Alpine Reviews

Tony Taylor's ALPINE SENTINELS is a direct, readable, and knowledgeable account of an American sub-culture that was viable for many centuries and is now gone, crowded and displaced by the westward movment of Euro-Americans. The book honors its subject.

This little book covers the history, geology, weather and climate of the New England mountain summits. It takes you upward through the northern hardwood forest, transition zone, spruce-fir zone, balsam fir zone and the alpine zone. It is an identification guide to the plants, their habitats and communities. Animals -- birds, amphibians, mammals and insects -- are described. The book design and layout are clear and attractive. I give the photos A, the reproduction A-. There is an index to the illustrated species, scientific and common names. Altogether it is an exquisite, small book to carry on the trail and to enjoy by the fireside. 96 pages.

Alison Robb

Avalanche expert Norm Wilson recommended this book to me and I'm glad he did. I find it very informative, but without putting me to sleep like "The Avalanche Handbook" does. It has lots of illustrations and practical information. I backcountry ski and recommend it to others who travel the backcountry in winter.

Authoritative and concise descriptions of various remote ski trips in the BC Coast Mountains. Well written and appealingly understated, the author's extensive travels are succinctly laid out, inspiring the adventurous, at least in the case of this reader. As an avid backcountry skier, I find this book an essential reference for accessing the numerous incredible backcountry routes characteristic of the Coast Mountains.

I absolutely love this book and have used it for five years. Somehow, this year it was misplaced and I was lost without it. Wonderful and very comprehensive indexing with lots of photos.

If you have any interest in alpine tundra this is a must read book! If you have even a general interest in natural science and ecology this book is a classic. I was amazed at how the authors were able to integrate a crisp scientific exposition with an almost poetic writing style that left me with such vivid mental images. Even if you are not going to visit the tundra, this book is an experience. If you are hiking these areas it will expand the experience. Read this book!!!

Now, that my own son has taken up geology (against my will!), I have tried to hunt down my own contributions: Mineral Deposits of the Alps (for which I co-authored one of the introductory articles) collects 39 articles written at a time, when geosciences was not anymore in the "Old" pre-"Kuhnian" stage of paradigmatic thinking, but still not yet totally "taken over" by plate tectonics. How refreshing, some 20 years on, to see how much original thinking went into geoscience prior to the advent of "gizmos" that quantify everything and replace original thoughts by "evidence" of numerical nature! Hope that Springer re-issues this slim and "racy" volume!

Great Read! This book is a fast paced work that truly makes the reader think about what may of happened in Germany at the end of the war. Al Molnar has once again given us a working class hero who has to depend on his training and luck to get himself out of the stuff that happens on his mission. He is definitly not some jimmy bond who needs gagets to complete his job.

Fabulous pictures and fascinating information about the people who made skiing in the Sierra possible. You don't have to be a skier to enjoy this book!

Native Plants For High-Elevation Western Gardens by horticulturalist Janice Busco and Nancy R. Morin (Executive Director of The Arboretum at Flagstaff, Arizona) is an informed and informative guide to native plants which is especially appropriate for gardeners and horticulturalists who live in regions of the American West at altitudes of 4,000 to 12,000 feet above sea level and higher. Offering basic information, advice for growing and nurturing, and enhanced with full-color photographs of 150 plants selected especially for their low-maintenance requirements and popularity, Native Plants For High-Elevation Western Gardens is an authoritative and practical catalogue which is especially recommended for high-altitude gardeners who need reliable information and advice on selecting what to plant.