Hush of the Land: A Lifetime in the Bob Marshall Wilderness

by Arnold "Smoke" Elser, Eva-Maria Maggi, Tammy Elser (Foreword)

This inspirational memoir chronicles the six-decade quest of packer and outfitter Arnold “Smoke” Elser to protect wild lands by bringing thousands of people deep into the mountains of Montana on horseback. With limited financial means and while still in college, the young man from Ohio decided against a promising career in forestry and chose instead to share his love of wilderness with city dwellers by working as a professional outfitter.

Based on hundreds of hours of interviews, Hush of the Land tells the captivating story of Elser’s early days as a packer in the Bob Marshall Wilderness and Bitterroot Mountains. Share the joys and thrills of summer rides, harrowing grizzly bear encounters, fishing in clear mountain streams, and many nights around a campfire within some of the West’s last wild lands. In this lively narrative, Elser recounts how his testimony for the Wilderness Act, and the fight to preserve and expand Montana’s wilderness lands, influenced his career as an outfitter and educator and gave him a voice at the center of Montana’s conservation movement.

Genres: Nonfiction

232 pages, Paperback

Published March 1, 2024

Reviews

[Elizabeth O'Keefe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've never been on a pack trip (although I used to dream about this kind of stuff, in the middle of BFE and just out in the wild, but then I remember there are things that would probably like to eat me for dinner). I've also never been to Montana, but this was something that was of interest to me and was excited to pick it up (thanks NetGalley!).

This is an interesting story, and is so unique because honestly, there aren't tons of books like this.

Thank you NetGalley & publisher for my E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fascinating book of life as an outfitter in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. My grandpa knew Smoke and my dad has backpacked in the Bob Marshall and fought the big Yellowstone fire so I know a little bit about the wilderness but I haven't read much about outfitting. A lot of work goes into being an outfitter and the camps would never work without the amazing horses and mules.

[Kade McCulloch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up on a cul-de-sac with Smoke Elser’s old stone barn at the end of it. As a kid I marveled at the giant leather saddles and pictures that lined his wall every time we were invited for a barbecue or just to talk. Smoke Elser is an incredible, gracious; and wise man who embodies the western spirit. He is a passionate educator, an incredible outfitter, a conservationist who has tirelessly fought for the preservation of Montana’s delicate ecosystems from development, and most of all a fantastic storyteller.

I highly recommend reading this book and letting your mind drift from the present and into the vanilla scented air of the vast Bob Marshall Wilderness. Elser’s stories of precarious encounters with grizzly bears, packing trips with people of all walks of life, fighting for the protection of the Bob Marshall Wilderness as one of the largest wilderness areas in the contiguous United States, and teaching Navy Seals how to pack mules will teleport your mind into the adventures of a man who has lived a life immersed in nature. Couldn’t recommend this book enough!

[Kari Schiffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the weather turned yesterday, I decided to head to the Bob Marshall Widerness and live vicariously, thru the lifetime of “Smoke” Elser. Eva-Marie Maggi, captured these moments. As well as the personalities, scenery, the lifestyle, not only the important and significant role of the mules and horses, but the necessity that we keep these land protected, public and available to those of future generations and to the abundance of life that exists in these sacred lands. “Hush of the Land” Next time you are in a grove of aspen, listen to them, listen to a river, listen and see with your heart, imagine the the vastness of our wilderness areas and how important they are. What a legacy and tribute!

[Ann Libecap · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hush of the Land is a "new classic" on conservation, Montana, the Bob Marshall Wilderness and the inspiring life of a legendary outfitter. An oral history so masterfully written that I could not put it down. I read it straight through with only a break for dinner. Even the footnotes were interesting. It belongs on every bookshelf in Montana and on the shelves of everyone who loves the wilderness. Elser's help with the 1968 Wild and Scenic River Act, the 1976 Great Bear Wilderness protection connecting the Bob Marshall with Glacier National Park and the 2000 Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act will leave you grateful to a man who has contributed so much. Hush of the Land will put a smile on your face and give you hope during these troubled times.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve never been on a pack trip but I have spent time on horseback in Montana so I was interested in reading this book. It brought back memories, including of being in Yellowstone in 1988 just a few weeks before the fires reached the park.

The description of the pack trips start to run together after a while. But the stories about the efforts to save the wilderness areas for future generations made the book well worth reading.

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Hush of the Land” is inspiring, informative, and triggers both laughter and tension. “Hush of the Land” made me want to climb Haystack Mountain. “Hush of the Land” made me thankful I’ve been to some of the places described, especially the Scapegoat Plateau. The example set by Sm?ot is a great roadmap for others to follow.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vivd account of one of the United States' wildest places, the Bob Marshall Wilderness. The stories will make you laugh, value what Wilderness contributes to society, and make you long to see the places described.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great combination of stories, experiences and history! Smoke Elser is a legendary packer and wilderness guide, and co-author Eva-Maria Maggi captures his voice authentically. If you are a hiker, backpacker, horseback rider, hunter, or wilderness advocate you will enjoy this book. What Smoke learned and shared over the years and the influence he has had on thousands of outdoor and wilderness enthusiasts is his lasting legacy. I am grateful to Smoke Elser and Eva-Maria Maggi for their time and effort in publishing this summary of a life well-lived and allowing all of us to enjoy it too.