Between Forest And Sky: A Fire-Tower Journal

by Sharon Stratton

Sharon Stratton's enthusiastic and beautifully described account of her experiences as a fire-tower observer in Alberta reveals a simple, satisfying lifestyle. "From the time I learned to climb the tree in the family backyard, my path always brought me to the peace of the forest," Stratton says. Always attracted to the outdoors, she had applied to be a fire tower observer five times before she was finally accepted. Months later, she headed to the forest with only her dogs for company. Each season, she led a solitary, contemplative lifestyle while assuming the tremendous responsibility of keeping watch. Whether on the ground examining beautiful wildflowers or in the tower calling in a "smoke," Stratton provides a splendid view. This highly entertaining book is for both young and old who enjoy the outdoors, adventure and the lure of untamed places.

Genres: Nonfiction

223 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2006

Reviews

[Rachelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this little book. It was very interesting to learn about being a towerperson. What a great life that must be! The author's love for nature is the overarching theme though, the descriptions of which I sometimes found boring. The best parts of the book for me were the more emotional moments, but unfortunately there weren't many of those. Overall though, I'm glad I read this book and learned about this unconventional profession. I would recommend this book to true nature lovers!