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Of Men and Mountains
Of Men and Moutains is a book of personal adventure and discovery of William O. Douglas. It is an account of the way Douglas and other men found a richer life in the mountains and how they found something else besides.
In such country Douglas has noted, "Men can find deep solitude and under conditions of grandeur that are startling, he can come to know both himself and God."
The men of the story are such legendary characters as Roy Schaeffer and Jack Nelson, and the sheepherders, Indians, fisherman, and foresters who have learned to survive in the wilderness and enjoy it.
360 pages, Paperback
Published June 30, 2015
48 people are currently reading
698 people want to read
About the author
William O. Douglas
100 books30 followersWILLIAM O. DOUGLAS was born in Maine, Minnesota, on October 16, 1898, and raised in Yakima, Washington. He entered Whitman College in 1916, but his studies were interrupted by military service in World War I. Douglas was graduated from Whitman in 1920 and taught school for two years before attending law school at Columbia University. Upon graduation in 1925, he joined a New York law firm, but left two years later to spend one year in Yakima. He subsequently returned to teach law at Columbia University, and transferred to the faculty of Yale University in 1929. In 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Douglas to the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in 1937 he became Chairman. President Roosevelt nominated Douglas to the Supreme Court of the United States on April 15, 1939. The Senate confirmed the appointment on April 17, 1939. Douglas had the longest tenure of any Justice, serving on the Supreme Court for thirty-six years, spanning the careers of five Chief Justices. He retired on November 12, 1975, and died on January 19, 1980, at the age of eighty-one.
More information is available from the Federal Judicial Center at http://www.fjc.gov/servlet/nGetInfo?j... or from The Supreme Court Historical Society at http://www.supremecourthistory.org/hi...
More information is available from the Federal Judicial Center at http://www.fjc.gov/servlet/nGetInfo?j... or from The Supreme Court Historical Society at http://www.supremecourthistory.org/hi...
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 25, 2021
A nice book exploring Douglas’ relationship with nature from his childhood and later life. We get hints of his life. His father died when he was young and he grew up working several jobs to help support his family.
The heart of the book is his vivid descriptions of the mountains, peaks and valleys he explored during various points of his life. He tested himself here when he had doubts about his abilities to fit in and succeed in the world.
In do wish he had written more about his struggles as a youth and his eventual success as he was the longest serving Supreme Court Justice.
The heart of the book is his vivid descriptions of the mountains, peaks and valleys he explored during various points of his life. He tested himself here when he had doubts about his abilities to fit in and succeed in the world.
In do wish he had written more about his struggles as a youth and his eventual success as he was the longest serving Supreme Court Justice.
June 17, 2021
There were times when the fishing and flowers were a bit overwhelming, but since these were also part of the reason I loved the book, I had to forgive.
This is a delightful memoir of an adolescence in the wilderness that happens to be by a man quite famous for other reasons. William O. Douglas is a celebrated Supreme Court Justice, of course, and that’s how most people would know him.
So it came as something of a surprise when I was reading a trail guide to the Pacific Crest Trail that I discovered that he had a designated wilderness area [wikipedia, wilderness map] named in his honor in central Washington, adjacent to Mt. Rainier National Park’s east side. The Pacific Crest Trail follows much of its western boundary.
A quick glance at the map shows this includes at least one of the places he speaks of, Bumping River and Lake. And it lies just to the north of Goat Rocks Wilderness with Darling Mountain (now Darland) on its eastern edge, and is drained by the Naches River.
Sadly, it was established four years after he died, so he never learned of this honor. I suspect it would have ranked very high in his affections.
After his father died unexpectedly, Douglas arrived as a child in southern Washington and spent the remainder of his youth in the Yakima area, just to the southeast of his eventual namesake. He had suffered a wasting illness at the age of two, and his struggles to gain strength and confidence led him to spend time in the hills and mountains surrounding the Yakima Valley from his early adolescence.
His stories jump around chronologically, but they’re rooted in those early adventures. He clearly learned the mountains well, since he frequently rattles off what seems like hundreds of plant names.
There are hints of his other escapades, such as the fact that he hopped a freight to go east to law school. But it was the man’s exuberant portrayals of the mountain wilderness that was most infectious.
He was lucky to live long enough to achieve his destiny.
This is a delightful memoir of an adolescence in the wilderness that happens to be by a man quite famous for other reasons. William O. Douglas is a celebrated Supreme Court Justice, of course, and that’s how most people would know him.
So it came as something of a surprise when I was reading a trail guide to the Pacific Crest Trail that I discovered that he had a designated wilderness area [wikipedia, wilderness map] named in his honor in central Washington, adjacent to Mt. Rainier National Park’s east side. The Pacific Crest Trail follows much of its western boundary.
A quick glance at the map shows this includes at least one of the places he speaks of, Bumping River and Lake. And it lies just to the north of Goat Rocks Wilderness with Darling Mountain (now Darland) on its eastern edge, and is drained by the Naches River.
Sadly, it was established four years after he died, so he never learned of this honor. I suspect it would have ranked very high in his affections.
After his father died unexpectedly, Douglas arrived as a child in southern Washington and spent the remainder of his youth in the Yakima area, just to the southeast of his eventual namesake. He had suffered a wasting illness at the age of two, and his struggles to gain strength and confidence led him to spend time in the hills and mountains surrounding the Yakima Valley from his early adolescence.
His stories jump around chronologically, but they’re rooted in those early adventures. He clearly learned the mountains well, since he frequently rattles off what seems like hundreds of plant names.
❝In the spring the tender leaves of the sage appeared. Blossoms of the bitterbrush painted streaks of yellow through the sage. In the draws and ravines the western ryegrass sent up new shoots. The earliest of the wild flowers was the pepper-and-salt, the diminutive member of the Lomatiums. It often flowered under the snow as the trailing arbutus does in New England. A soft carpet of violets, buttercups, yellow bells, and eye grasses would appear. But these were fragile flowers that hardly had a chance to taste the sweetness of life before they died. Then came the dwarf phlox and the delicate shooting stars. The lupine, dwarf sunflowers, sage pinks, and blue bells were hardier specimens and lingered longer.❞I’m envious of that facility. My late stepfather grew up in the mountains around Redding, California, a few decades later was similarly gifted. Even though I’ve spent a lot of time backpacking (albeit in the Sierra Nevada range) I can’t tell a fir from a pine, granite from gabbro, much less identify edible plants on the forest floor.
There are hints of his other escapades, such as the fact that he hopped a freight to go east to law school. But it was the man’s exuberant portrayals of the mountain wilderness that was most infectious.
❝So my long acquaintance with Goat Rocks had not prepared me for the startling panorama they now presented.Those now have me looking north for some future backpacking adventures. But I swear I won’t replicate his youthful climb of Kloochman — the first summit of that four-thousand foot rock.
Before us was the full stretch of them, forming 15 or 20 miles of jagged and snowy skyline athwart our path. To the left was Devils Horns — without doubt the head of the devil in prone position. Two great horns at the top of the brow were plain to see; a long, sharp nose dominated the face; there was a twist of evil in the mouth; and the chin seemed to be covered with coarse hair. To the right and slightly closer was Tieton Peak, looking as if it had been designed as a pyramid and then abandoned when half-finished. Then came Gilbert Peak, with its long, black fingers of rock rising like jagged beams in the sky. To its right were the sedate Ives Peak, shaping up by more conventional lines into a soft, rock point, and Old Snowy with a sharp crest rising above powdered shoulders. To the extreme right was the dark wall of Johnson Rock. This jagged knife of skyline dominated the scene. A bit of the crest of Mount Adams could be seen over Old Snowy. But there was no other snow-capped peak to share with Goat Rocks even part of the grandeur.
The view filled me with unrest. I wanted to head at once for those peaks, to camp in the valleys below them and to explore their basins and ridges. The invitation had an urgency at least partly owing to the uncertain weather.
“This is the day to be on Old Snowy,” I thought, as I scanned the skies for signs of more fog and rain.❞
He was lucky to live long enough to achieve his destiny.
❝We had no skis, but we did have a frying pan apiece. “Why not use them as toboggans?” asked Brad.❞
July 8, 2015
This is a re-read but certainly worth "reviewing." For those of you not familiar with the author, William O. Douglas, he was best known for his 36+ year stint on the US Supreme Court. Please don't let that shake you. The bottom line is that he can write. Although, please don't think fiction.
I am by no means a legal scholar, but the opinions I did have the pleasure of reading placed him in high regard because they appeared to me to be less stuffy, for lack of a better word, than others. His opinions, or dissents, that related to individual rights, are worth their weight in gold (in my book for what it is worth). His opinion in Griswold v. Connecticut (please "Google" it if necessary) solidified my respect for the man. His opinions on environmental concerns put him on a pedestal. But I digress. (Could that phrase be more overused?)
They say (and I do not know who "they" are) that you cannot (or should not) judge a book by its cover. Well, any book that includes contour maps on the cover is okay by me. Of Men and Mountains is a well written personal account of Justice Douglas' experience in and knowledge of the great outdoors. He touches upon issues that we all must face, although often not as blatant - fear, death, adversity, adventure, challenges, etc. It is worth the read.
I am by no means a legal scholar, but the opinions I did have the pleasure of reading placed him in high regard because they appeared to me to be less stuffy, for lack of a better word, than others. His opinions, or dissents, that related to individual rights, are worth their weight in gold (in my book for what it is worth). His opinion in Griswold v. Connecticut (please "Google" it if necessary) solidified my respect for the man. His opinions on environmental concerns put him on a pedestal. But I digress. (Could that phrase be more overused?)
They say (and I do not know who "they" are) that you cannot (or should not) judge a book by its cover. Well, any book that includes contour maps on the cover is okay by me. Of Men and Mountains is a well written personal account of Justice Douglas' experience in and knowledge of the great outdoors. He touches upon issues that we all must face, although often not as blatant - fear, death, adversity, adventure, challenges, etc. It is worth the read.
November 13, 2020
William Douglas is mainly known for his work as a Supreme Court Justice from the late thirties to 1975, but he is also remembered for his passion for the outdoors. This book is about his adventures in the mountains from his time as a boy in Yakima taking a train to Naches and then hiking into the Cascades to his summer breaks from the Supreme Court where his Goose Prairie Home was base camp to mountaineering adventures.
Many chapters speak of a bygone era where backpacking misadventures could be rescued by stumbling into a sheepherder's camp, when the only way to get from the highway to Bumping Lake was to cross country ski. I enjoyed those chapters reading about a boy's makeshift backpack in the early 1900s to the best ways to make sourdough bread in camp. But the mountains, lakes and rivers themselves persevere through eras. When Douglas writes of hiking the Goat Rocks, swimming in Bumping Lake, climbing Mt Adams, hiking past Dewey Lake to the American River, camping in the Blankenship meadows, I am reminded of my own adventures in those same magnificent areas
A great read
Many chapters speak of a bygone era where backpacking misadventures could be rescued by stumbling into a sheepherder's camp, when the only way to get from the highway to Bumping Lake was to cross country ski. I enjoyed those chapters reading about a boy's makeshift backpack in the early 1900s to the best ways to make sourdough bread in camp. But the mountains, lakes and rivers themselves persevere through eras. When Douglas writes of hiking the Goat Rocks, swimming in Bumping Lake, climbing Mt Adams, hiking past Dewey Lake to the American River, camping in the Blankenship meadows, I am reminded of my own adventures in those same magnificent areas
A great read
April 10, 2021
I don't remember why I became aware of his reputation as a compassionate, knowledgeable, and fair jurist. Or maybe his name first came to my attention because of his environmental leanings. Upon reading through the first several chapters of this book, I wondered how such a giant had slipped from our collective American consciousness. I asked several of my older friends if they were aware of William O. Douglas -- they never heard of him, even my brilliant friend Jim who attended M.I.T. and is both politically and environmentally astute. Nor my son, who attended law school for a time. Nor my son-in-law, raised in Douglas's Pacific Northwest. How could his memory and accomplishments have faded? (His name is attached to a wilderness area in Washington, so there's that...)
In Of Men and Mountains, Douglas recounts what propelled him into the woods as a lad. He continues with tales of mountain treks, lakes and fishing, horsemanship, winter camping, journeys with his brother and friends from boyhood through his later years. The chapters are filled with native American lore, botany, weather, and backwoods lore. As is often the case, miserable trips are often so very memorable, and a couple of them are presented. Death-defying ascents are re-told in a way that puts the reader in the scene. I truly marveled at the way Douglas organized the chapters in a way that both told the particular story of the chapter and also fit into a larger code of his life, of perseverance and being present to the natural surroundings.
I recommend this book without reservation.
In Of Men and Mountains, Douglas recounts what propelled him into the woods as a lad. He continues with tales of mountain treks, lakes and fishing, horsemanship, winter camping, journeys with his brother and friends from boyhood through his later years. The chapters are filled with native American lore, botany, weather, and backwoods lore. As is often the case, miserable trips are often so very memorable, and a couple of them are presented. Death-defying ascents are re-told in a way that puts the reader in the scene. I truly marveled at the way Douglas organized the chapters in a way that both told the particular story of the chapter and also fit into a larger code of his life, of perseverance and being present to the natural surroundings.
I recommend this book without reservation.
Read
June 28, 2020See Neil's review.
This takes the reader (with some ferreting out) through "Bill" Douglas's career to the end; from his boyhood in Washington state through his loyal time as a Justice of the Supreme Court, 1939 through 1965.
I was struck by his conquering his fear of the water; the terror hit him when he was probably a young teenager. He had had polio when a child, and always thought his legs 'skinny'. He began, systematically, by hiring a one-on-one instructor, who worked patiently with him for about six months; then he worked on himself, for about a year. Finally, slowly, inexorably, he overcame his fear. I suspect he overcame other fears in the same way.
He learned early on, from an unnamed Indian, that ". . . a Douglas fir cannot possibly become a cedar or a sugar pine, similarly he could not be recast into another image. He could be only himself. Once a man accepts that fact, his yearnings become geared to his capacities. He knows his strengths as well as his limitations. He may be unknown and unsung; but being wise, he has found the road to contentment. . . .he pretends to be no more than he is. By being just what he is, and no more, he contributes a unique and distinct flavor to his community. He is not likely to have a neurosis that produces physical ailment(s) or social maladjustment."
. . . the froth of life seemed to blow away.. . . I thought of vain men, pacing up and down. . . waving their arms, filling the air waves with their noisy complaints. . . I thought of clever men gaining advantages by trick and cunning. I thought of men who by manipulation got verdicts and judgments and wealth they did not deserve. . . . Old Snowy has no deceit or cunning. It welcomes and receives man on is merits. It aims neither to destroy him nor to flatter his ego. It is as genuine and as impartial as the nor'wester. . . . Freedom and equality are the ideals that America represents. . . that is the symbolism of Old Snowy in a world where infinite evil works hard to get permanent footing."
"Man has the same amazing diversity as the meadow under Goat Rocks [in Oregon / Washington] in June. Like the flowers, he has different colors. Like the mountains, he has varying moods. Like the trees of the forests he has different capacities. Like the coyote and the cougar, he has the supreme cunning to hunt and kill in ruthless and predatory ways. Yet. . . he has the capacity (as Confucius, Jesus and Gandhi demonstrated) to be wholly and completely selfless, sacrificing his own existence so that others of his kind may live and find happiness. One cannot reach the desolate crags that look down on eternal glaciers without deep and strange spiritual experience. If he ever was a doubter, he will, I think, come down a believer. He will have faith."
"Jack" who wasn't always the brightest bulb in the box, said "Always run a cabin north and south. Then the sun melts the snow evenly in both sides."
Interspersed with details of plants, insects and glorious mountain scenery (sometimes exhaustively!) this is a worthwhile book for the reader, hiker or outdoorsman.
This takes the reader (with some ferreting out) through "Bill" Douglas's career to the end; from his boyhood in Washington state through his loyal time as a Justice of the Supreme Court, 1939 through 1965.
I was struck by his conquering his fear of the water; the terror hit him when he was probably a young teenager. He had had polio when a child, and always thought his legs 'skinny'. He began, systematically, by hiring a one-on-one instructor, who worked patiently with him for about six months; then he worked on himself, for about a year. Finally, slowly, inexorably, he overcame his fear. I suspect he overcame other fears in the same way.
He learned early on, from an unnamed Indian, that ". . . a Douglas fir cannot possibly become a cedar or a sugar pine, similarly he could not be recast into another image. He could be only himself. Once a man accepts that fact, his yearnings become geared to his capacities. He knows his strengths as well as his limitations. He may be unknown and unsung; but being wise, he has found the road to contentment. . . .he pretends to be no more than he is. By being just what he is, and no more, he contributes a unique and distinct flavor to his community. He is not likely to have a neurosis that produces physical ailment(s) or social maladjustment."
. . . the froth of life seemed to blow away.. . . I thought of vain men, pacing up and down. . . waving their arms, filling the air waves with their noisy complaints. . . I thought of clever men gaining advantages by trick and cunning. I thought of men who by manipulation got verdicts and judgments and wealth they did not deserve. . . . Old Snowy has no deceit or cunning. It welcomes and receives man on is merits. It aims neither to destroy him nor to flatter his ego. It is as genuine and as impartial as the nor'wester. . . . Freedom and equality are the ideals that America represents. . . that is the symbolism of Old Snowy in a world where infinite evil works hard to get permanent footing."
"Man has the same amazing diversity as the meadow under Goat Rocks [in Oregon / Washington] in June. Like the flowers, he has different colors. Like the mountains, he has varying moods. Like the trees of the forests he has different capacities. Like the coyote and the cougar, he has the supreme cunning to hunt and kill in ruthless and predatory ways. Yet. . . he has the capacity (as Confucius, Jesus and Gandhi demonstrated) to be wholly and completely selfless, sacrificing his own existence so that others of his kind may live and find happiness. One cannot reach the desolate crags that look down on eternal glaciers without deep and strange spiritual experience. If he ever was a doubter, he will, I think, come down a believer. He will have faith."
"Jack" who wasn't always the brightest bulb in the box, said "Always run a cabin north and south. Then the sun melts the snow evenly in both sides."
Interspersed with details of plants, insects and glorious mountain scenery (sometimes exhaustively!) this is a worthwhile book for the reader, hiker or outdoorsman.
May 22, 2022
At times quite poetic and insightful, and at others quite rambling and kinda boring.
There are some great passages in here there speak of the mountains and nature challenge us and build character, and then there will be 5 pages of rambling about the geology and biology of different environments. I found myself wanting to skip the latter portions.
Overall? Not bad, but probably won’t read it again.
There are some great passages in here there speak of the mountains and nature challenge us and build character, and then there will be 5 pages of rambling about the geology and biology of different environments. I found myself wanting to skip the latter portions.
Overall? Not bad, but probably won’t read it again.
October 10, 2022
I found it very inspiring. I have spent some time outdoors in the Pacific Northwest so it may have been special for me in that respect. He writes well and honestly. One person I know who read it said that there was a little too much on fly fishing, but I didn't mind that.
September 8, 2025
Amazing
Douglas review of his adventures in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest can fill one with awe and inspiration. Conservation indeed became his cause.
Douglas review of his adventures in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest can fill one with awe and inspiration. Conservation indeed became his cause.
October 17, 2010
I really wanted to like this one. Being a lawyer and an outdoor adventurer, I looked forward to a book about outdoor adventures by a Supreme Court Justice. I was disappointed. It was a really slow read. Too much of the book was about fishing. Also, too much of the "adventure" was on horseback which is a bit detached from my generation of alpinists who prefer to travel on foot and carry what they need on their backs. It's tough to really get into an adventure story when the main characters are cracking open cans of soup and corn and slabs of fresh meat while in the "wilderness".
Another not-so-good thing is the author's racism towards native americans and other minorities. Yes, it is a book written mainly in the 1940s, but for an educated man, this is embarrassing. Almost as embarrassing as when you read Jack London's old articles from the New York Times where he would go on rants against blacks.
That said, the first couple of chapters and the last two are actually pretty good. Lots of philosophy about how adventure and wilderness is good for people, especially for youth. Also some interesting passages about why men climb mountains when there are lots of risks to such pursuits and no tangible rewards.
Another not-so-good thing is the author's racism towards native americans and other minorities. Yes, it is a book written mainly in the 1940s, but for an educated man, this is embarrassing. Almost as embarrassing as when you read Jack London's old articles from the New York Times where he would go on rants against blacks.
That said, the first couple of chapters and the last two are actually pretty good. Lots of philosophy about how adventure and wilderness is good for people, especially for youth. Also some interesting passages about why men climb mountains when there are lots of risks to such pursuits and no tangible rewards.
June 23, 2014
William O. Douglas was appointed to the US Supreme Court when he wasn’t much older than I am now (he was 41). His work on the bench, however, has no bearing on the present title, which is a memoir of his childhood adventures in the mountains of Washington State. His father, a Presbyterian minister, had brought the family to the area and promptly died when Douglas was six. Though a sickly child, Douglas built strength and stamina through frequent hikes in the hills and treks into the neighboring Cascades. His relationship to the mountains, he believed, prepared him for “the adventure of life.” As an older man, settled on the east coast, he would mentally return again and again to these mountains for a sort of spiritual sustenance.
Douglas is a decent writer. The book is a rather charming combination: part personal memoir, part adventure yarn, part guidebook to the geology, botany and Native American lore of a lovely part of North America. I lived in Seattle for many years and spent a decent amount of time tramping around in the Cascades myself. It would be nice to revisit certain of these places with the benefit of Douglas’s perspective.
Douglas is a decent writer. The book is a rather charming combination: part personal memoir, part adventure yarn, part guidebook to the geology, botany and Native American lore of a lovely part of North America. I lived in Seattle for many years and spent a decent amount of time tramping around in the Cascades myself. It would be nice to revisit certain of these places with the benefit of Douglas’s perspective.
March 7, 2026
this feels like sitting around the fireplace listening to somebody’s grandpa tell stories. If you’re into that kind of thing, you’ll probably like it. Douglas has his flaws, including the tendency to get a bit tedious and preachy, but it’s worth skipping over those parts or just pushing through.
a major theme of the book is the nurturing effect of time spent in wild places on one’s sense of self. He suggests that to come face to face with Mother Nature is to come face to face with oneself, and in so doing, develop some immunity to the common pitfalls of social validation and groupthink. It might be a little idealistic, but it’s still great food for thought in our increasingly modern and social media driven world.
the bits about fishing sense, camp cooking and survival were really enjoyable, and the chapter about the snow hole blew my mind.
a major theme of the book is the nurturing effect of time spent in wild places on one’s sense of self. He suggests that to come face to face with Mother Nature is to come face to face with oneself, and in so doing, develop some immunity to the common pitfalls of social validation and groupthink. It might be a little idealistic, but it’s still great food for thought in our increasingly modern and social media driven world.
the bits about fishing sense, camp cooking and survival were really enjoyable, and the chapter about the snow hole blew my mind.
September 23, 2018
An inspiring book that acts as a reminder that we can all benefit from time spent away from cities and civilization. Supreme Court Justice Douglas' message of literally pulling himself up from his bootstraps (he nearly died of infantile paralysis) is a classic American theme. His is a liberal, modern worldview, albeit hailing from a historic (United Presbyterian) Christian background. The following quote perhaps best exemplifies his thinking, "One cannot reach the desolate crags that look down on eternal glaciers without deep and strange spiritual experiences. If he ever was a doubter, he will, I think, come down a believer. He will have faith. He will know there is a Creator, a Supreme Being, a God, a Jehovah."
November 25, 2014
I wish every Supreme Court Justice could have grown up wandering the wilderness, just like William Douglas did in the Cascades of Eastern Washington. This book is filled with fascinating memories and funny stories from Douglas's explorations as he hiked and camped and fished over many years. It's amazing to learn that he camped with just a rolled up blanket and a frying pan tied onto his pack, compared to the lightweight, waterproof materials we are so lucky to use today. Written in the 50s, this book reflects the language of the day, and omits women from the tales of adventure that help turn boys into men.
March 19, 2014
I had hoped for more legal stuff as I did not read the reviews before reading the book, But I was quite pleased with this side of the author's life, his love of nature and the mountains in the north west. He spent far more time telling stories of other people he met in his life than he did of himself.. A very down to earth man. will try to locate his other books.
September 21, 2015
Ate up every word of this one. I love reading bios and this is one of my favorites. There are a couple of noticeable "discrepancies" (for lack of a better word) in terms of the plausibility of a couple of comments, which make you stop, think, and say to yourself, "Hey, that's not physically possible or plausible...hmm." Nonetheless, it's a wonderful read.
March 8, 2026
One of my favorites books I’ve read. William O Douglas is lowkey one of the best writers in the PNW outdoor genre. His knowledge of the area where he hiked, now known as the William O. Douglas wilderness is so fascinating and one that puts you there in the campsite with him. A commendable man who is one of the best Americans we’ve ever had
January 16, 2010
Douglas' early years in the Cascades.....hiking and riding through the White Pass and Chinook Pass forests before World War I.....fascinating stuff!
Read
February 5, 2012Great reading. Provided insight into Justice Douglas's thinking about the environment and the importance of protecting nature.
Read
September 6, 2015This is living and mountaineering in another age, long gone. There are several very good adventure stories and the best writing in the book are the chapters devoted to trout fishing.
March 29, 2016
I loved the first chapters of this book. It then turned into slow reading until the last three chapters which were excellent.
July 27, 2016
Interesting read. Some memorable quotes
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews