Switchbacks: True Stories from the Canadian Rockies

by Sid Marty

In Switchbacks, Sid Marty draws on his own memories and those of friends and former colleagues in relating a series of true mountain tales. Among his subjects the old guide who built a staircase up a cliff; the stranded snowshoer who was rescued between rounds of beer in a Banff tavern; the man who catered to hungry grizzlies; an opinionated packrat with a gift for larceny; and a horse named Candy whose heart was as big as a stove.

Along the way, Marty tries to answer the kind of questions that all of us must face some day. Do we really have to “grow up” and abandon adventure as well as youthful ideals? Can the mountains draw old friends back together, when politics and life styles have set them apart?

Sid Marty writes gracefully of the land he loves and lampoons a few bureaucrats whose policies sometimes threaten its integrity. His portraits of the people – and creatures – that make their lives in the mountains are affectionate and respectful. But, above all, this is a collection of engaging, surprising, funny, and superbly told true stories by a gifted writer.

Genres: Nonfiction, Canada, Nature, Travel

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Margo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe it's just the year it was written. maybe it's my own advanced age. But I wanted stories of mountains and adventures. There's just too much macho swagger and ego in his work for me.

[Sid Groeneman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sid Marty is a Canadian author, trail guide, and mountain climber. He has published books about the Canadian Rockies and his experiences working for Parks Canada. "Switchbacks" was part of a gift package sent to my wife and me by the tour organizer in anticipation of our upcoming train trip to/through the Rockies (from Vancouver to Kamloops, Banff National Park and then on to Calgary for our return flight home). If the purpose was to whet our appetites for grandeur of the scenery and wildlife (especially bears), it was successful.

The book should appeal to hikers, mountain climbers, and anyone seriously curious about black bears and grizzlies. Because Marty is an expert story teller, anyone intrigued by dramatic wilderness rescues should also find the book well worth reading. Since I am not an outdoorsman, let alone someone who has climbed mountains or done any wilderness hiking, his heavy use of mountain and mountain climbing terminology slowed me down and detracted from the narrative. (To Marty's credit, he includes a short glossary of terms as an appendix.) On the positive side, I did learn a lot about an activity I'm unfamiliar with. It also made me eager for our upcoming trip to the Canadian Rockies.

[Glen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not read the prequel to this book, which is Men For The Mountains, but I have read Leaning On The Wind, which is a different sort of memoir, but one that still features mountains and climate at the centerpiece, albeit further south in the Pincher Creek area of Alberta, whereas this volume centers around Banff and Yoho National Parks, particularly the area around Lake Louise and Lake O'Hara. For all of Marty's tales of mountaineering and alpine rescue derring-do, the essay I liked the best was a sweet little tribute to an aging horse rescued from the glue-pot by Marty and his family, "A Horse Called Candy", who repaid the kindness by being just the sort of horse the family needed. Marty's love of the mountains, his love of those who love the mountains, and his relationship to the non-human denizens of those wilds all speak loudly here, but the main attraction is tales of mountaineering and the making of park rangers.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of related essays about Banff and surrounding mountains covering 1960s-1999 that I read to get to knowbthe area before traveling there. Marty paints textured portraits of many memorable characters, including bears and horses. These and the more lyrical sections were my favorites. There's also a lot of mountaineering, for those interested in more technical details.

Main takeaway: find a pace you can maintain, and stick with it.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

wondefful book based on memoriesand experiences of the author who started his career as a moutain guide in the Canadian Rockies. His writing makes you picture and even smell the mountains as he writes about the people, animals and landcape he trully loves.

[April Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great stories about a forest ranger in the rockies.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting book about the Canada wilderness that pulls together stories of humans, wildlife, and a love for nature. Highly recommend.

[D · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt this to be a worthwhile sequel to Men for the Mountains. Written so much later than the original, his writing style seems to have evolved nicely, although the subject matter is fairly similar. Makes sense to start with Men for the Mountains if you haven't read it already, then read this one. I liked this one only very slightly less than the first book. I liked hearing about all the people he names in his book, many whose names I recognize, having grown up in Golden. I enjoyed his insights, have been to several of the areas of Banff and Jasper Parks named in the book, and agree with his politics, which I think definitely increased my enjoyment overall.

[Blaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sequel to his book, Men for the Mountains. In this book, I find Marty's writing style is not quite as raw as in the prequel. His tyle is more refined and the stories flow a bit more evenly. As in the case with both books, the stories are interesting and bring a personal persepctive to life as a Park Ranger.

[Stan Wolanski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great anecdotes, many from Lake O'Hara in Yoho National Park. My muscles vaguely remember the hikes and climbs. His scorn of less than competent climbers shames me a bit. I was one the earliest the Parks used a helicopter to rescue. I enjoy his conclusion "Rum is no burden".

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marty conveys genuine reverence for every mountain surrounding Lake O'Hara and those who venture up and around