Heyday Books

The Complete Guide to Yosemite National Park, 6th Edition

2008-10-25T06:52:35Z

With over 100,000 copies of the original in print, this revised and expanded edition of a Yosemite classic has become a standard reference for park visitors. This guidebook features things to see and do, provides reservation information, lists hiking trails and backpacking tips, shares information about Yosemite's history and place names, and covers many aspects of its natural features. New to this edition are color photos, shaded relief maps, sections on the 1997 flood and recent fires, and new phone numbers, addresses, concessioner names, and other data.

]]> "Comprehensive, authoritative, even subjective at times, this is a fine introduction to a famous park."—Library Journal

Awards

Winner of the Best National Park Guidebook Award from the National Park Service

Luminous Mountains: The Sierra Nevada of California

2008-10-25T06:18:26Z

Born of an intimate relationship with nature, Luminous Mountains is a spirited journey of discovery up the high peaks and down the wild rivers of the great Sierra Nevada. With 137 stunning photographs and the engaging text of a seasoned storyteller, Tim Palmer guides us through the stormy white depths of winter and into ancient green forests suffused with life. In all months of the year he shows us unmatched images of wonder—from icons of scenery such as Yosemite's El Capitan, Lake Tahoe, and Mount Whitney, to remote and secret enclaves amid the peaks and the canyons.

]]> "In their craggy immensity, the Sierra peaks illuminate Tim Palmer's glorious photos and canny text as they do the mind of anybody lucky enough to follow in his adventurous footsteps. What a luminous treasure indeed these mountains are, and how lucky we are to have Tim Palmer tracking for us their wild profiles and the heartbreaking loveliness of their rivers!"—Ernest Callenbach, author of Ecotopia

"Luminous Mountains is a beautiful tribute to California's famed mountain region. Tim Palmer embodies the spirit of the Sierra Nevada, and one can't help but be inspired by his passion and dedication to the Sierra."—Yvon Chouinard, owner and founder of Patagonia, Inc.

"Tim Palmer's Luminous Mountains is lyrical. Yet when this author alarmed about what is happening within the Sierra he is factual, informative, and down to earth. His spirit matches the spirit of John Muir."—Andrea Mead Lawrence, two-time Olympic skiing gold medalist and founder of the Andrea Lawrence Institute for Mountains and Rivers

Legends of the Yosemite Miwok

2008-10-25T05:35:09Z

Read about the greed of His'-sik the Skunk, about how Ah-hā'-le the coyote created humans, and about the quarreling couple who became Half Dome and North Dome.

For centuries these stories have instructed and entertained the Indians of Yosemite. Presented here in a form that represents, as closely as possible, the way they were traditionally told—and beautifully illustrated with the artwork of Maidu Indian Harry Fonseca—these stories offer an alternative, older way of understanding a beloved American landscape.

Yosemite Meditations

2008-10-25T00:21:41Z

This delightful little book is filled with meditative quotes about nature, the environment, and our national parks. Acclaimed resident photographer Michael Frye pairs each quote with a breathtaking full-color image of Yosemite. The book provides the ideal inspiration for contemplating the special qualities and values of Yosemite, as well as our other parks and natural areas.

The Wild Muir: Twenty-two of John Muir's Greatest Adventures

2008-10-24T23:59:01Z

Here is an entertaining collection of John Muir's most exciting adventures, representing some of his finest writing. From the famous avalanche ride off the rim of Yosemite Valley to his night spent weathering a windstorm at the top of a tree to death-defying falls on Alaskan glaciers, the renowned outdoorsman's exploits are related in passages that are by turns exhilarating, unnerving, dizzying, and outrageous.

Two Bear Cubs: A Miwok Legend from California's Yosemite Valley

2008-10-24T22:27:07Z

This enormously popular children's book is a delightful retelling of the Southern Sierra Miwok legend of the mountain El Capitan and how it came to be. Mother Grizzly Bear thinks that her two playful cubs are wrestling and having fun along the Merced River in Yosemite Valley while she is checking her fish traps. When she returns to join her sons, however, she discovers the cubs are nowhere to be found.

Populated with characters based on real Sierra animals, this story is about the value of all beings, the nature of courage, and the lesson that being a hero has very little to do with one's size. Includes notes about the life and culture of the Southern Sierra Miwok, a bibliography, and Internet resources for teachers.

Named one of the Best Picture Books of 1997 by the San Francisco Chronicle

Above All: Mount Whitney and California's Highest Peaks

2008-10-24T21:25:57Z

California's "Fourteeners"—Mount Whitney, Mount Shasta, and the loftiest peaks of the High Sierra—have long teased the imaginations and challenged the fortitude of mountaineers.

Photographer and mountaineer David Stark Wilson captures the treacherous beauty of these summits and the surrounding panorama, evoking a broad range of emotion—from excitement and allure to a quieter sense of peace, respect, and awe. Steve Roper, a well-known climber and historian, provides accompanying text. Together Wilson and Roper weave an unforgettable tapestry of windswept splendor, historical data, personal anecdote, climbing mythology, and the natural history of California's highest peaks.

Norman Clyde: Legendary Mountaineer of California's Sierra Nevada

2008-10-24T21:21:52Z

This riveting account of one of the most notable personalities of the mountain climbing world reconstructs the life of legendary mountaineer Norman Clyde (1885-1972). He made his mark on history with more than one hundred and thirty first ascents throughout western North America, and many believe he knew the High Sierra better than anyone else, including John Muir.

Part of his mystique comes from participating in high-profile mountain rescues and recoveries, in which he is credited with saving a number of lives. Those who had the good fortune to meet him--often with a ninety-pound pack on his back that included an anvil for boot repair, fishing rods, cooking pots, and books in Greek and Latin--never forgot the experience.

Biographer Robert C. Pavlik uses Clyde's own words, along with recollections from his family, friends, fellow climbers, and acquaintances, to capture the experiences of a remarkable man and a bygone time "between the pioneers and the rock climbers."

Geological Ramblings in Yosemite

2008-10-24T21:11:45Z

Written for a non-technical audience interested in geology, Geological Ramblings in Yosemite is a collection of essays by N. King Huber, a geologist emeritus with the U.S. Geological Survey who has extensive field experience in Yosemite National Park. Huber tells the dramatic story of how the park has been shaped by volcanoes, glaciers, stream patterns, erosion, and rock slides. His essays also pay tribute to early geologists and the evolution of how we understand the geological forces at work in the park.

]]> "The incomparable Yosemite Valley has arrested the attention of both science and the public since its discovery in the 1850s. N. King Huber, a lifelong student of the Valley's geologic history, writing as both scientist and science historian, intersperses these essays with the struggles of early naturalists to understand the Valley's origin and his own captivating stories of the waterfalls, glacial sculpting, lava flows, and landslides that shaped the region."—James G. Moore, geologist and author of Exploring the Highest Sierra

"I can think of no one better suited to write about geologic ramblings in Yosemite than N. King Huber. His intimate knowledge, exuberant enthusiasm, and extensive experience in the Sierra Nevada provide the background for these wonderful stories in the rocks."—Jan van Wagtendonk, geologist and editor of Fire in California's Ecosystems

The Yosemite Grant, 1864–1906: A Pictorial History

2008-10-15T18:56:45Z

This book is a comprehensive, well-illustrated history of the Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Big Trees. Focused on the history behind the breathtaking landscape, it contains detailed information supplemented by a comprehensive index and bibliography. The story of Yosemite is told through a chronological narrative that gives in-depth treatment to the people, institutions, and events that shaped the park's rich heritage.

Indian Life of the Yosemite Region: Miwok Material Culture

2008-10-15T18:54:05Z

This book is an authoritative source for anyone interested in the history and heritage of the Yosemite Miwok. It is a classic study of Miwok tribe culture written by two anthropologists and covering topics such as shelter, food, art, and industry. The volume includes forty-eight illustrated plates of artifacts, an extensive bibliography, and many informative maps. For students or anyone interested in Yosemite Indian culture, the book is a fascinating read.

Railroads of the Yosemite Valley

2008-10-15T18:50:21Z

This is a reprint of the intriguing story of four short-line railroads that operated in the Merced River Canyon to serve Yosemite National Park. Originally published in 1963, this volume assembles more than two hundred black-and-white photographs of railroads and trains, relating the importance of the rail lines in the visitors' experiences of Yosemite. The rich history of Yosemite is brought to life through the photographs that tell a special relationship between individuals and machines.

Ho! For Yo-Semite: By Foot, Horseback, Horse-Stage, Horseless Carriage, Bicycle, and Steam Locomotive: Eleven Original Accounts of Early Day Travel to Yosemite Valley

2008-10-15T18:45:56Z

This colorful collection of early visits to Yosemite chronicles the first-hand accounts of adventures through the park on foot, on horseback, or even on bicycle. These records are an informative, humorous, and oftentimes remarkable look into personal experiences with the national park before the advent of modern transportation. The book includes an article about an overland foot trek in 1855 and a cave expedition near the San Francisco Presidio.

The Ahwahnee: Yosemite's Grand Hotel

2008-10-15T18:34:58Z

This beautifully produced book tells the story of the conception, construction, and occupation of the Ahwanee, one of the finest lodges in the national park system. Meticulously researched and illustrated with over one hundred photographs, the volume includes images of the majestic hotel, details of its unforgettable design, and juicy tales about its many celebrity guests, including Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, John F. Kennedy, and movie stars like Mel Gibson and Brad Pitt.

Missing in the Minarets: The Search for Walter A. Starr, Jr.

2008-10-15T18:32:10Z

This riveting narrative explores the mysterious 1933 disappearance of Walter "Peter" Starr, a prominent San Francisco attorney and mountain climber. Although rigorous searches in the Minaret region of the Sierra Nevada ended fruitlessly, Norman Clyde refused to give up the search. His perseverance and fascination with the fate of the lost man and his surprising discoveries along the way make for a compelling and timeless adventure story.