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Wild Rescues: A Paramedic's Extreme Adventures in Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton
Wild Rescues is a fast-paced, firsthand glimpse into the exciting lives of paramedics who work with the National Park a unique brand of park rangers who respond to medical and traumatic emergencies in some of the most isolated and rugged parts of America. In 2014, Kevin Grange left his job as a paramedic in Los Angeles to work in a response area with 2.2 million Yellowstone National Park. Seeking a break from city life and urban EMS, he wanted to experience pure nature, fulfill his dream of working for the National Park Service, and take a crash-course in wilderness medicine. Between calls, Grange reflects upon the democratic ideal of the National Park mission, the beauty of the land, and the many threats facing it. With visitation rising, budgets shrinking, and people loving our parks to death, he realized that—along with the health of his patients—he was also fighting for the life of “America’s Best Idea.”
304 pages, Paperback
First published April 6, 2021
263 people are currently reading
7028 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Grange
5 books103 followersKevin Grange is a firefighter paramedic in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. He is the award-winning author of Wild Rescues: A Paramedic's Extreme Adventures in Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton; Lights and Sirens: The Education of a Paramedic; and Beneath Blossom Rain: Discovering Bhutan on the Toughest Trek in the World. He has written for National Parks, Backpacker, Utne Reader, Yoga Journal, and the Orange County Register. He has worked as a park ranger and paramedic at Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Grand Teton National Parks.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 288 reviews
November 23, 2021
As a former ER nurse and permanent trauma junkie who’s also crazy in love with National Parks, the moment I saw this book I KNEW I had to read it.
It was everything I wanted it to be. I sped through this really quickly and it really brought me back to ER days (and made me miss it quite a bit). Grange somehow manages to keep you entertained with every single thing that could go wrong while visiting a National Park while still making you desperate to get back out there! I love the moments in which he juxtaposes the emergency he’s arrived at with the beauty of the nature around him. I haven’t read a ton of nonfiction but I have a feeling this will always remain in my top favorites no matter how many more I read.
I want to caution a trigger warning (death and suicide- both patients and colleagues) for the very last few chapters. They are very somber and I give Grange a lot of praise for adding these chapters instead of keeping the entire book lighthearted. Suicide, PTSD, and mental health crises are all too common among first responders and medical staff and I feel that it isn’t a topic talked about enough until it’s too late. I had a lot of trouble getting through the last few chapters and had to keep putting the book down and recollecting myself. I’m sure others who have worked in the emergency field often get the question “What’s the worst thing you’ve seen?” with the expectation of getting answers about crazy or bizarrely gruesome (but still entertaining) stories. The worst things we’ve seen most don’t want to hear about- the memories that have you waking with nightmares or finding yourself unexpectedly in tears while doing mundane tasks like laundry or washing the dishes. Or obsessing over what you could have done or said differently that would have changed the outcome. These are the stories people don’t actually want to hear, so I appreciate Grange broaching this difficult topic.
It was everything I wanted it to be. I sped through this really quickly and it really brought me back to ER days (and made me miss it quite a bit). Grange somehow manages to keep you entertained with every single thing that could go wrong while visiting a National Park while still making you desperate to get back out there! I love the moments in which he juxtaposes the emergency he’s arrived at with the beauty of the nature around him. I haven’t read a ton of nonfiction but I have a feeling this will always remain in my top favorites no matter how many more I read.
I want to caution a trigger warning (death and suicide- both patients and colleagues) for the very last few chapters. They are very somber and I give Grange a lot of praise for adding these chapters instead of keeping the entire book lighthearted. Suicide, PTSD, and mental health crises are all too common among first responders and medical staff and I feel that it isn’t a topic talked about enough until it’s too late. I had a lot of trouble getting through the last few chapters and had to keep putting the book down and recollecting myself. I’m sure others who have worked in the emergency field often get the question “What’s the worst thing you’ve seen?” with the expectation of getting answers about crazy or bizarrely gruesome (but still entertaining) stories. The worst things we’ve seen most don’t want to hear about- the memories that have you waking with nightmares or finding yourself unexpectedly in tears while doing mundane tasks like laundry or washing the dishes. Or obsessing over what you could have done or said differently that would have changed the outcome. These are the stories people don’t actually want to hear, so I appreciate Grange broaching this difficult topic.
March 19, 2025
Wild Rescues: A Paramedic's Extreme Adventures in Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton is a fabulous book about Grange's experiences as a paramedic park ranger at Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Jackson Hole's Grand Teton National Park. The audiobook is narrated superbly by Timothy Andres Pabon.
There are many terrifying and fascinating stories about health emergencies, falls, car accidents, and injuries due to wildlife. Grange couples these stories with some of the questions visitors at Yellowstone frequently asked him:
* Can you help me take a selfie with a bison?
* Can I put my child on top of a bison to take a photo?
* Where is the switch to turn on the Old Faithful geyser?
* Where is Half Dome? (It's in Yosemite, California....not Yellowstone, Wyoming.)
I admire and I'm constantly grateful for first responders who help selflessly to those who need medical treatment.
There are many terrifying and fascinating stories about health emergencies, falls, car accidents, and injuries due to wildlife. Grange couples these stories with some of the questions visitors at Yellowstone frequently asked him:
* Can you help me take a selfie with a bison?
* Can I put my child on top of a bison to take a photo?
* Where is the switch to turn on the Old Faithful geyser?
* Where is Half Dome? (It's in Yosemite, California....not Yellowstone, Wyoming.)
I admire and I'm constantly grateful for first responders who help selflessly to those who need medical treatment.
April 23, 2021
I love our country’s National Parks (although admittedly in bite-size quantities). When I saw a new book out, about “a paramedic’s extreme adventures in Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton,” I thought it would make for a good read.
Author Kevin Grange is working as a paramedic for a private ambulance company in LA, but is getting a little bored with it. He decides to apply for employment as a paramedic in the National Parks. When a Yellowstone manager calls him, she says, ” We figured you could handle the call volume and craziness since you’re from Los Angeles. You probably won’t see gang shootings, but we do have bison gorings and bear maulings.” Grange was sold on the position!
He takes a seasonal position at Yellowstone, and loves the surroundings and the “vibe” of the place — quite different from his experiences in LA. But he realizes, “the myriad of Yellowstone’s wonders is matched only by the many ways the park can kill you.”
Having been to several National Parks, I remember feeling pretty awed by the sights but also by the ease with which one could get hurt. I specifically remember the Grand Canyon, where dropoffs were (obviously) right in the open, with nothing between the rock edge and a drop of hundreds of feet. Add in all the people wanting photos of themselves out on the very edge (probably made worse these days with social media photos everywhere), and it was more than a little concerning. There are so many people out there who just aren’t that careful. How are hundreds of people not having accidents here?
And sure enough, Kevin and his colleagues are involved in rescuing park visitors and workers who find themselves having slipped and fallen on trails, gone over edges, etc. Often the victims were older, and Grange would wonder why these people would go to such dangerous places given their physical limitations. But often, they would share with him that visiting the park, seeing Old Faithful, etc. was a “bucket list” item for them. “There was a life-affirming defiance of death in their decision to visit Yellowstone, and I came to love them for it” … he was reminded daily of the beauty and fragility of life.
People behaved stupidly around animals, as you might expect — I witnessed many people getting way too close to wild animals in an attempt at a great photo. Grange shares the sad story of a family who found a baby bison on its own, and then put it in their SUV and drove it to a ranger station. The rangers brought it back to the herd, but it was rejected due to its contact with humans and had to be euthanized 😦
I think doing a job such as Grange’s would be difficult, not just due to the trauma, but due to its seasonal nature. Park employees live in dorm-type housing that didn’t sound all that appealing. After his season at Yellowstone ended, Grange was hired for a season at Yosemite.
In this park, the accidents could be even more serious given the rock- and mountain-climbing going on. Grange notes, “In Hollywood, people reacted nobly to trauma … However, in real life a critical trauma call was always a messy and chaotic affair during which, rather than than giving thanks for our EMS efforts, patients were often combative.” He tells several harrowing tales of performing first aid, always trying to keep his patient alive until he can get them to the nearest hospital (which, in National Parks, may be hours away).
I couldn’t help being impressed with what a genuinely decent, nice guy Grange appeared to be. He seemed very invested in his patients having positive outcomes, and dealt with a bout of depression once over some of the traumatic things he had witnessed while on the job — one example being a young dad who had a stroke while reading to his two children one evening while in the park. “Tragedies like this hit me hard, here at a national park. People came here on vacation, happily visiting a magical place like Yosemite or Yellowstone, distanced from the stress and demands of work and daily life, only to experience such an ugly event. It was a cruel irony for them to undergo tragedy in such a pristine setting.”
I found this book to be a fascinating glimpse into a life that I would never want to live, but I admire those who do. I liked Kevin’s description of living in a National Park: it “plunges you entirely into the present moment. Your world simultaneously collapses and expands. It shrinks to your assigned district and yet grows larger due to the full existence you live while there. You live alongside a diverse community of people who value a campfire over a television, conservation over consumption, and shared, spoken stories over social media. You find ‘a world in a grain of sand’ and ‘a heaven in a wildflower,’ like the English poet William Blake wrote. And, rather than by a clock, your sense of time is measured by geyser eruptions, the return — or departure — of waterfalls, and the lumbering migration of bison and elk.”
Recommended.
Author Kevin Grange is working as a paramedic for a private ambulance company in LA, but is getting a little bored with it. He decides to apply for employment as a paramedic in the National Parks. When a Yellowstone manager calls him, she says, ” We figured you could handle the call volume and craziness since you’re from Los Angeles. You probably won’t see gang shootings, but we do have bison gorings and bear maulings.” Grange was sold on the position!
He takes a seasonal position at Yellowstone, and loves the surroundings and the “vibe” of the place — quite different from his experiences in LA. But he realizes, “the myriad of Yellowstone’s wonders is matched only by the many ways the park can kill you.”
Having been to several National Parks, I remember feeling pretty awed by the sights but also by the ease with which one could get hurt. I specifically remember the Grand Canyon, where dropoffs were (obviously) right in the open, with nothing between the rock edge and a drop of hundreds of feet. Add in all the people wanting photos of themselves out on the very edge (probably made worse these days with social media photos everywhere), and it was more than a little concerning. There are so many people out there who just aren’t that careful. How are hundreds of people not having accidents here?
And sure enough, Kevin and his colleagues are involved in rescuing park visitors and workers who find themselves having slipped and fallen on trails, gone over edges, etc. Often the victims were older, and Grange would wonder why these people would go to such dangerous places given their physical limitations. But often, they would share with him that visiting the park, seeing Old Faithful, etc. was a “bucket list” item for them. “There was a life-affirming defiance of death in their decision to visit Yellowstone, and I came to love them for it” … he was reminded daily of the beauty and fragility of life.
People behaved stupidly around animals, as you might expect — I witnessed many people getting way too close to wild animals in an attempt at a great photo. Grange shares the sad story of a family who found a baby bison on its own, and then put it in their SUV and drove it to a ranger station. The rangers brought it back to the herd, but it was rejected due to its contact with humans and had to be euthanized 😦
I think doing a job such as Grange’s would be difficult, not just due to the trauma, but due to its seasonal nature. Park employees live in dorm-type housing that didn’t sound all that appealing. After his season at Yellowstone ended, Grange was hired for a season at Yosemite.
In this park, the accidents could be even more serious given the rock- and mountain-climbing going on. Grange notes, “In Hollywood, people reacted nobly to trauma … However, in real life a critical trauma call was always a messy and chaotic affair during which, rather than than giving thanks for our EMS efforts, patients were often combative.” He tells several harrowing tales of performing first aid, always trying to keep his patient alive until he can get them to the nearest hospital (which, in National Parks, may be hours away).
I couldn’t help being impressed with what a genuinely decent, nice guy Grange appeared to be. He seemed very invested in his patients having positive outcomes, and dealt with a bout of depression once over some of the traumatic things he had witnessed while on the job — one example being a young dad who had a stroke while reading to his two children one evening while in the park. “Tragedies like this hit me hard, here at a national park. People came here on vacation, happily visiting a magical place like Yosemite or Yellowstone, distanced from the stress and demands of work and daily life, only to experience such an ugly event. It was a cruel irony for them to undergo tragedy in such a pristine setting.”
I found this book to be a fascinating glimpse into a life that I would never want to live, but I admire those who do. I liked Kevin’s description of living in a National Park: it “plunges you entirely into the present moment. Your world simultaneously collapses and expands. It shrinks to your assigned district and yet grows larger due to the full existence you live while there. You live alongside a diverse community of people who value a campfire over a television, conservation over consumption, and shared, spoken stories over social media. You find ‘a world in a grain of sand’ and ‘a heaven in a wildflower,’ like the English poet William Blake wrote. And, rather than by a clock, your sense of time is measured by geyser eruptions, the return — or departure — of waterfalls, and the lumbering migration of bison and elk.”
Recommended.
April 30, 2025
What a collection of fascinating first response/search and rescue stories with an incredible setting in the National Parks of the US. I’d love to see a Canadian paramedic/SAR account, so if anyone knows of any, send the recs my way please!
Despite some of the horrific events detailed, I still felt inspired to get outside in nature, and maybe even get outside my country to visit more international historical/natural sites of interest.
Loved the detail on the courses/programs the author was able to take, the insight into PTSD and mental health within the healthcare system, and of course the sometimes funny and often scary wildlife encounters as well.
A great nonfiction read for everyone to enjoy and become motivated to get involved in the nature and community initiatives around them.
Despite some of the horrific events detailed, I still felt inspired to get outside in nature, and maybe even get outside my country to visit more international historical/natural sites of interest.
Loved the detail on the courses/programs the author was able to take, the insight into PTSD and mental health within the healthcare system, and of course the sometimes funny and often scary wildlife encounters as well.
A great nonfiction read for everyone to enjoy and become motivated to get involved in the nature and community initiatives around them.
March 21, 2021
Wild Rescues by Kevin Grange is a very highly recommended fascinating firsthand account of the life of a paramedic working with the National Park Service.
In 2014, Kevin Grange left his job as a paramedic in Los Angeles to work at Yellowstone National Park. The district ranger at Old Faithful told Grange, "We figured you could handle the call volume and craziness since you’re from Los Angeles. You probably won’t see gang shootings, but we do have bison gorings and bear maulings." Clearly this is a challenging job that requires paramedics to have the ability and skills to respond to both medical and traumatic emergencies. As Grange points out, "the myriad of Yellowstone’s wonders is matched only by the many ways the park can kill you."
A paramedic with the National Park Service is not a desk job. They encounter stroke, seizures, heart attacks, broken bones, allergic reactions, and diabetic emergencies in a field setting. They may treat patients who are potentially suffering from heat exhaustion, heat stroke, burns, frostbite, hypothermia, lightning strikes, or insect bites, along with the numerous injuries caused by wildlife. These paramedics may be expected to stay over night with a patient in the back country, do search and rescue missions, fight fires, assist visitors, keep visitors safe, and handle resource management.
As Grange tells the many stories of just some of his experiences and the wide variety of calls he answered and emergencies he handled it became quite clear that these paramedics are a special breed all of their own. Grange covers working in Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Grand Teton National Parks. Each of theses park have differences and similarities. Yosemite, for example, has a lot of climbing accidents which requires Grange to learn and sharpen his skills in that area. Clearly I, as many people, am not cut out to be a paramedic at a National Park, but what I can do is appreciate the job these brave people do through the eyes of Grange.
Wild Rescues is not just a heart-stopping series of tales of emergencies, Grange also makes it personal. He shares bits of his personal life and his thoughts. Sometimes there is humor in the pages while at other times there are touching tear-jerking stories or frightening encounters. These paramedics have honed the ability and skill required to quickly assess situations and act accordingly and Grange shares events that clearly showcase this. The narrative is organized into sections set in the three National Parks and the accounts are very accessible to those who don't have a medical background. Clearly, after reading Wild Rescues, travelers will be thinking about safety as well as the natural beauty and wildlife when they visit a National Park.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of the Chicago Review Press in exchange for my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2021/0...
In 2014, Kevin Grange left his job as a paramedic in Los Angeles to work at Yellowstone National Park. The district ranger at Old Faithful told Grange, "We figured you could handle the call volume and craziness since you’re from Los Angeles. You probably won’t see gang shootings, but we do have bison gorings and bear maulings." Clearly this is a challenging job that requires paramedics to have the ability and skills to respond to both medical and traumatic emergencies. As Grange points out, "the myriad of Yellowstone’s wonders is matched only by the many ways the park can kill you."
A paramedic with the National Park Service is not a desk job. They encounter stroke, seizures, heart attacks, broken bones, allergic reactions, and diabetic emergencies in a field setting. They may treat patients who are potentially suffering from heat exhaustion, heat stroke, burns, frostbite, hypothermia, lightning strikes, or insect bites, along with the numerous injuries caused by wildlife. These paramedics may be expected to stay over night with a patient in the back country, do search and rescue missions, fight fires, assist visitors, keep visitors safe, and handle resource management.
As Grange tells the many stories of just some of his experiences and the wide variety of calls he answered and emergencies he handled it became quite clear that these paramedics are a special breed all of their own. Grange covers working in Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Grand Teton National Parks. Each of theses park have differences and similarities. Yosemite, for example, has a lot of climbing accidents which requires Grange to learn and sharpen his skills in that area. Clearly I, as many people, am not cut out to be a paramedic at a National Park, but what I can do is appreciate the job these brave people do through the eyes of Grange.
Wild Rescues is not just a heart-stopping series of tales of emergencies, Grange also makes it personal. He shares bits of his personal life and his thoughts. Sometimes there is humor in the pages while at other times there are touching tear-jerking stories or frightening encounters. These paramedics have honed the ability and skill required to quickly assess situations and act accordingly and Grange shares events that clearly showcase this. The narrative is organized into sections set in the three National Parks and the accounts are very accessible to those who don't have a medical background. Clearly, after reading Wild Rescues, travelers will be thinking about safety as well as the natural beauty and wildlife when they visit a National Park.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of the Chicago Review Press in exchange for my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2021/0...
April 11, 2022
4 stars because this guy was so self obsessed. But then turned to 3 stars because he ended the book with "God bless America"...
October 31, 2023
I keep switching between 3 and 4 stars because I’m torn.
I found this book after I first read the YOSAR blog and desperately wanted a long-form continuation of incredible SAR stories from the national parks. This book…was not quite that. It was much more memoir than rescue recount, and much more personal. Grange and his colleagues are undoubtedly some of the most impressive, compassionate, dedicated people you’ll ever have the honor of encountering. (Or, maybe you should hope to never encounter them, lest you need their services.) But I really was mainly here for the detailed rescue stories, and I could’ve done with a lot more of them. As a memoir, too, this book just needed a better editor. But it was a fast read, and I still felt a lot of the wild, stunning, and terrifying majesty of the parks come through.
I found this book after I first read the YOSAR blog and desperately wanted a long-form continuation of incredible SAR stories from the national parks. This book…was not quite that. It was much more memoir than rescue recount, and much more personal. Grange and his colleagues are undoubtedly some of the most impressive, compassionate, dedicated people you’ll ever have the honor of encountering. (Or, maybe you should hope to never encounter them, lest you need their services.) But I really was mainly here for the detailed rescue stories, and I could’ve done with a lot more of them. As a memoir, too, this book just needed a better editor. But it was a fast read, and I still felt a lot of the wild, stunning, and terrifying majesty of the parks come through.
June 13, 2021
I thought there would be more action and fascinating rescues. I’ll admit I was here to rubberneck. I wanted to feel immersed in National Park magic while travel horror stories unfolded— it wasn’t quite that, but a decent read nonetheless.
July 10, 2023
Spied this one at a local bookstore in MT, and having just visited these parks figured it would be an interesting read. Should I become an NPS EMT?!?!
December 8, 2022
This was a great read. It was my first time reading a book about a paramedic that works in extreme types of cases like these.
The author did a great job at telling his experiences. He did a fantastic job at providing tidbits of education while keeping the stories engaging.
There were some very... sad / hard to read chapters towards the end. If you are sensitive to those types of things, you may want to pass the last few.
The author did a great job at telling his experiences. He did a fantastic job at providing tidbits of education while keeping the stories engaging.
There were some very... sad / hard to read chapters towards the end. If you are sensitive to those types of things, you may want to pass the last few.
June 9, 2025
Such an exhilarating page turner. Kevin Grange takes us on a journey of high stake calls that wilderness paramedics & other emergency workers take in the remote & rugged terrains of National Parks. It gives us an insight on the difficulties of SAR missions & other everyday paramedic calls inside the parks that take great effort to get people to outside medical care from remote areas. It showcases the love & beauty for the wilderness as well as how feeling part of a community can make all the difference.
March 20, 2023
Wild Rescues follows up on Grange's Lights and Sirens to tell the story of what happened after Grange qualified as a paramedic. He'd had one image in mind of what his life as a paramedic would look like—but reality called for something else, and Grange found himself working with the National Park Service rather than in a big city as he'd originally planned.
Memoirs about working in the wild have always appealed to me, I think because it's the sort of work that sounds like a dream to me, and medical memoirs also appeal for their...for their pop science feel, I guess. I like learning weird things, and Wild Rescues has weird situations aplenty. To be clear: it's not all, or even mostly, rambling through the backwoods. Grange talks about work in busy, busy tourist destinations, where sometimes caring for an injured patient did require a complicated extraction from deep in the woods, but sometimes caring for patients meant preventing injuries by telling people (again, and again, and again) not to pet the bison.
Two things that didn't appeal so much: first, I don't think the romance does all that much to pull the story along. In the spirit of avoiding spoilers, I won't go into details, but it ended up feeling a little...generic? Which is fine, and bread-and-butter romances have their place, but in a book that's otherwise about very non-generic experiences, it wasn't so interesting. And second, ending on a "hoo-rah USA" note felt like a needle-scratch moment. There's some history throughout the book, and it would have felt more natural to have the book end on something about the importance of the national parks (and, more generally, of preserving nature).
Still, there are plenty of anecdotes and oddities of working in a national park to go around, and it's an engrossing read if, like me, you're interested in that sort of thing. I'll always go for books that tell tales of rescue and adventure out in the wild.
Memoirs about working in the wild have always appealed to me, I think because it's the sort of work that sounds like a dream to me, and medical memoirs also appeal for their...for their pop science feel, I guess. I like learning weird things, and Wild Rescues has weird situations aplenty. To be clear: it's not all, or even mostly, rambling through the backwoods. Grange talks about work in busy, busy tourist destinations, where sometimes caring for an injured patient did require a complicated extraction from deep in the woods, but sometimes caring for patients meant preventing injuries by telling people (again, and again, and again) not to pet the bison.
Two things that didn't appeal so much: first, I don't think the romance does all that much to pull the story along. In the spirit of avoiding spoilers, I won't go into details, but it ended up feeling a little...generic? Which is fine, and bread-and-butter romances have their place, but in a book that's otherwise about very non-generic experiences, it wasn't so interesting. And second, ending on a "hoo-rah USA" note felt like a needle-scratch moment. There's some history throughout the book, and it would have felt more natural to have the book end on something about the importance of the national parks (and, more generally, of preserving nature).
Still, there are plenty of anecdotes and oddities of working in a national park to go around, and it's an engrossing read if, like me, you're interested in that sort of thing. I'll always go for books that tell tales of rescue and adventure out in the wild.
January 12, 2022
This book was this month's pick for one of the book clubs I'm in. This book club I'm in in we do a lot of hiking adventures so it's only appropriate to read books based on the outdoors. I still consider myself new to hiking ( been doing it for a little over 4 years) so reading this books have grown an interest for me.
I've read several memoirs now about thru-hikers and their hiking journey. Wild Rescues is a great perspective from a paramedic who witnessed various rescues/recoveries in our national parks. This book opens your eyes to what could happen when enjoying the outdoors. Yes nature is beautiful but she can be dangerous too and I think a lot of people take advantage of that when visiting national parks. Yes there are grizzly and black bears, deer, bison, and various animals at these parks and we have to remember we are visiting their home. Reading Kevin's encounters with people who ask about the animals had my eyes rolling. For example asking when they put the animals back to their cages or asking they can take a selfie with a bison. You're not at a zoo.
Kevin even shares about suicides that occur at the parks. This was no surprise to me since I've read about in the last outdoor book I read, the author mentioned suicide in national parks and state parks. It's still sad to hear those statistics. Even among paramedics themselves.
Overall this was a really amazing read and I found this very informative. He explained in great detail about his rescues/recovery so you truly understand what had happened. Definitely would recommend this book to anyone who plans to visit our national parks or has an interest in paramedics and that their is more than just a paramedic that works with a hospital.
I've read several memoirs now about thru-hikers and their hiking journey. Wild Rescues is a great perspective from a paramedic who witnessed various rescues/recoveries in our national parks. This book opens your eyes to what could happen when enjoying the outdoors. Yes nature is beautiful but she can be dangerous too and I think a lot of people take advantage of that when visiting national parks. Yes there are grizzly and black bears, deer, bison, and various animals at these parks and we have to remember we are visiting their home. Reading Kevin's encounters with people who ask about the animals had my eyes rolling. For example asking when they put the animals back to their cages or asking they can take a selfie with a bison. You're not at a zoo.
Kevin even shares about suicides that occur at the parks. This was no surprise to me since I've read about in the last outdoor book I read, the author mentioned suicide in national parks and state parks. It's still sad to hear those statistics. Even among paramedics themselves.
Overall this was a really amazing read and I found this very informative. He explained in great detail about his rescues/recovery so you truly understand what had happened. Definitely would recommend this book to anyone who plans to visit our national parks or has an interest in paramedics and that their is more than just a paramedic that works with a hospital.
July 14, 2023
I was and am obsessed with this book. I was in the middle of it while I was in a car accident in Yellowstone and understanding the processes and behind the scenes gave me so much confidence and allowed me to be so calm while I was being transported to the hospital.
I sent Kevin a thank you note for writing this book and he wrote me back and sent me a signed copy. It’s easy to see the type of person he is by reading his book but this was just another nod to his generosity. As for the book, it’s captivating, engaging and gives you such an appreciation for these parks and the people who work in them.
Thank you Kevin!!
I sent Kevin a thank you note for writing this book and he wrote me back and sent me a signed copy. It’s easy to see the type of person he is by reading his book but this was just another nod to his generosity. As for the book, it’s captivating, engaging and gives you such an appreciation for these parks and the people who work in them.
Thank you Kevin!!
February 21, 2025
As a nurse and outdoor enthusiast, this book had everything for me! It was a reflective memoir, with both treacherous and funny medical stories. I read it at a time where the state of our national parks is uncertain, due to the current political administration. It gave me great appreciation for all the workers and volunteers at these sites.
March 6, 2025
This book spoke to me in so many different ways. It helped me reconnect with the national parks out west that I miss so much as well as grow a huge appreciation for the park Rangers and Park paramedics. I truly never realized how much they did to help keep our parks safe.
June 18, 2023
I really enjoyed reading this on the heels of a trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, and even before reading this it was easy to understand why Grange's work would be necessary in these busy and active parks. I especially enjoyed his writings on those in their golden years where the exertion (and falls) of a trip to the Parks is more appealing than sitting at home and potentially falling. I also appreciated that he addressed the impact of the work on the first responders. Yes, he fulfilled a goal of living in, not just visiting nature, but this isn't physically or emotionally easy work .
October 23, 2021
I've read his other stuff before but Kevin Grange delivers a good read.
To the uninitiated in Emegency Medicine his words will sound thrilling. To those who have some knowledge it's an " okay cool i would do that " scenario, but set against the backdrops of some of America's greatest National Parks. The medicine factor is complicated by being over two hours from even an urgent care in the back country.
At times, it reads like a person found a thesaurus or a poetry guide and the prose is flowing. Stylish and lyrical. Then it jumps into medical descriptions. But as the book goes on he finds his flow and it comes together.
A suprisingly real turn into discussions on PTSD and burnout and how to avoid it. The author does succumb a bit to " I fixed myself and so can you" but again mitigated by his clear love for the land and the people he serves with.
Finally, somehow I want to get into that CONTOMS course he mentions.
To the uninitiated in Emegency Medicine his words will sound thrilling. To those who have some knowledge it's an " okay cool i would do that " scenario, but set against the backdrops of some of America's greatest National Parks. The medicine factor is complicated by being over two hours from even an urgent care in the back country.
At times, it reads like a person found a thesaurus or a poetry guide and the prose is flowing. Stylish and lyrical. Then it jumps into medical descriptions. But as the book goes on he finds his flow and it comes together.
A suprisingly real turn into discussions on PTSD and burnout and how to avoid it. The author does succumb a bit to " I fixed myself and so can you" but again mitigated by his clear love for the land and the people he serves with.
Finally, somehow I want to get into that CONTOMS course he mentions.
December 4, 2022
3.5 out of 5
Wild Rescues: A Paramedic's Extreme Adventures in Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton is a fascinating memoir of a paramedic who has been practicing wilderness medicine at multiple national parks throughout the United States.
To begin with, Kevin Grange's dedication to serving others and saving lives is beyond inspiring.
Also, the author did a really good job describing the various emergencies so that it felt like I was actually living through them instead of just listening to the stories. Some of the stories really touched me and even made me cry a couple of times.
There is also a great balance between medical technicalities and narrative accessibility.
I especially appreciated the insightful and honest discussion of PTSD, suicide, and mental health issues among first responders. Honestly, without this part the memoir would feel a little bit too cheery and heroic.
Wild Rescues: A Paramedic's Extreme Adventures in Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton is a fascinating memoir of a paramedic who has been practicing wilderness medicine at multiple national parks throughout the United States.
To begin with, Kevin Grange's dedication to serving others and saving lives is beyond inspiring.
Also, the author did a really good job describing the various emergencies so that it felt like I was actually living through them instead of just listening to the stories. Some of the stories really touched me and even made me cry a couple of times.
There is also a great balance between medical technicalities and narrative accessibility.
I especially appreciated the insightful and honest discussion of PTSD, suicide, and mental health issues among first responders. Honestly, without this part the memoir would feel a little bit too cheery and heroic.
January 5, 2024
LOVED this book. I got really into this podcast called “National Park After Dark” that referred me to this book. I have worked in Emergency as an RN and between all the death I see at work and murder mysteries I’m fascinated with, it was a nice change of pace to read Kevin’s experiences AND get to hear from him on the podcast. Actually read this book on the porch of the Wawona while in Yosemite with my kiddo, where we hiked to vernal falls, ate at the Ahwahnee, and drove past the medical clinic (which I’m proud to announce we didn’t have to formally visit). Not my first trip to Yosemite but it felt like it could have been seeing aspects of it from Kevin’s perspective. Great read. Thank you for sharing your stories with us.
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July 12, 2021
I listened to the audiobook, and I didn’t love it. As a mountaineering nature lover, I thought this book would be super up my alley. But it fell a little flat. Didn’t hate it, but had a hard tome really getting into it. Not sure if that would have been different had I picked up a hard copy instead.
March 9, 2024
Snooze fest, couldn’t finish it.
July 20, 2025
I freely admit to quoting a review on the back cover of the book: "Kevin Grange details nearly everything that could possibly go wrong in a national park and yet still manages to make you more excited than ever to hit the trail." Conor Knighton
This is so true! This book is about the author's experiences as a paramedic in Yellowstone, Yosemite and Grand Teton National Parks. Along the way, he picks up additional credits for his resume, becoming certified as an EMT, firefighter, wildland firefighter (totally different), tactical EMS (the medics who enter the scene of an active shooter when it hasn't been completely cleared as safe) and a search and rescue member.
Kevin Grange is funny, honest and very articulate. Most of his patients live but some die. If you are looking for a page turner this summer, this is it!
This is so true! This book is about the author's experiences as a paramedic in Yellowstone, Yosemite and Grand Teton National Parks. Along the way, he picks up additional credits for his resume, becoming certified as an EMT, firefighter, wildland firefighter (totally different), tactical EMS (the medics who enter the scene of an active shooter when it hasn't been completely cleared as safe) and a search and rescue member.
Kevin Grange is funny, honest and very articulate. Most of his patients live but some die. If you are looking for a page turner this summer, this is it!
October 21, 2025
I think that the thing I hated most is the author's portrayal of PTSD. The author experiences symptoms commonly associated with PTSD after a traumatic event during a call. He doesn't go to a therapist to be diagnosed he reads studies, articles, and listening to podcasts. The author does some journaling and takes one yoga class and afterwards was finally healing. It's just like those people who claim to heal mental illness by yoga, exercising, or going to the forest for awhile. This book teaches two lessons and the first is to get a professional to diagnose you not a podcast. The second is that professional help may not always help but they can give you the best tip and ideas to help you with your illness.
December 29, 2025
Awesome book that shares the behind the scenes of a paramedic in some of the coolest places in the world. Gave it an extra star cause he had a lot of helicopter scenes in the book;) I took particular interest in his decision making ability and his idea of “call in early, call in big”. Many people fail to make smart decisions under pressure or get easily flustered but his ability to stay present in the situation was amazing!
February 23, 2024
Didn’t love it but didn’t hate it. Some chapters were more interesting than others. I felt at times Kevin would talk about different things and then try to bring them together nicely to finish the chapter but failed to do so. Like others have said, interesting to read how it works but can be repetitive.
January 1, 2022
3.5 stars. An interesting collection of calls from a medic and later firefighter in several of our nations national parks. Kept me entertained and if anything made of want to work in a national park.
January 13, 2022
Suddenly feel the urge to move and work in a national park. Kevin does a great job of sharing his love and respect for the work he does and that same love and respect for the power of nature. Also as someone with morbid curiosity and a love for adventure this book was all I wanted and more
July 27, 2022
Had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Kevin Grange has some truly wild stories…some inspiring, some heartbreaking. It’s evident that he loves his job and is a great paramedic. This book is an awesome read for anyone who loves the outdoors and is intrigued by the medical field.
September 2, 2022
I enjoyed the stories in this and that Kevin spoke openly about the importance of first responders taking the time to process their trauma from work. However, this book is VERY American, with the literal last sentence of the book being God Bless America.
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