pound grayling to be caught with ease in various road accessible streams (even in NWT or YT) does the resource a disservice.

No comments about North America's Greatest Waterfowling Lodges & Outfitters: 100 Prime Destinations in the United States and Canada (Willow Creek Guides).

5 comments about The Amusement Park Guide, 5th.

1. This book is a must for all amusement park fans. It gives all the information you would need to have a fun and exciting day at any park in the U.S. or Canada. Mr. O'Brien has done a masterful job of helping you plan your visit by giving the operating times as well as the best rides and shows. There is also a listing of all the roller coasters in the park. His vivid description of the park gives you the feeling of being there. I would recommend this guide book to anyone planing a trip to an amusement park in the future.



2. I had gone to the conference with much knowledge about the subject. I was told about the book from there. Could I have obtained it, I would have been the top in the list of performers.



3. This is a great book!! It is well worth your money. If you are planning a vaction, then buy this book. It has theme parks from Disney to Universal Orlando, to Cedar Point, all of the Paramount Parks and many, many more!! The ultimate guide to rollercoasters is this book!!



4. This book is just awesome...it reviews over 350 theme parks, amusement parks, and waterparks all over the U.S. and Canada, providing everything you'd want to know about every park...the great roller coasters and other thrill rides, costs, operation schedule, directions, special tips, insider facts and trivia, historical milestones, etc. Also gives phone numbers and website addresses for each park. The author is a life-long park expert and senior editor of a major park industry publication...he really seems to know his stuff, and he injects some fun and personality into the book. It's a great guide to use to plan your park trips and to carry with you for quick reference. It's also fun to to sit down and read through it because it gives so much interesting trivia on the parks. Just a fantastic, authoratative, fun, easy-to-use resource on parks.



5. This is, truly, the bible of amusement park guides. I am always amazed at its thorough coverage of parks, both large and small, in the United States and Canada - is there an international edition in the works??? If so, put me on the list of buyers.

   It's difficult to think of a park that isn't listed here - from the mainstream parks such as Disneyworld and Universal, to the tiny, neighborhood parks such as Weona and Nelly Bly, they're all here, and beautifully documented. Signature rides are listed for each park - from the big, modern coasters, to the rarer flats. As a huge fan of Flying Scooters and Lusse Auto Skooters (you fellow park nuts will know what I'm talking about, here), I love that such rides are included. Park histories are here, as well, for all of us preservationists.

   Directions, websites, and further information are included for the parks, also, which greatly helps if one wishes to visit a park. Also, common-sense tips for park visitors are here, as well as little-known secrets that assist with getting around a park to the greatest efficiency.

   I was fortunate enough to find this book while visiting Knoebels Grove (the best park in America, as far as I'm concerned), and couldn't put it down during the entire ride home. It's addictive, informative, and, well, a must-have. What with the summer practically here, run, don't walk, and get your copy NOW.

3 comments about Montreal: The Unknown City (Unknown City: Montreal).

1. I'm not a huge reader so I was pretty skeptical when I was given this for Christmas, but I was quickly won over. It's a readable, fast, funny and very interesting bunch of stories and history and insight of the city of Montreal. Some great yarns that come to mind include the graveyard tales, the guy acquitted of kidnapping the millionaire heir by explaining his written plans were a novel he was working on, the transportation of the dead Hollywood starlet - all of these stories make this a pretty satisfying read, plus the restaurant and nightlife sections and other stuff are really useful as well. I've seen a couple of reviews in the papers about this book and they pretty much said the same thing as myself. One of the best I've seen about this city for a long time.



2. I've read a lot of books about Montreal but this is uniquely packed with saucy stories, clever quips and little-known tales. It's excellently written and has stories that haven't been told elsewhere, from Barry Bonds' romantic connection to the city, to the smuggling of the dead film-noir starlet over the border, to the phone book blunder that offended the city's Italian community - every page seems to offer an insiders view about the city that shouldn't be missed. Highly recommended for repeat readings.



3. This book has interesting tid-bits of information for those who are interested in history. It is not sufficient as a travel guide, but would be a great purchase for those who live in Montreal or will be spending significant amounts of time there.

3 comments about A Death on the Barrens.

1. This book is very well written. It tells about a journey that many men would love to take but do not dare. These men dare, or at least attempt, to conquer nature only to learn that it is nature and the power of God which controls us. Grinnell has a gifted way of telling what will happen yet leaving the reader wondering how it will happen. He also cleverly points out different worldviews and how they can change and be manipulated when humility before God is the only option. If you take this journey along with Grinnell under the leadership of Art Moffat, you may never return as the same person.



2. A a story of tragedy and self-discovery. Haunting and poignant. Grinnell jumps around a bit, and sometimes it is hard to know where he is--on the river or in his head. But all and all, a great read. And the water colors are wonderful.
   
   Bob Muth
   Flathead Valley Montana



3. I read this book years ago and now will order it for my personal library.
   An excellent book in my opinion. I am also a wilderness canoeist but have never done a trip as ambitious as this.
   
   I love the far north, can't wait to get back there for another trip next summer.

No comments about Backroads of Alaska and the Yukon.

No comments about The Canadian Rockies (America / Canada Series).

5 comments about Colorado Front Range History Explorer: An Altitude Superguide (Altitude Superguides).

1. Oval black-and-white portraits of Leadville's pioneer Tabors, colorful photos of homes, such as the Baca House, of museums evolving from mansions, and of cabins, and helpful walking maps throughout to guide us to the famous and sometimes hidden spots in Georgetown, Old Colorado City, Pueblo, and Black Hawk, to name a few, are exceedingly enticing to out-of-staters.
   No stone is left unturned from history highlights to current admission charges. The capsule stories, such as "Denver's Mother of Charities," "Desk-beds," "Bubbling Waters," and "Spud Dudes" are priceless.



2. Whether visitors, residents or long time dwellers in Colorado, folks will find this handy guide a big help in understanding the colorful history of this region. This is a perfect book to take along on a car trip - and the size is convenient. Lots of interesting factoids, gorgeous photos, and great walking-tour maps. The authors make it easy to digest historical information. It's presented in a concise and friendly manner (not like your old history textbooks!). I definitely recommend this to anyone who would like to know a little more about the people and events that shaped the Front Range.



3. I've lived in the heart of Colorado's Front Range for over 30 years but I learned fascinating things about familiar areas, and enjoyed being introduced to some new places. This slim guidebook is packed full of historical info and peppered with fun facts. Outstanding photos, concise writing and a snazzy lay-out combine to make this a very usable guidebook. If you are a Front Range "local" this is a great book to have on hand when out-of-state family and friends descend. It's also a good resource for parents looking for close-to-home family outings. Although you can enjoy Colorado Front Range History Explorer as an armchair traveler, this book makes you want to get out and explore.



4. This book is very well organized and user friendly. Each section includes great details of the history, followed by well written articles on what there is to see and do today. Special areas of interest to me are railroads and mining. The book has certainly peaked my interest in all the beauty of the Colorado front range. Both the writing and photography are top quality.

   This book is an excellent tool for planning a Colorado vacation. I plan to do just that in 2003.




5. What a beautiful job Nancy and David Muenker have done to introduce visitors to the Front Range of Colorado. Those who live in the area will also find it enhances their knowledge and enjoyment of places they see all the time.