Summer Reading

Have you read any Mark Edwards?  I started with "Follow You Home", got hooked, and read the rest of his stand-alone works ("The Magpies", "Because She Loves Me", "What You Wish For" and I think another that I can't remember the name of).  He has some collaborations with Louise Voss but I didn't read those and can't comment.  The works I mentioned are psychological thrillers that take place in or near the UK, Mark's homeland, so his stories use British slang and terms which is fun because it's novel to me.

I'm currently working on Stephen King's latest in the Bill Hodge's series, "End of Watch".  I just started it last night.

Right now I'm reading "Desert Solitaire" by Edward Abbey, which chronicles his time living as a park ranger in Arches National park, more or less alone in the desert with his thoughts. He has a very colorful way of describing things, such as your inevitable death when you run out of water in the desert: "Someday, never fear, your bare elegant bones will be discovered and wondered and marveled at."

It certainly looks like an excellent way to retire. I've met a lot of people in the parks who spend their retirement living out of an RV or the housing provided by the parks system. I talked with a lady at big bend back in May who was doing just that, and even had a little garden growing on the dash board of her RV. Not much to do except mingle with the visitors and enjoy the view. Can I retire yet?

I'm only half way through the book, but there's definitely some tension that exists between Abbey and the parks system, and the rest of humanity for that matter. At one point I wasn't sure if he was joking, but I think he was being serious, in that he thinks roads shouldn't exist in the parks, and instead people should just have to hike all the way in. As for seniors, he says that they should have enjoyed it when they were young, so tough luck. And to parents with kids too young to walk that far, give them a few years to grow and then they can go.

Have a blast out at Bryce, I love it out there. Looks like it's made of cheddar cheese.

It's been about 6 years since I've been to Bryce so I can't even remember the names of the trails, so I'm not sure how much advice I can give! I have mixed feelings about park development. As a young, spry adventure seeker, it would be really easy for me to proudly proclaim that the parks should be undeveloped and only accessible to those fit to make the journey, but one day there may not be quite as much cartilage in my knees as I there is now, so I'll appreciate being able to drive up to an overlook. I do think that the south rim of Grand Canyon feels like a shopping mall with it's multiple high class restaurants and endless supply of gift shops. It's about a balance I suppose. If people want roads and gift shops, so be it as long as it isn't too harmful to the environment. Just leave plenty of space untouched so I can get lost for a few days at a time without seeing anything man made. I'm reading another book called "Death Daring and Disaster", a phone book sized collection of search and rescue stories from the national parks, and it talks about how the motto of the parks service is to "Protect the people from the parks and the parks from the people."  That's why only 20 people a day are allowed to visit the wave outside of Kanab. Sure enough, people are going to scratch their names in the walls and leave garbage all over the damn place. 

If you like the idea of Death Daring and Disaster, there's another I read recently called "Death in Big Bend". I was reading it while I was actually at the park and had to stop because it freaked me out. I even planned to sleep on the beach at the mouth of the Santa Elena Canyon and ended up chickening out and slept in my car with the doors locked instead. Still, it's a great read that'll remind you to respect mother nature and keep your wits about you in a dangerous environment. It's more story-like, with each chapter being dedicated to another event, whereas Death Daring and Disaster almost reads like a dry reference. Still cool though. It's inspired me to join the TEXSAR volunteer search and rescue organization that has a branch in Austin. Can't wait to go to my first meeting. Maybe I can put my high tolerance of pain and endurance to a good practical use and help others. The inspiring power of books is a wonderful thing.