No comments about Rand Mcnally Easy to Read Montana/Wyoming.

No comments about Rand McNally Champion Map Cheyenne, Wyoming (Rand Mcnally Champion Maps).

No comments about Yellowstone Ecology: A Road Guide.

No comments about Better Bed & Breakfast Inns: Covering Northern California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming (Complete Guide to Northwest's Bed and Breakfast Inns).

5 comments about Walking the Winds: A Hiking and Fishing Guide to Wyoming's Wind River Range.

1. A detailed hiking and fishing guide and more. The author resides in the vicinity of the Wind River Mountains and clearly is has an abundance of general knowledge of the area. Her book not only has excellent hiking and fishing information but much other information. There is a comprehensive index as well as an extensive appendix with much information such as an index of Wind River Peaks and their elevations, first ascent information on various peaks, lodgings and outfitters in the area, a list of endangered, threatened, and sensitive species of wildlife and sensitive plants, and visitor use statistics in the Bridger Wilderness. The book begins with a review of Wilderness Regulations since most of the Wind River Mountains are located in Wilderness Areas administered by the US Forest Service. There are short sections on minimal impact hiking and camping and on bear safety. After a short, but fascinating, section on the history of the Wind Rivers, there is information on the geology and wildlife of the area.
   The core of the book, of course, is the information about the hikes. Hikes are grouped according to the trailheads they start from. Detailed driving instructions to the trailheads is provided. One can fairly easily plot multi-day backpacking trips by thumbing back and forth between the maps for various hikes Each hikeýs distance, elevation gain and loss, and the maximum elevation reached is cited. Relevant topo maps for each hike are listed as are fish species likely to be encountered in the streams and lakes reached on hikes. A nice feature of the book, not found in some other Wind River hiking guides, is that significant attention is paid to so-called "non-maintained" hiking trails--that is trails that are not cleared by the forest service or whose signs are being left to deteriorate or have been removed. The author points out the location of these trails, which often are not to be found on either the Earthwalk or USGS topo maps, and she also suggests where a cross-country route may be more scenic or more adventurous than staying on the trail. Another plus is the authorýs familiarity with the local history of the Wind River area. For example, she frequently describes the derivation of the names of mountains or lakes, often with brief, colorful anecdotes.
   This book is 255 pages long and there is a 33 page section devoted to fishing in the Wind Rivers. This reviewer is not a fisherman, but I would think that the maps of the streams and lakes and their drainages and the fish they contain would be very useful to fishermen. Fishing licenses and regulations are discussed and Finis Mitchell's devotion to stocking 300 lakes with fish is reviewed in detail.
   This book is highly recommended for dayhikers, backpackers, and fishermen. Hikers who are interested in walking on non-maintained trails or hiking cross-country may especially appreciate this book. The author clearly is familiar with the local history of the area and this too adds to the bookýs interest.



2. I recently used this book for an overnight hiking/fishing trip in the Winds. I found the information on distance, total elevation, and elevation gained (or lost) quite useful. Also, I wanted to fish in the Winds, so knowing which lakes have fish was very useful. However, there are a few aspects of the book that I found lacking. First, although it is billed as a hiking and fishing book, the information on fishing is confined to just identifying fish species in the lakes. A few paragraphs of information on the fishing methods used by successful fisherman would have been helpful, and some information on the biology of the local fish would have been interesting. Second, there is a general map in the beginning of the book on the locations of trailheads, with little else. There are various other maps throughout the book that detail information in the particular chapters. If you are confining yourself to single chapters, then the maps are okay. However, trying to flip back and forth between maps was not easy. The book would benefit greatly from a better overall map, as well as a more easily cross-referenced set of maps throughout. Lastly, I used the book to plan my trip to Twin Lakes, and then on to Gadsby Lake. I easily found Twin Lakes, but because of a small error in identifying what hill the author described to go around to get to Gadsby Lake, I made a long and tiring trek to locate the lake. I ended up exhausted and never reached the lake. That, of course, is largely my fault. However, a guidebook should be more explicit as to which hill to go around, especially when the area is surrounded by several hills.



3. I really enjoyed Rebecca Woods' Walking the Winds, it wasn't so much about the different hikes and such that impressed me the most. It was the research prior to the readings, the history, geology and wildlife. That research gave me great insight as to the area I would be hiking in. It was very detailed with the better fishing areas in the Winds. Enjoyed it very much.



4. I have spent over 15 years fishing and hiking in the Winds and have relied heavily on guidebooks to help me plan my itinerary and proper routes. Of the three main guidebooks I use, this one by far is the poorest in terms of descriptive ability and angling information. I am particularly bugged that she clearly doesn't fish, yet touts the book as a fishing and hiking guide. As far as fishing information, she merely photocopied the Forest Service maps from a FS brochure that was originally published in the 1950's! I have already found multiple examples where her information lists brookies, only to go to the lake and find that cutties and/or rainbows have taken over. The pictures and maps are very poor, and I rarely, if ever, use this book anymore. For hiking and trail information, Joe Kelsey's book is far, far superior. Although he is a climber, his information on fishing is impecable. Buy that one and stay away from this poorly written, poorly researched "guide book" from Rebecca.



5. This book is poorly organized and completely confusing. There's no overview of the entire range and her trail maps have you moving all over the book to find a connection.

No comments about The Tetons: Interpretations of a Mountain Landscape.

5 comments about Skin Deep: Tattoos, the Disappearing West, Very Bad Men, and My Deep Love for Them All.

1. Karol Griffin? If you only knew her from this book, you'd think: Great writer, awful attitude problem.

   If you've ever gotten a tattoo or piercing, you know that the Gods of Body Mod can be, shall we say, a little snotty. If you're not the "right" kind of client, you get icy treatment. I made the cut, as it were (I had 25 piercings by 1991, and back then, maaaan, that gave me The Cred), but I always hated hated hated that McOutlaw audition process you had to go through. "Are you a non-conformist just like us? Well, okay then! If not...hmph."

   Griffin drips contempt for every deb, dude, novice, suburbanite, sorority girl, or otherwise non-hipster damaged person who crosses her path, and who crosses the threshold of the tat shop. Mix that with her hue and cry over the corruption of the West (oh GOD, that cliche again?) *and* the corruption of the sanctity of tattooing and you've got a great writer who you can't stand! Shame. She's got some real chops.

   Only in the afterword does she a) pretty much confess that she herself is a whitebread exile in the McOutlaw world or b) show any thoughtfulness and generosity toward others regarding external markers and what they mean about identity (she finally realizes they don't mean much at all. welcome to adulthood, dollface.)

   It's savagely ironic for someone who sells their tattoo skills to whine about the increasing popularity of tattooing. If you want to stay pure, stay out of the marketplace and stay in your tidy, kooler than thou bubble. It'll be lonely as hell, but at least you'll be assured that everyone around you meets your exacting alterna-snob standard.

   Her use of language is fun and alive, but what she's choosing to communicate is petty and ugly and, frankly, about as tired as a tribal tat on the lower back.




2. The last three people who posted reviews didn't bother to read the book first. At least I did my homework. I usually dont like nonfiction accounts of peoples lives but I found this to be a very interesting book. This writer seems sincere in her desire to tell her lifes story as a tattoo artist. It appears she got the bad end of the stick a time or two even though she brought a lot of it on herself. Though I can't figure out if this chick is for real or a poser, that doesn't really matter. The book was well written and she comes off as a person trying to make some sense of her nonconventional life, mistakes and all and she should be respected for her candidness.



3. I am from Laramie, Wyoming and I know this author personally. I thought Karol did a fine job of portraying the town and area and the blend of tattoong history interspersed with incidents of this author's life made a rich tapestry of a tale. I could identify with this girl who didn't quite fit in so she finds herself in an unusual job, living a nonconventional lifestyle. Yeah, she has a little attitude problem but thats half her charm. The book read like fiction rather than nonfiction with vivid scenes and well-drawn characters. I'm not into tattoos myself, yet I enjoyed a look into this very different subculture and this authors personal take on it.



4. Karol Griffin takes the myths of the West (and surrounding the outlaw image) on faith in Skin Deep as she encounters a body art workshop in Laramie Wyoming, only to find a new vocation on the fringes of polite society. Griffin's newfound career as a tattoo artist leads to plenty of social insights and commentary in this lively unusual, "reader engaging", and very highly recommended discourse.



5. I found this book on a remainder table at Stanford. Thought it would be fun. Turned out to be compelling, hard to put down, especially after being hooked in by the author's, er, "relationship" problems in the opening chapter. Spurning "traditional values," she falls prey to the romanticized ideal of a "Western outlaw" life and men to her regret with that last relationship. Overall a gripping memoir. I found amusing that "the counter-culture girl" couldn't cut it in SF's Mission District, the haven of SF counter-culture types. Perhaps as she raises her child she'll learn that there are a thousand gray areas between "boring" and "outlaw"...and there is a reason outlaws are outlaws!

2 comments about Mobil Travel Guide 2000 Northwest and Great Plains: Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, Wyoming, ... Guide Northwest (Id, Or, Vancouver Bc, Wa)).

1. I highly recommend this guide to anyone who will be traveling in the Northeast as well as Canada. This guide gives you everything from upcoming events for the year to where to stay & eat. The maps are easy to read and follow. I have been a reader of the Mobil Guide for many years and it is continuing to give the most accurate, up-to-date travel information. This is the MUST-HAVE for the Northeast traveler.



2. The book gives a good overview of the areas with many addresses. Anyhow I found it a bit too black and white. It gives useful maps, but no coloured pictures from the areas, which would make it a bit more pleasant to read.

5 comments about Exploring the Black Hills & Badlands.

1. This book is one of the best books ever written. It is very easy to read and there are many illustrations to help understand. I really enjoyed this book then I'm planning to give a present to my nephew. If you think you are a biker, Hiram's book is a must. Thanks.



2. This book is one of the best books ever written. It is very easy to read and there are many illustrations to help understand. I really enjoyed this book then I'm planning to give a present to my nephew. If you think you are a biker, Hiram's book is a must. Thanks.



3. This is an awesome book that is well written and an excellent guidebook for the outdoorsman. The photographs are outstanding. The trail maps are very helpful.



4. This book focuses mainly on hiking trails, so if that's your thing this is the book for you. It would benefit greatly if each trail entry was _clearly_ listed with it's approved uses. The index also needs a section under each activity, that way you can look up 'mountain biking' and find references to every trail they review where biking is allowed. Some of the reviews of the trails are questionable ... the trail from French Creek Horse Camp to Iron Creek is not ridable at all for mountain bikers, in my opinion, not even close, yet it's listed as 'an exciting mountain bike ride through the park's remote northern end'. I have no idea what they were thinking. Like I said, probably a better book for hikers than bikers, but still a good resource just to give you a hint as to what's available in the area and get you started. If biking is your thing, stick to the trails listed as having cross country ski access as well as for biking and you'll get some nice single track love.



5. I used this book as well as the Falcon Press "Hiking South Dakota's Black Hills country", by the Gildarts, on a recent trip to the Black Hills, Badlands, Bear Lodge Mtns & the Devils Tower.
   Both books were useful, but I'd give the edge to this one:
   1) Hiram Rogers' book includes photocopies of topographic maps. Reproduction quality isn't high, but is frequently sufficient for the purpose. The Geldart's book has only handdrawn schematic maps.
   2) "Exploring the Black Hills & Badlands" has more material. As you can see from the info provided by Amazon, there are more pages, but this understates how much further Rogers goes. Descriptions of particular trails are a bit more detailed, usually, and there is more historical and natural history material given in most cases. You will find more material, especially, on the Badlands (eg. a section on off-trail travel in the Sage Creek Wilderness).
   The Geldarts do touch on locales and details not mentioned in Hiram Rogers' book, so those planning to spend any appreciable time in the area might want to get both.
   I see that there appear to be restrictions in availability through Amazon as I type this. If you aren't comfortable dealing with secondary dealers, I would note that I saw new copies of Rogers' book in the bookstores at Wind Cave National Park and elsewhere. Try the websites for WCNP, the Badlands NP or Custer State Park.

1 comments about A Few Interested Residents: Wyoming Historical Marks & Monuments.

1. Wyoming, compared to most other states, is amazingly concerned with its historical past, especially in making it known to the general public. (Just look in Amazon.com at the number of books on Wyoming's historical sites as compared to other states and you'll see what I mean.) This book, probably a unique undertaking, lists not just highway commission historical signs (other states have published books on that), but EVERY sign that points out some piece of information of historical significance in the state, including, for example, all 30+ plaques one sees at Fort Laramie.
   
   The signs/sites are arranged by county; each county has a basic map pinpointing each one by number. The numbering system is the same one used by the Wyoming Recreation Commission in 1967 in their inventory listing. The legend that appears on each sign is given completely, and a very specific location for each sign is likewise provided. Dozens of photographs also appear. Also included is a lengthy opening chapter giving the history of historical marking in Wyoming, a very interesting and informative essay.
   
   This is a terrific book and belongs on everyone's shelf who is interested in Wyoming's past.