Men for the Mountains

by Sid Marty

As a park warden in the national parks of Canada's Rocky Mountains, Sid Marty came to know that beautiful and treacherous landscape as few men or women do. He was a mountain climber, rescue team member, firefighter, wildlife custodian, and adviser to tourists, adventurers, and people passing through. At all times, he was an acute observer of human and animal behaviour. In these pages he records with wry wit and bitter insight true stories of heroism and folly drawn from life in the high country.

Marty writes vividly about a land and a way of life that are increasingly endangered. The visceral energy of his prose compels attention. This is a compulsive, alarming, and often hilarious read.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, History, Canada, Adventure

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

Reviews

[Gary]

I first read this book at the age of 30. About half way through, I knew that I wanted to be
a park warden. A year and a half later I was working as a seasonal warden in Jasper. This
was fortunate as I was able to experience life in a national park that still had the district
system. I was able to take part in backcountry horse patrols. Also: law enforcement and
public safety.

I went on to work in Waterton Lakes, Yoho and Pacific Rim. One of my most memorable
experiences was living in the very cabin at Takakkaw Falls where Sid Marty started
his career.

[Tracy S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sid Marty was a Park Ranger in the Canada National Parks System from 1966 through 1978. His wry and sometimes self-effacing humor, ill-bearing towards mice, begrudging trust of horses, adventures with grizzlies, forest fires, campers, pine martens, and avalanches, and his thoughtful observations about life, landscapes and humanity all combine to make an entertaining read with a sense of voyeurism into the life of park rangers in the 40's through the 70's. His prose about the weather & landscape is reverent without being sicky-sweet, and he can also toss around dialogue such as "you sonafabitch" without being derisive or even offensive. Each chapter reads a bit like a self-contained short story, but the thread that runs throughout is his respect for the tough park rangers who came before him - and indeed, the beginning and the end are nicely tied together. It took me a full month to read this book (I am a very slow reader), but it also strikes me that this is the kind of book you want to take your time with, to really think about this rangerly environment, how we treat the land, and how the world was changing - and not necessarily for the better.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful prose. Sid Marty gives us a fascinating account of being a park warden in Canada’s Rocky Mountains.
While largely focused on the natural beauty of his surroundings, it was also neat to learn of the challenges wardens face with the bureaucracy of Parks Canada.

3.5 rounded up.. a few marks taken away as it’s a text I have to read for a class. 😜

[Kal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good stories but man he's a grumpy guy

[Jennifer Camara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Men for the Mountains relates the stories of Canadian park wardens over the years from their early beginnings. This is done through the life course of the protagonist, a young man fresh to the job and its life-changing experiences, and the flashbacks he has of the tales of the pioneering early wardens he's heard about. Each experience and tale is vividly told and well connected. I found the book got better the further I read, and the images lingered for years, making it a favourite I'd freely recommend to anyone who loves the outdoors.

[Peter Staadecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've ever enjoyed backpacking/riding the Canadian Rocky Mountains, then this book will enthrall you. Sid was an Easterner who was thrown into the deep end of the Rockies, the Canadian parks system, laconic cowboy Westerners, horses ("hay-burners"), bears, mountain rescue, helicopter rescue, bears and dealing with the complete spectrum of parks visitors. His stories are page turners that alternate between awe inspiring and laugh-out-loud. A Canadian classic from a Canadian treasure.

[Megan Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, heartfelt writing that any man (or woman) for the mountains will appreciate. Interesting and heartbreaking to read how even in the 60's and 70's, our federal parks system was falling far short of adequately protecting and preserving the few wild spaces we have left in our Rocky Mountains.

[Derek · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read, especially for anyone interested in being a warden (which I am currently going back to school for!). It's just too bad that the service has changed so much since the 1960s. I would love to be in cabin in the woods with 200 square miles of back country to look after!

[Aaron Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. Especially if you love spending time outside. He is also a great poet. Highly recommend reading

[Jérôme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read while visiting Banff and the Rockies. This is from an era that has likely changed quite a bit nowadays but still interesting to see the changes in park management over the years.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read - if you've ever worked as a ranger and want to see anothers' transition from grass roots ranging to modern day organization give this a read

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining stories from a park ranger in and around Banff

[Vishal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great travel companion if you’re making rounds in the Canadian Rockies (Banff, Jasper, Yoho, etc) and desire some inspiration.

[Savannah McNair · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very poetic writing, he’s incredibly grumpy and un-optimistic about humanity tho

[Corey Grassmyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well written and tremendously interesting perspectives on the beauty and use of national parks specifically focusing on the western Canadian rockies. Sid describes his observations in very important context, noting at one point "he chose the wrong century (the 1900s) to become a cowboy." Very similar to Desert Solitude in some ways, such as the great appreciation of the outdoors and hatred of the destruction of it (often by otherwise well meaning tourist), it differs greatly in that he lives with his wife and later his child for the majority of the book. Overall I think this book captures the beauty of nature and urge to explore it if only to let yourself see that you are part of it. The Canadian Rockies faced unique problems when Sid wrote this book but many are still relevant such as the expansion of private industry on federal land and how to deal with apex predators that no longer fear humans but are still dangerous. As it does often touch on the real life dangers of a life outdoors I think it changes who I would recommend this too but in general it is a great read for anyone interested in the subject.

[Blaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this book in the early 80s. Decided to re-read it this past summer. It was my night-time companion by a campfire after spending the day hiking around Jasper national Park. This is my favourite Sid Marty book. t me, it is as if I am sitting beside a fireplace or a campfire and he is relating stories to me. He is able to make it a very personal journey. If you like to read about the outdoors and history about the Canadian Rockies, this book should appeal to you.

[Steve Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my top 5 of all time. If you've ever fantasized about trading your lap top and desk for a quarter horse and bed roll, this book will only stoke your discontent. Marty's style is fluent "Mountainman" with vivid descriptions and arresting imagery. Plus, he introduced me to the adjective aquiline, which is a fun if rarely useable arrow for the quiver, so to speak.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding the comedy in the very serious work of Parks Canada's Warden's Service is not difficult. Especially with Sid Marty's narration skills. I worked as a Ranch Hand for Parks Canada on the Yaha Tinda ranch. Terrific, serious, and colourful folks. And they never shy from asking you to come and sit and have a tea or a cowboy coffee with them (personal experience.)

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny and insightful book that shares the tribulations, triumphs, and learnings of serving as a park ranger. Wish he'd written more books because he's spot on on so many angles of management--both of natural resources and humans.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read about the men who worked as wardens in the Canadian Rockies. Marty has some great tales about his adventures in the Canadian Park Service before what he refers to as the "centralization". Very well written showing his great love of that area.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been reading this book for weeks now! I can only manage to read about a chapter at a time. It is very good, but hard to get thru

[Jason Hawley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cool book if you are in to wilderness and the like. Marty is a great storyteller.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tall tales