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Travels in the Greater Yellowstone
Award-winning nature writer Jack Turner directs his attention to one of America’s greatest natural the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Comprised of two national parks, three national wildlife refuges, parts of six national forests, and eleven wilderness areas, Greater Yellowstone is a vast array of differing environments and geographies.
In a series of essays, Turner explores this wonderland, venturing on twelve separate trips in all seasons using various modes of hiking, climbing, skiing, canoeing lakes, floating rivers, and driving his way across the landscape. He treks down the Teton Range, picks up the Oregon Trail in the Red Desert, and floats the South Fork of the Snake River. Along the way he encounters a variety of moose, elk, trout, and wolves. From the treacherous mountains in the dead of winter, to lush river valleys in the height of fishing season, his words and steps trace one of the most American of experiences---exploring the West.
Turner, who has lived in Grand Teton for three decades, designates Greater Yellowstone as ground zero for the country’s conflict between preservation and development. At a time when the battle to preserve a wild and natural environment is relentless, his accounts of the areas conflicts with alien species, logging, real estate, oil, and gas development are alarming.
A mixture of adventure, nostalgia, and Americana, Turner’s rare experiences and evocative writing transform the sights and sounds of Greater Yellowstone into an intimate narrative of travel through America’s most beloved lands.
Praise for Teewinot :
"Bursting with a sense of place...a rewarding reading experience replete with ravishing observations of nature."
- Publishers Weekly
"...a measured luxuriance in the landscape, a love song to the natural history of a place...Turner's writing is muscular, never swaggering, and almost lyrical, summoning a Teton Range in its rightful, sublime austerity."
- Kirkus Reviews
" Teewinot is a rare book. The wonderful accounts of mountaineering serve as armature not only for Turner's meditative reverence for the Grand Tetons and his often evocative prose but also for an uncommon density of knowledge of place..."
- Peter Matthiessen, author of Tigers in the Snow
"This is, simply stated, a wonderful and utterly engaging book."
- Jim Harrison, author of Dalva and The Road Home
"Each place must find its muse. The Tetons have found theirs and his name is Jack Turner."
- Terry Tempest Williams, author of Coyote's Canyon
In a series of essays, Turner explores this wonderland, venturing on twelve separate trips in all seasons using various modes of hiking, climbing, skiing, canoeing lakes, floating rivers, and driving his way across the landscape. He treks down the Teton Range, picks up the Oregon Trail in the Red Desert, and floats the South Fork of the Snake River. Along the way he encounters a variety of moose, elk, trout, and wolves. From the treacherous mountains in the dead of winter, to lush river valleys in the height of fishing season, his words and steps trace one of the most American of experiences---exploring the West.
Turner, who has lived in Grand Teton for three decades, designates Greater Yellowstone as ground zero for the country’s conflict between preservation and development. At a time when the battle to preserve a wild and natural environment is relentless, his accounts of the areas conflicts with alien species, logging, real estate, oil, and gas development are alarming.
A mixture of adventure, nostalgia, and Americana, Turner’s rare experiences and evocative writing transform the sights and sounds of Greater Yellowstone into an intimate narrative of travel through America’s most beloved lands.
Praise for Teewinot :
"Bursting with a sense of place...a rewarding reading experience replete with ravishing observations of nature."
- Publishers Weekly
"...a measured luxuriance in the landscape, a love song to the natural history of a place...Turner's writing is muscular, never swaggering, and almost lyrical, summoning a Teton Range in its rightful, sublime austerity."
- Kirkus Reviews
" Teewinot is a rare book. The wonderful accounts of mountaineering serve as armature not only for Turner's meditative reverence for the Grand Tetons and his often evocative prose but also for an uncommon density of knowledge of place..."
- Peter Matthiessen, author of Tigers in the Snow
"This is, simply stated, a wonderful and utterly engaging book."
- Jim Harrison, author of Dalva and The Road Home
"Each place must find its muse. The Tetons have found theirs and his name is Jack Turner."
- Terry Tempest Williams, author of Coyote's Canyon
288 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2007
5 people are currently reading
139 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 26, 2021
I picked up this book in Jackson Hole last summer, and it was a terrific substitute for the inability to travel to Yellowstone this summer due to the crowds and COVID. Jack Turner has lived in Jackson, WY for most of his life, and offers a wealth of insight into the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem, with chapters describing his adventures in the Tetons, Wind River Wilderness, and Yellowstone itself.
I particularly enjoyed his descriptions of endangered wildlife in the ecosystem, from bears to cuthroat trout, to trumpeter swans, and the failures of decades of efforts to artificially "manage" animal populations. His descriptions of the threats to this amazing wilderness oasis, from development to pollution to climate change, are both compelling and disheartening.
At the same time, the book is a wonderful tribute to one of the most beautiful places on earth, and a call to all who will listen to keep it intact.
I particularly enjoyed his descriptions of endangered wildlife in the ecosystem, from bears to cuthroat trout, to trumpeter swans, and the failures of decades of efforts to artificially "manage" animal populations. His descriptions of the threats to this amazing wilderness oasis, from development to pollution to climate change, are both compelling and disheartening.
At the same time, the book is a wonderful tribute to one of the most beautiful places on earth, and a call to all who will listen to keep it intact.
January 21, 2016
This book is interesting and maddening at the same time. It had interesting descriptions of the beautiful country around and in Yellowstone, of which some I would like to hike or backpack in the future. The many issues in conservation of the Yellowstone region were addressed, but those rants generally got old. (Even those accompanying the author were uninterested in being lectured or at least the author seemed to portray that in his telling of their behavior.) We understand that the native fish are very limited in number or are gone. Clearly, the various government agencies are limited from doing what the author wants. Development and energy interests are concerns. I did not appreciate the repeated rants of issues often found throughout the US.
I was hoping the book would be more of a visit to various features in the area and interesting description about places that I may have missed in my visits to Yellowstone and the Tetons. The book had that to a point only to be side tracked to one of the many rants. I wanted to learn more but I often found myself rolling my eyes.
Good thing the writing was good or I would have stopped reading within the first few chapters.
I was hoping the book would be more of a visit to various features in the area and interesting description about places that I may have missed in my visits to Yellowstone and the Tetons. The book had that to a point only to be side tracked to one of the many rants. I wanted to learn more but I often found myself rolling my eyes.
Good thing the writing was good or I would have stopped reading within the first few chapters.
June 11, 2023
This beautifully written compilation of essays contains stunning descriptions of the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem as well as compelling warnings (now even more pressing than they were when the book was published) about the increasing environmental threats to the region. Both lovely and necessarily disturbing reading. My hat's off to Jack Turner—I didn't think it possible to interest me in angling or the wide variety of trout (both native and alien) that can be found in the Greater Yellowstone, but he managed to do it!
October 15, 2017
Excellent accounting of some of the most special regions within the GYE and featuring stories of some of the most beloved personalities in the ecosystem as well. A good primer for anyone about to visit the area for the first time and a great nostalgia piece for those who have loved the GYE for a time.
June 29, 2025
3 stars.
Some solid essays in here. A little tedious to read repeated rants at the state of the region’s ecology. It felt more like a eulogy and held little space for optimism about where we’re headed.
Some solid essays in here. A little tedious to read repeated rants at the state of the region’s ecology. It felt more like a eulogy and held little space for optimism about where we’re headed.
August 25, 2019
Good descriptors and delves into the actual science. Does a lot of bitching about any change and sees every attempt at fixing it to be for commercial reasons.
September 24, 2022
pessimistic, patronizing, hypocritical
December 23, 2024
Beautiful writing from a grumpy environmentalist and backcountry guide. A wonderful read. I am keeping this one on my shelf right next to Sand County Almanac and Braiding Sweetgrass.
January 8, 2020
Interesting, informative and enjoyable to read for the most part. A few times the author seems to get a little sidetracked on issues, but overall I would recommend this book.
January 29, 2009
The author, Jack Turner, lives year-round in the Yellowstone ecosystem, writing and guiding mountaineering expeditions. Also, he seems to be up there in years, which means he has a particular kind of bluntness that is both amusing and provoking. This book contains some beautiful writing of narrations and experiences of nature. However, one of his key contributions is his argument that what must be preserved is not simply given species or national parks, but indeed the whole ecosystems of which those species and parks are just an interdependent part. If conservation only happens piecemeal, then other parts suffer and disappear and putting the system back together is a bit like trying to reassemble Humpty-Dumpty. He decries environmental degradation and "conservation" efforts (such as those regarding wolves in Yellowstone) that seem focused on maintaining a politically motivated population goal by killing off "excess" animals. Thus, nature is not controlling the populations of these animals, but politics are; just as the needs of intact ecosystems do not guide land preservation and use policies--politics and economics do.
He is honest about some of the tensions in conservation: recognizing that any development--including trails, roads, campsites--disrupts the natural environment, but also that such human access motivates people to be more involved and supportive of conservation and is thus necessary.
Be warned: whole chapters of this book are about fishing, and in great detail! So if, like me, you're not a fishing aficionado, be prepared to skim some chapters as I did. But this is an excellent book overall and highly recommended for those interested in nature and issues of conservation.
He is honest about some of the tensions in conservation: recognizing that any development--including trails, roads, campsites--disrupts the natural environment, but also that such human access motivates people to be more involved and supportive of conservation and is thus necessary.
Be warned: whole chapters of this book are about fishing, and in great detail! So if, like me, you're not a fishing aficionado, be prepared to skim some chapters as I did. But this is an excellent book overall and highly recommended for those interested in nature and issues of conservation.
April 20, 2012
Turner's work is 288 pages of contridctions - he wants human to appreciate nature but apparently only the way he does (hiking and fishing) not via ATVs, snowmobiles, etc. As a seasoned canoeist, hiker, and camper I love the outdoors like Turner states but his consistent tone in the book is - "Yellowstone is mine, don't trample on any wildflowers, don't overfish (while I fish), etc. I also grew very weary of his "global warming is man made and is killing the planet..........." lecturing. This just in - the glacial Ice Age ended and the glaciers melted BEFORE man invented SUVs and inter-continental airplanes!!!
Mother Nature is a tough old bird who doesn't care if we are on the planet - climate change happens regardless of what humans do while we live here. When I purchased this book I thought I was going to read some relaxing travel writing and have a flash back to my teenage years when we took a family vacation to Yellowstone but NO - Turner tried to recruit me to become a Druid (he states he is a Buddhist)and all I was after as a reader was to travel Yellowstone once again vicariously through Turner's footsteps. I am glad I am done with this book so I can move on to others.
Mother Nature is a tough old bird who doesn't care if we are on the planet - climate change happens regardless of what humans do while we live here. When I purchased this book I thought I was going to read some relaxing travel writing and have a flash back to my teenage years when we took a family vacation to Yellowstone but NO - Turner tried to recruit me to become a Druid (he states he is a Buddhist)and all I was after as a reader was to travel Yellowstone once again vicariously through Turner's footsteps. I am glad I am done with this book so I can move on to others.
December 29, 2011
While the author truly knows his subject inside and out and he has a ton of useful and interesting information to share with his audience, this was one of the most negative and tedious books I have encountered.
A short list of things he doesn't like (and there are many more than I am listing) includes: global warming, no trespassing signs, bugs, pollution, development, right wing politics, mineral extraction, energy development, the exinction of the passenger pigeon, alien species invading the ecosystem, Jackson Hole Airport, James Watt, mountain men killing beavers, cattle ranchers, sheep ranchers, alfalfa, the Bureau of Land Management, controlled burns, elk kibble, Madison Campground, people who don't know how to put up tents, RVs, snowmobiles, stocking trout, people who don't like wolf reintroduction, mountain goats, a truck stop in Wells NV, Cooke City MT, and so on and so forth.
There is wonderful information about Yellowstone's entire ecosystem but be warned that you have to flog through so many complaints that it may not be worth your time. It wasn't worth mine.
A short list of things he doesn't like (and there are many more than I am listing) includes: global warming, no trespassing signs, bugs, pollution, development, right wing politics, mineral extraction, energy development, the exinction of the passenger pigeon, alien species invading the ecosystem, Jackson Hole Airport, James Watt, mountain men killing beavers, cattle ranchers, sheep ranchers, alfalfa, the Bureau of Land Management, controlled burns, elk kibble, Madison Campground, people who don't know how to put up tents, RVs, snowmobiles, stocking trout, people who don't like wolf reintroduction, mountain goats, a truck stop in Wells NV, Cooke City MT, and so on and so forth.
There is wonderful information about Yellowstone's entire ecosystem but be warned that you have to flog through so many complaints that it may not be worth your time. It wasn't worth mine.
December 20, 2010
Turner, a veteran mountain guide, points out that as huge and impressive as Yellowstone National Park is, it is only part of a much larger ecosystem -- the Greater Yellowstone of the title. The web of life in the park -- from grizzly bears and the reintroduced wolves down to plant and animal life less spectacular -- can't survive unless this larger wilderness is left largely intact and unpoisoned by human activity (including the introduction of invasive species, like a kind of mussel that's already wreaking havoc in some waterways). I actually purchased the book in the park itself, and started reading it during a 10-day trip there this past summer. So this call to save Yellowstone from gas drilling, logging, agriculture and other well-funded interests struck me powerfully. Turner is also a good writer, with a distinctive voice that's wry, crotchety and thoughtful, and also quite good at conveying the majesty of this part of the country, and why it's worth saving.
March 18, 2008
Buddhist, mountain climber and deep ecologist, Jack Turner is not only an excellent naturalists, but an excellent writer, too. His prose is passionate, vivid and finely chiseled. Travels in the Greater Yellowstone is a fine sequel to his book on Grand Teton and clarion call to action for the defense of the continent's most intact and endangered ecosystem.
July 4, 2008
This is a small gem of adventure, nostalgia, and rare experiences with wildlife in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem. On 12 separate trips in all seasons Turner designates the area as ground zero for the country's conflict between preservation and development. This book could be considered his timely tribute to America's most beloved area
November 29, 2011
This book would be useful, respectfully, as a travel and fishing guide (with many insightful information on Yellowstone's ecology), but I found it too personal--like a journal. I was looking forward to a factual account on Yellowstone's history and ecology, without all of the opinionated statements Turner had to add. Overall, the book is very educational, but I didn't find what I was looking for.
August 17, 2013
Great information on park, but especially on how the park has changed over the century. Jack talks about everything from the large mammals down to the microscopic living things in the soil that we spoil/change. He isn't totally a purist, but close to it. Very interesting and will change the way I feel when I view the magnificent park.
May 20, 2008
I just didn't care much for Mr. Turner's writing style. Didn't get more than 100 pages in, and got the impression that he was either going to be preaching to the converted (waves) or was unlikely to convert those unconvinced about conservation.
April 7, 2013
I thought this would be about a hike through Yellowstone. I think it might have been.
I found it very dull and had to force myself to get as far as I did before I gave up about half way through.
I found it very dull and had to force myself to get as far as I did before I gave up about half way through.
October 9, 2008
An important, but tedious read at times.
November 29, 2008
I can't recommend this book highly enough. It touches on environmental, political, cultural and technological themes, and still manages to contain some remarkably descriptive prose. Go read it.
March 9, 2009
Really liked this book. Great read for a cold Oregon winter. I'm so ready for summer backpacking.
June 17, 2010
Interesting adventures and poignant opinions on the conservation of the areas surrounding Yellowstone.
August 31, 2010
Really didn't like the writing style and voice of this book. I couldn't get past this issue, so I went ahead and returned it to the library.
Read
March 2, 2013Wonderful stories about specific moments in Yellowstone. Also a downer. Prepare yourself for the inherent guilt that comes with being a human, related to other humans.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews