ranger in Auburn recreational area, waiting for the dam

Well, I gotta say. If there is a better book about Northern California's Gold Country (I lived on Buck's Bar, SE of Diamond Springs for a long summer), I haven't seen it. All the sleazy, self-serving, mineral-poaching, atavistic aspects of the "Hangtown" crowd are well represented here. This is what living in that country was like when I lived there among several alcoholic sociopaths who, it seemed, needed to be threatened with summary eviction by county authorities every so often if one wanted them to behave in a relatively "civilized" manner. Gold holds no respect for persons, apparently, and I couldn't get back to San Francisco fast enough when push came to shove. This is very nicely written and entertaining if one likes 'dark' stories. 'Nuff said. ( )

In this informative book, Smith tells of his 13 years working as a park ranger in California's Auburn State Recreation Area. His job is to protect the land from the people, the people from the land, and the people from each other. He is 15 times more likely to be killed or injured on the job than a DEA agent. As if that wasn’t challenging enough, he patrols two river canyons that are doomed to be flooded by a dam whose construction has been stalled by politics and environmental concerns. He deals with backcountry miners armed to the teeth, a cougar attack on a jogger, illegal tree cutting, and drunk and belligerent campers. He also gives historical and political background on the dam and the area's unique geology. This is a captivating look into the life of a park ranger as well as a tour through the beautiful river canyons where he works. ( )

Just when you thought you'd seen every side of human nature displayed by californians in their native environment Smith describes some people, circumstances, and politics that prove we can always get a little crazier than we thought was possible. ( )

Veteran park ranger, Jordan Fisher Smith http://www.jordanfishersmith.com/ in his first book provides a unique blend of evocative nature writing and realistic descriptions of the daily risks and rigors inherent in his job as a park ranger http://www.naturenoir.com/ Read a recent interview of the author: Dalton, Aaron (Mar. 2005). Not Just Another Pretty Place http://www.grist.org/article/dalton-noir/ from Grist Magazine. (lj) ( )