Tyson, Chicken Rancher 🐓 on Nostr: Currently reading two PNW mountain-related books. Both are worth reading if you're ...

Currently reading two PNW mountain-related books. Both are worth reading if you're into this stuff.

Of Men and Mountains is written by William O. Douglas who apparently was the longest serving U.S. Supreme Court justice ever. He writes of his boyhood adventures in the Cascade mountains circa 1910, specifically up the Tieton and Naches valleys outside of Yakima. It's a glimpse into what that area of the country was like during those times. One of my quirks is paying attention to the lives of authors, and I was saddened to learn of Douglas' pattern of leaving his wives for much, much younger women.

Pickets and Dead Men is a memoir of a local lady who was a climbing ranger (not a guide) on Rainier for three seasons. There's a lot of badass mountaineering of course, but what's notable about the book is that you get a glimpse behind the scenes into what it's actually like to do that job. The author is honest with the reader that even though she had her dream job, she wasn't particularly suited for it. I think she's one of those people who just have a very high tolerance for "suck" and stuck it out for three years even though she should have quit much earlier. I summited Rainier with RMI 18 years ago (one and done, thanks) so it's fun to read about what life is like for these folks.

Caveat to the above is that I haven't finished either book. I found them about the same time and have been switching back and forth, but I have read enough to report back.