The Heart of Tracking

by Richard Vacha

Originally published in recurring dispatches for a small town newspaper, this collection of essays by noted California naturalist Richard Vacha reads like a delighted field journal, full of insights into the mystic, sensory, and nearly-forgotten world of animal tracking. Through a series of outings, Vacha traverses the prismatic experience of tracking and brings it to our level. Practical investigations of signs and tracks draw close to the lives of all the animals in his landscape, including bobcats, badgers, skunks, coyotes, and one particular vulture. With spontaneous energy, Vacha's essays reveal the practice of asking sacred questions, and the process of stripping down to your senses in order to enter this primal awareness. Literary Nonfiction. California Interest. Religion & Spirituality.

Genres: Nature

224 pages, Paperback

Published July 1, 2019

Reviews

[Mitch D · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m torn about this book, on one hand it was a great introduction to tracking and animal behavior, with a main focus on slowing down and observing. I learned a lot. On the other hand, the author romanticizes the wild. In one chapter he states that we shouldn’t anthropomorphize animals and then spends the rest of the book not following his own rule. (Including a very strange description of his meeting with a turkey vulture) We should be careful about romanticism, to quote an Alaskan I once met: “Mother Nature doesn’t care about your feelings.”

[Nicholas Stahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

"We have been raised in a culture that has largely forgotten how to heal from losses, having substituted busyness, avoidance, and material distraction for genuine health."

I picked this book up because I liked the title and cover art. I flipped through it and saw a chapter titled "Acting Squirrely." I was sold. Upon seeing there was only one other review of this book on GoodReads, I was even more sold. The most amount of sold.

I'm a former Eagle Scout and have done a fair share of camping, hiking, and wilderness buffoonery. I've never tracked before and my knowledge on the matter was extremely limited. This is the only book I have read on tracking and it does a very fine job of explaining the history, the different ways, and the purpose of it. Animal gaits, behaviors, and personal anecdotes are littered throughout. It's a fascinating little snapshot of Point Reyes wildlife. But the most wonderful part of this book is the humanity of it.

Richard Vacha is very clearly a wise man. He knows the intricacies of acceptance, nature, and spirit. I went "tracking" (more so a hike really) and I felt prepared. I had only read the book, but the messages resonated. Tracking, to me, is less about actually following a certain animal but more about inward peace, awareness, and living life. Actually living it. Slowing down. Contemplation. The beauty of being alive and expressing gratitude to that simple fact.

This book is an excellent reminder to practice patience, appreciate the small things, and focus on the journey.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice series of meditations on being in nature and observing. I enjoyed taking my time with this one, that feels pretty appropriate given the goal of the author. In the end I learned something about tracking too.

[Erin Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book took me almost a year to read because it’s dense and meant to be savored. i constantly felt emotional while reading it and frequently think of “sacred questions” since finishing the chapter. there is so much wisdom to be gained from this book and i love richard vacha so much!

[Tri-reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up. Some stories interested me, but even though short articles, I was tuned out at the end of many of them.

[Sofia Gonzalez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Endearing and inspiring. I want to talk with a vulture someday, too.