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Deep into Yellowstone: A Year's Immersion in Grandeur and Controversy
Deep Into A Year’s Immersion in Grandeur and Controversy begins when Rick and his wife Mary trust Yellowstone’s pull and relocate to Gardiner, just outside the park’s north gate. During the year as they cross-country ski, hike, bicycle, canoe, and backpack into Yellowstone’s grandeur, Rick digs into important the outrage over the proposed removal of grizzlies from the endangered species list; the dispute over hunting park wolves along Yellowstone’s border; the debate about whether wolves help or harm the ecosystem and the economy; the fight to stop the slaughter of park bison; the overuse of the park; and their community’s battle to prevent gold mining on the park’s border. Rick ends the year with a stronger love for Yellowstone’s grandeur, a deeper knowledge of the controversies threatening the park, and a desire to inspire readers to protect our nation’s first national park.
294 pages, Paperback
Published June 29, 2017
34 people are currently reading
226 people want to read
About the author
Rick Lamplugh
5 books37 followersRick Lamplugh lives in Livingston, Montana.
Rick's books are available signed at http://bit.ly/SignedForYou. His books are also available unsigned or as eBooks or audiobooks on Amazon at https://amzn.to/2QiAdVv.
His newest Substack publication, The Wilds of Cancer: A Journey is at https://lamplugh.substack.com/
His newest book, The Wilds of Aging: A Journey of Heart and Mind takes you on an
illuminating journey into the wilds of aging, a passage we all will face if we’re lucky. The book is a prequel to his last two books.
Deep into Yellowstone: A Year’s Immersion in Grandeur & Controversy won a Gold Medal in the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY Awards). It was a finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards and in the National Indie Excellence Awards.
In the Temple of Wolves: A Winter’s Immersion in Wild Yellowstone is an award-winning, perennial Amazon best seller. The book is about the wolves and ecology of Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley and Rick’s experience of living and volunteering there for three winters.
Rick’s stories have appeared in Yellowstone Reports, and the literary journals Composite Arts Magazine, Gold Man Review, Phoebe, Soundings Review, and Feathered Flounder. He won the Jim Stone Grand Prize for Non-Fiction.
Rick's books are available signed at http://bit.ly/SignedForYou. His books are also available unsigned or as eBooks or audiobooks on Amazon at https://amzn.to/2QiAdVv.
His newest Substack publication, The Wilds of Cancer: A Journey is at https://lamplugh.substack.com/
His newest book, The Wilds of Aging: A Journey of Heart and Mind takes you on an
illuminating journey into the wilds of aging, a passage we all will face if we’re lucky. The book is a prequel to his last two books.
Deep into Yellowstone: A Year’s Immersion in Grandeur & Controversy won a Gold Medal in the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY Awards). It was a finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards and in the National Indie Excellence Awards.
In the Temple of Wolves: A Winter’s Immersion in Wild Yellowstone is an award-winning, perennial Amazon best seller. The book is about the wolves and ecology of Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley and Rick’s experience of living and volunteering there for three winters.
Rick’s stories have appeared in Yellowstone Reports, and the literary journals Composite Arts Magazine, Gold Man Review, Phoebe, Soundings Review, and Feathered Flounder. He won the Jim Stone Grand Prize for Non-Fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
September 23, 2023
Deep into Yellowstone
A few years ago, after driving through Yellowstone, I found this author’s book that I loved, “In the Temple of Wolves. I waited for another of his books to come out, and it did a few years ago, but I was slow getting to it.
While I didn’t love this one as much, there are things in it that I loved better: Rick is an animal activist, as is his wife. I didn’t realize that at the time of his first book they were married: Now I know. I want to talk about that first: If any couple were truly matched, they are, and it is so obvious how much in love they are. She helps him in many ways, first the animal activism and secondly, in hiking, in watching animals, and biking around Yellowstone or skiing together. I liked their activism best, and this book will clue you in to what is happening in Yellowstone as to the dangers of losing one of our best wildlife parks and the animals that live in it.
Still, I like the stories best. I am not much into Yellowstone anymore. For one thing I became ill at Yellowstone. Sulfur from the thermal pools. I won’t be going back. I am glad that we were only driving through. Also, I felt that the park was overcrowded, so much so, that I didn’t see its beauty, which I imagine is off the main road. And while Rick was afraid one night when he was camping out, I was afraid to just drive through. Bears can block the road.
Then there is the sadness of Yellowstone: If the buffalo herds leave the park, they are targets. Real men do not shoot animals unless they are really poor and hungry. Men go in groups to sit and wait for the buffalo to leave the park, and then they pick them off one by one. The buffalo don’t know what is going on, and it is their nature to surround a harmed buffalo to protect it. So when they do, they are targets. The men just keep shooting. I felt angry and sickened, and this is just another book that reminds me of the cruelty of humanity.
Rick and his wife, Mary, moved to Gardner, Montana at the top of Yellowstone. It is a small town with the view of the park. When the elk have babies, they come to this town because they know that they won’t be shot. The people, though, have to watch their every move. One tourist jogged right past an elk without seeing it, and then when she returned by the same road, the elk chased her. It reminded me of my favorite TV series, Northern Exposure, only dangerous. Then Rick wanted to go outside to get something and ran into an Elk. These are great stories.
If I lived there, at my age and poor eyesight, I would stay in the house. I probably would never leave it. It would be a great time to read a book about wildlife.
A few years ago, after driving through Yellowstone, I found this author’s book that I loved, “In the Temple of Wolves. I waited for another of his books to come out, and it did a few years ago, but I was slow getting to it.
While I didn’t love this one as much, there are things in it that I loved better: Rick is an animal activist, as is his wife. I didn’t realize that at the time of his first book they were married: Now I know. I want to talk about that first: If any couple were truly matched, they are, and it is so obvious how much in love they are. She helps him in many ways, first the animal activism and secondly, in hiking, in watching animals, and biking around Yellowstone or skiing together. I liked their activism best, and this book will clue you in to what is happening in Yellowstone as to the dangers of losing one of our best wildlife parks and the animals that live in it.
Still, I like the stories best. I am not much into Yellowstone anymore. For one thing I became ill at Yellowstone. Sulfur from the thermal pools. I won’t be going back. I am glad that we were only driving through. Also, I felt that the park was overcrowded, so much so, that I didn’t see its beauty, which I imagine is off the main road. And while Rick was afraid one night when he was camping out, I was afraid to just drive through. Bears can block the road.
Then there is the sadness of Yellowstone: If the buffalo herds leave the park, they are targets. Real men do not shoot animals unless they are really poor and hungry. Men go in groups to sit and wait for the buffalo to leave the park, and then they pick them off one by one. The buffalo don’t know what is going on, and it is their nature to surround a harmed buffalo to protect it. So when they do, they are targets. The men just keep shooting. I felt angry and sickened, and this is just another book that reminds me of the cruelty of humanity.
Rick and his wife, Mary, moved to Gardner, Montana at the top of Yellowstone. It is a small town with the view of the park. When the elk have babies, they come to this town because they know that they won’t be shot. The people, though, have to watch their every move. One tourist jogged right past an elk without seeing it, and then when she returned by the same road, the elk chased her. It reminded me of my favorite TV series, Northern Exposure, only dangerous. Then Rick wanted to go outside to get something and ran into an Elk. These are great stories.
If I lived there, at my age and poor eyesight, I would stay in the house. I probably would never leave it. It would be a great time to read a book about wildlife.
December 20, 2019
Sanctimonious, poorly written and poorly argued.
After volunteering in Yellowstone for several winters, a man who previously wrote a best-selling book on wolves in Yellowstone (hopefully, that book had writing that was less shitty) decides to move out to Yellowstone with his wife. This book is half (seemingly) unedited diary entries about his life, half preachy soapbox about environmental issues related to Yellowstone. The daily events documented in the diary entries become unsubtle segues into soapboxes.
Despite being sympathetic to many of Lamplugh's points on protecting Yellowstone, I hated this book. First, I hated the editing. At some point, he is just narrating quotidian conversations that he is having with his wife, stuff that is completely meaningless. A stronger editor would have said, "No, you have to cut the part about you and your wife talking about breakfast." This problem compounds Lamplughs limp, hackneyed writing.
More damning is how horrible his argumentation is. He is dealing with very emotional issues, the role of wolves in the West, the hunting of the bison, but he largely refuses to engage the other side or really explain why his own position is the correct one.
In one passage, he is allowed into the NPS's bison abattoir as a representative of a conservation group. He condemns the killing of bison, essentially on the grounds that it is mean, but everything he describes is part of the normal process of producing meat. If he wanted to, he could have made the argument that eating any kind of meat is bad. Or he could have explained why the killing of bison was worse than the killing of cattle. But, instead of making an argument, he uses emotionally-charged language to mask the fact that he doesn't really have an argument.
In another passage, he completely ignores any argument put forth by local ranchers and hunters that wolves damage their livestock. It is fine to disagree with it, but, at least, engage with them and prove to the reader that you are right.
The final reason I hated this book is because Lamplugh is just a turd. He tells us that he sees Bison heading for an area filled with hunters. "Fearing for the bisons' safety, I rolled down my window and yelled, "Go back." But they kept walking." What is the point of doing this? Lamplugh seems like he is probably not stupid enough to believe that the Bison will understand him, so why do this. Beyond that, what is the point of telling us that you did something so stupid? Apparently, he is just trying to demonstrate how woke he is in terms of the environment, but this is a pretty silly way to do it.
Later on, he and his friends gather on the roadside, passing around a sacred sage and speaking. He goes out of his way to inform us that this ceremony is attended by Native Americans (I guess this legitimizes their weird ritual, in his eyes), and they tell each other how the Bison is their brother (apparently, they are all the children of Pasiphae, hahaha). He is one of those new-age, left-wingers who make people who care about the environment look bad.
The most interesting parts of this book are parts where he is quoting other writers, something he does frequently as there are few original ideas presented in this book. One of the best ways to use this book, other than as a paperweight, is as a guide for what you should be reading if you want to learn more about Yellowstone.
Read 35%.
After volunteering in Yellowstone for several winters, a man who previously wrote a best-selling book on wolves in Yellowstone (hopefully, that book had writing that was less shitty) decides to move out to Yellowstone with his wife. This book is half (seemingly) unedited diary entries about his life, half preachy soapbox about environmental issues related to Yellowstone. The daily events documented in the diary entries become unsubtle segues into soapboxes.
Despite being sympathetic to many of Lamplugh's points on protecting Yellowstone, I hated this book. First, I hated the editing. At some point, he is just narrating quotidian conversations that he is having with his wife, stuff that is completely meaningless. A stronger editor would have said, "No, you have to cut the part about you and your wife talking about breakfast." This problem compounds Lamplughs limp, hackneyed writing.
More damning is how horrible his argumentation is. He is dealing with very emotional issues, the role of wolves in the West, the hunting of the bison, but he largely refuses to engage the other side or really explain why his own position is the correct one.
In one passage, he is allowed into the NPS's bison abattoir as a representative of a conservation group. He condemns the killing of bison, essentially on the grounds that it is mean, but everything he describes is part of the normal process of producing meat. If he wanted to, he could have made the argument that eating any kind of meat is bad. Or he could have explained why the killing of bison was worse than the killing of cattle. But, instead of making an argument, he uses emotionally-charged language to mask the fact that he doesn't really have an argument.
In another passage, he completely ignores any argument put forth by local ranchers and hunters that wolves damage their livestock. It is fine to disagree with it, but, at least, engage with them and prove to the reader that you are right.
The final reason I hated this book is because Lamplugh is just a turd. He tells us that he sees Bison heading for an area filled with hunters. "Fearing for the bisons' safety, I rolled down my window and yelled, "Go back." But they kept walking." What is the point of doing this? Lamplugh seems like he is probably not stupid enough to believe that the Bison will understand him, so why do this. Beyond that, what is the point of telling us that you did something so stupid? Apparently, he is just trying to demonstrate how woke he is in terms of the environment, but this is a pretty silly way to do it.
Later on, he and his friends gather on the roadside, passing around a sacred sage and speaking. He goes out of his way to inform us that this ceremony is attended by Native Americans (I guess this legitimizes their weird ritual, in his eyes), and they tell each other how the Bison is their brother (apparently, they are all the children of Pasiphae, hahaha). He is one of those new-age, left-wingers who make people who care about the environment look bad.
The most interesting parts of this book are parts where he is quoting other writers, something he does frequently as there are few original ideas presented in this book. One of the best ways to use this book, other than as a paperweight, is as a guide for what you should be reading if you want to learn more about Yellowstone.
Read 35%.
January 24, 2018
Just bought my third copy -- the first was for me, but I quickly needed 2 more for gifts. Numerous friends come to mind who would be touched by spending their snowy evenings by the fire with this book. Rick Lamplugh is an insightful writer who generously shares his experiences in a place dear to my heart, the nation's first national park, near my mom's birthplace. I have had more than one physical visit there -- perhaps that's my share, as I believe a lottery system for visitation is, indeed, in order. But after reading his first effort, Temple of Wolves, I couldn't resist another tour with this author who has firsthand experience with the surrounding community, the touring crowds, and the political considerations that all of us, as admirers of wildlife and wild places, must ponder.
January 13, 2021
For anyone interested in Yellowstone, this book is a great description of life and nature you can find there. My impression of Yellowstone going in was that it was a big volcano that will eventually erupt, but what I learned is it’s a beautiful habitat of wildlife, and an opportunity in itself to explore what the world has to offer. Rick’s refreshing perspective into activities to do there, and his experiences having packed up his life and relocated to the park’s edge, will have you itching to get out and walk, explore and see. This story comes with its controversies, and while you may not agree with Rick’s personal view on some, his writing allows you to understand and leaves room for your own interpretations. He is a conversation starter within your own mind.
September 18, 2022
Essentially a book of essays by a man who moved to Yellowstone area with his wife around retirement age. Really nice to read while on a Yellowstone vacation - it’s half essays about how magical Yellowstone is - and half a view into a lot of the politics that surrounds Yellowstone (and probably any national park).
January 6, 2019
In the past few months, I've read "Oregon Trail" and "American Wolf" (I highly recommend both books). Reading these books opened my eyes to something that interests/fascinates me....the American West. The visual imagery found in these books and my own personal experiences in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and South Dakota pulls me in. These narrative non-fictional books inspire dreaming and going and if you were to ask my wife, maybe a little too inspirational. HA!
All that said, this interest caused me to do some digging about this niche of narrative non-fiction books set in the American West and I came across Rick Lamplugh.
I have not yet read "In the Temple of Wolves" but it's on the short list for me.
Now to the review...
Reading about someone who found what they loved and dropped everything to be near to it should be something we all find fascinating. That's exactly what Rick and his wife did. After spending 3 winters volunteering in Yellowstone, they decided they had to be there all year. They sold their home and moved just outside Yellowstone. WOW!
This book is the story of their first year...the involvement in local politics (about the park), their adventures into Yellowstone and their experiences living just outside Yellowstone. The book is broken into 4 sections (one for each season beginning with Winter).
I was on the path to a 5 star review, until I got half way through the final section (Fall) and it felt like Rick had to squeeze in some personal views/opinions that didn't really flow with the rest of the book or apply to the fall season. I also felt his opinions and political commentary were a little shallow and under developed. This is not to diminish this book but to clarify why it's a 4 star and not a 5 star, as it's altogether an excellent book on the adventure of living near Yellowstone and ultimately living your dream.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes the outdoors, enjoys the idea of submersive vacationing, and just enjoys reading a normal persons experiences in nature.
All that said, this interest caused me to do some digging about this niche of narrative non-fiction books set in the American West and I came across Rick Lamplugh.
I have not yet read "In the Temple of Wolves" but it's on the short list for me.
Now to the review...
Reading about someone who found what they loved and dropped everything to be near to it should be something we all find fascinating. That's exactly what Rick and his wife did. After spending 3 winters volunteering in Yellowstone, they decided they had to be there all year. They sold their home and moved just outside Yellowstone. WOW!
This book is the story of their first year...the involvement in local politics (about the park), their adventures into Yellowstone and their experiences living just outside Yellowstone. The book is broken into 4 sections (one for each season beginning with Winter).
I was on the path to a 5 star review, until I got half way through the final section (Fall) and it felt like Rick had to squeeze in some personal views/opinions that didn't really flow with the rest of the book or apply to the fall season. I also felt his opinions and political commentary were a little shallow and under developed. This is not to diminish this book but to clarify why it's a 4 star and not a 5 star, as it's altogether an excellent book on the adventure of living near Yellowstone and ultimately living your dream.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes the outdoors, enjoys the idea of submersive vacationing, and just enjoys reading a normal persons experiences in nature.
November 5, 2017
Reviewed by Kimberly Luyckx for Reader Views (11/17)
“Deep Into Yellowstone” by Rick Lamplugh begins with captivating action. Its first chapter seizes the reader with the spellbinding account of Rick and his wife Mary’s rare witness to a wolf pack on the hunt for bison. This natural predator vs. prey occurrence is a sharp contrast to the bison mass management shoot-out that the couple witness just days later. Throughout the story, the author emphasizes this strange juxtaposition of wildness and control for Yellowstone Park’s inhabitants. He points out that while there is safety for the animals living under the protection of the park, these same creatures are threatened when they step outside the invisible, political boundaries of Yellowstone. The book is filled with fun, thrilling and wondrous episodes of living through the seasons in America’s first national park.
Rick and Mary’s adventure is set in motion with a three-month stint volunteering at the park’s Lamar Buffalo Ranch. After returning for several winters, their snowy retreat evolves into a long-term move to observe and advocate for the protection of wolves and bison. They select Gardiner, Montana as their new home because of its rural location on the border of Yellowstone Park. It is not a decision they take lightly, yet their dual drive to experience nature in its most raw form eventually overrides their comfortable life in Oregon.
Choosing to read this adventure book was definitely out of the ordinary for me. Although I appreciate nature, its beauty and certainly value its significance, I am not a naturalist or even a keen observer of the environment. I have never had a desire to visit Yellowstone. Yet, I find Rick’s tales of his escapades in this raw setting to be mesmerizing. There is sufficient detail for the imagination to pique without being stifled by too many scientific elements. In the same vein, I learned just enough about the controversy between groups of bison and wolf conservationists and population managers to be intrigued. Therefore, the aspects of ecology, adventure, history and advocacy are well mixed in this book. In general, the reading not only held my interest, but also made me yearn to experience more. Needless to say, visiting Yellowstone is now on my bucket list.
Rick Lamplugh’s book is self-published. This is a risky decision for a writer from a marketing standpoint but a brave choice to maintain a freer rein for creating such an honest account. In this way, the author is not unlike his subjects; both are content to exist in a natural habitat that is unencumbered by the restrictions and mandates of protocol.
Throughout this yearlong story, “Deep Into Yellowstone,” the author, Rick Lamplugh and his wife enjoy skiing, hiking, biking and wandering through wildlife areas in and around the grandeur that is Yellowstone. The couple designate themselves as “meanderthals,” who observe, track and record the behaviors of the fascinating residents of the park. They are much more than this. They are the monitors and guardians of some of our nation’s most precious wildlife. This, then, is a story of preservation, respect and appreciation of the nation’s first national park that every U.S. citizen should experience.
“Deep Into Yellowstone” by Rick Lamplugh begins with captivating action. Its first chapter seizes the reader with the spellbinding account of Rick and his wife Mary’s rare witness to a wolf pack on the hunt for bison. This natural predator vs. prey occurrence is a sharp contrast to the bison mass management shoot-out that the couple witness just days later. Throughout the story, the author emphasizes this strange juxtaposition of wildness and control for Yellowstone Park’s inhabitants. He points out that while there is safety for the animals living under the protection of the park, these same creatures are threatened when they step outside the invisible, political boundaries of Yellowstone. The book is filled with fun, thrilling and wondrous episodes of living through the seasons in America’s first national park.
Rick and Mary’s adventure is set in motion with a three-month stint volunteering at the park’s Lamar Buffalo Ranch. After returning for several winters, their snowy retreat evolves into a long-term move to observe and advocate for the protection of wolves and bison. They select Gardiner, Montana as their new home because of its rural location on the border of Yellowstone Park. It is not a decision they take lightly, yet their dual drive to experience nature in its most raw form eventually overrides their comfortable life in Oregon.
Choosing to read this adventure book was definitely out of the ordinary for me. Although I appreciate nature, its beauty and certainly value its significance, I am not a naturalist or even a keen observer of the environment. I have never had a desire to visit Yellowstone. Yet, I find Rick’s tales of his escapades in this raw setting to be mesmerizing. There is sufficient detail for the imagination to pique without being stifled by too many scientific elements. In the same vein, I learned just enough about the controversy between groups of bison and wolf conservationists and population managers to be intrigued. Therefore, the aspects of ecology, adventure, history and advocacy are well mixed in this book. In general, the reading not only held my interest, but also made me yearn to experience more. Needless to say, visiting Yellowstone is now on my bucket list.
Rick Lamplugh’s book is self-published. This is a risky decision for a writer from a marketing standpoint but a brave choice to maintain a freer rein for creating such an honest account. In this way, the author is not unlike his subjects; both are content to exist in a natural habitat that is unencumbered by the restrictions and mandates of protocol.
Throughout this yearlong story, “Deep Into Yellowstone,” the author, Rick Lamplugh and his wife enjoy skiing, hiking, biking and wandering through wildlife areas in and around the grandeur that is Yellowstone. The couple designate themselves as “meanderthals,” who observe, track and record the behaviors of the fascinating residents of the park. They are much more than this. They are the monitors and guardians of some of our nation’s most precious wildlife. This, then, is a story of preservation, respect and appreciation of the nation’s first national park that every U.S. citizen should experience.
December 12, 2019
Ugh! Again, I really, really wanted to like this, but alas! The writing is poor and the descriptions are just boring. Although I appreciate the author's advocacy for Yellowstone, it seems wrong-headed and without a depth of knowledge. The only good part was when he was discussing other, more interesting books. I kept thinking, "Why am I not just reading those books?!"
May 13, 2019
It was interesting but not what I wanted it to be. While I find the conservation of bison important, I thought this book would be more about their day-to-day (or anything beside bison) life living within the park. I enjoyed the portions about their hikes to observe wildlife but the "save the bison" parts got tedious after awhile.
June 15, 2020
We have a trip planned to Yellowstone in the fall and it will be my first trip back since the mid-90s when I was a youngster. I have fond memories yet I also feel the need to completely immerse myself in this stuff to make the most of the experience. This book looked interesting so I picked it up in hopes that I'd learn a thing or two that would benefit my trip.
As has been mentioned in other reviews, one of the shortcomings of this exposé is that it reads a lot like the diary of a middle-aged man who lives and loves Yellowstone. That's because by and large, that's what it is. There's nothing wrong with it but anyone who has ever read an old love letter to an ex will notice the flowery language and hokey descriptions immediately.
I don't know what category one would place this book. Amazon puts it under environmentalism and ecotourism but it seems like the daily conversations Lamplugh has with his wife shouldn't exactly qualify. Nevertheless, it's nice to see his passion but at times I had a few "what the what did I purchase here...." moments.
Secondly, I too find myself to be an environmental idealist. I don't think animals should be killed but at the same time, I love eating meat. I think the animals within the national park should be protected but if they roam outside of the boundaries, to what degree are we to enforce their protection? Ideally, the bison of the plains should be allowed to repopulate and the wolves should be allowed to eat the elk who are preventing the trees from growing which is interfering with a, b, c, and d. Honestly, if we could remove the scourge of humanity (which I am a part of), the world will go on uninterrupted and balance will be restored. I don't say this in jest. I just think it's hard in practice to make all of this work. With that said, I don't think hunters should be allowed to camp out at the boundary and shoot an animal that crosses an invisible line. I don't think we should be tearing chunks off of Old Faithful and I don't think we should allow mining in and around our natural treasures. Hence, I felt a lot of cognitive dissonance reading through some of his stances because for starters, I like meat and I acknowledge that gold is in everything, including the laptop that I'm using to write this review.
There is an entire chapter on tourism that exposes another aspect of the problem. He specifically cites Eastern Asian tourists who visit Yellowstone with a completely different set of ideals. In their countries, it is okay and encouraged to feed the animals in the parks. It is the norm to stand on a toilet squatting rather than sitting. What this leads to is danger to both humans and animals and unsanitary conditions. Lamplugh seems to condemn them while at the same time acknowledge the cultural difference. So another example of his moral relativism clashing with the realities of life. The solution is to let fewer people into the parks. Here again I run into a similar issue that I think sums up my grievances with the book: it's complicated. Lamplugh makes suggestions on how to remedy overtourism and all of them are shot down. Light-rails, electric trains, park entrance reservations, and so forth
I can appreciate Lamplugh's love of the park and strong convictions for protecting it. I think we're lucky to have National Park allies that are willing to speak out and do their best to conserve that which we are fortunate enough to have on our planet. Yet, his convictions aren't without questions and while I agree with him to a great degree, this book is about his love and his fight. I learned a great deal about the problems that Yellowstone faces but I'm also conflicted. A good book for starting a dialogue yet riddled with love and lamentations that read like a personal journal. Ultimately, it seems to make a case as to why he, his wife, and his friends should have the park the way they want it, to themselves, with no interest in sharing it with outsiders.
As has been mentioned in other reviews, one of the shortcomings of this exposé is that it reads a lot like the diary of a middle-aged man who lives and loves Yellowstone. That's because by and large, that's what it is. There's nothing wrong with it but anyone who has ever read an old love letter to an ex will notice the flowery language and hokey descriptions immediately.
I don't know what category one would place this book. Amazon puts it under environmentalism and ecotourism but it seems like the daily conversations Lamplugh has with his wife shouldn't exactly qualify. Nevertheless, it's nice to see his passion but at times I had a few "what the what did I purchase here...." moments.
Secondly, I too find myself to be an environmental idealist. I don't think animals should be killed but at the same time, I love eating meat. I think the animals within the national park should be protected but if they roam outside of the boundaries, to what degree are we to enforce their protection? Ideally, the bison of the plains should be allowed to repopulate and the wolves should be allowed to eat the elk who are preventing the trees from growing which is interfering with a, b, c, and d. Honestly, if we could remove the scourge of humanity (which I am a part of), the world will go on uninterrupted and balance will be restored. I don't say this in jest. I just think it's hard in practice to make all of this work. With that said, I don't think hunters should be allowed to camp out at the boundary and shoot an animal that crosses an invisible line. I don't think we should be tearing chunks off of Old Faithful and I don't think we should allow mining in and around our natural treasures. Hence, I felt a lot of cognitive dissonance reading through some of his stances because for starters, I like meat and I acknowledge that gold is in everything, including the laptop that I'm using to write this review.
There is an entire chapter on tourism that exposes another aspect of the problem. He specifically cites Eastern Asian tourists who visit Yellowstone with a completely different set of ideals. In their countries, it is okay and encouraged to feed the animals in the parks. It is the norm to stand on a toilet squatting rather than sitting. What this leads to is danger to both humans and animals and unsanitary conditions. Lamplugh seems to condemn them while at the same time acknowledge the cultural difference. So another example of his moral relativism clashing with the realities of life. The solution is to let fewer people into the parks. Here again I run into a similar issue that I think sums up my grievances with the book: it's complicated. Lamplugh makes suggestions on how to remedy overtourism and all of them are shot down. Light-rails, electric trains, park entrance reservations, and so forth
I can appreciate Lamplugh's love of the park and strong convictions for protecting it. I think we're lucky to have National Park allies that are willing to speak out and do their best to conserve that which we are fortunate enough to have on our planet. Yet, his convictions aren't without questions and while I agree with him to a great degree, this book is about his love and his fight. I learned a great deal about the problems that Yellowstone faces but I'm also conflicted. A good book for starting a dialogue yet riddled with love and lamentations that read like a personal journal. Ultimately, it seems to make a case as to why he, his wife, and his friends should have the park the way they want it, to themselves, with no interest in sharing it with outsiders.
May 5, 2018
Rick Lamplugh loves Yellowstone deeply. His care about animals in the wild and preserving the wilderness have taken over his life. His book perfectly reflects those values and beliefs. Between reading "A Wilder Time" and this book, it has also renewed my belief in the importance of nature and preserving the wilderness area. This story describes a year in Yellowstone in the 4 seasonal parts.
I have been fortunate to travel through many of the National Parks and see both the beauty and the changes that are taking places. All life on the planet is connected, and as we lose or disrespect the wilderness, so do we lose a part of ourselves and our own well being. The ecological balance of life on this planet is a delicate dance.
The book was not as eloquent as "A Wilder Time" but more practical, as it talks about a place much closer to home, that is seriously in danger or overuse and abuse. As more than 4 millions annual visitors pound through Yellowstone and deplete it's ability to manage such hordes of visitors, the balance of the park teeters on the edge. Hunters and poachers relentlessly imperil the balance of the wildlife that depends on a certain amount of natural predation, unaffected by human greed and hubris. The wolf and Bison are particularly vulnerable, but as I said, all of it is connected!
Scott Pruitt and the Trump administration have already forever harmed our National Treasures with their ignorance and appalling lack of concern. We are blatantly killing our own planet and, even though we have been warned and should know better, won't stop. WE are killing ourselves slowly in the process. We all need to care and do everything we can to protect this fragile planet.
I have been fortunate to travel through many of the National Parks and see both the beauty and the changes that are taking places. All life on the planet is connected, and as we lose or disrespect the wilderness, so do we lose a part of ourselves and our own well being. The ecological balance of life on this planet is a delicate dance.
The book was not as eloquent as "A Wilder Time" but more practical, as it talks about a place much closer to home, that is seriously in danger or overuse and abuse. As more than 4 millions annual visitors pound through Yellowstone and deplete it's ability to manage such hordes of visitors, the balance of the park teeters on the edge. Hunters and poachers relentlessly imperil the balance of the wildlife that depends on a certain amount of natural predation, unaffected by human greed and hubris. The wolf and Bison are particularly vulnerable, but as I said, all of it is connected!
Scott Pruitt and the Trump administration have already forever harmed our National Treasures with their ignorance and appalling lack of concern. We are blatantly killing our own planet and, even though we have been warned and should know better, won't stop. WE are killing ourselves slowly in the process. We all need to care and do everything we can to protect this fragile planet.
July 8, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am very interested in the controversy and politics surrounding the management of the wildlife at Yellowstone. I appreciate how Rick lays out his adventures and the wonders there as well as the issues. The only reason that I didn’t give the book five stars is a problem that I notice more and more with those having easy access to the park (I see this in other places too). Many who are able to spend their time freely in the park and might even profit from the time spent there, are often very vocal about keeping others out. The book left me feeling like, Yellowstone, a place that my husband and I have developed a passion for as well, was somewhere I should never go again. I’ve been twice in my 55 years and hope to go again. I do understand the problem with the rising visitor count and visitors not acting responsibly around animals at times, but it gets old hearing about it from those who go daily, weekly, monthly (?) when many only get once in a lifetime. That said, I appreciate all that Rick and his wife are doing to hold wildlife management officials and politicians responsible.
February 3, 2020
I have a deep and abiding love for YNP (dating back to my pre-teen youth) and was expecting to really like this book. Nope! Apparently I don't love Yellowstone enough.
Lamplugh's book dispenses with good judgement and embraces the emotionally overwrought hand wringing (and sometimes nearly hysterical) "look at what the nasty HUMANS have done to my PARK!!" It make me wonder just how far above all us regular humans the author places himself...
Still, I was able to enjoy his descriptions of different day trips he makes throughout the park. It makes me wish I had more time to spend there myself.
Lamplugh's book dispenses with good judgement and embraces the emotionally overwrought hand wringing (and sometimes nearly hysterical) "look at what the nasty HUMANS have done to my PARK!!" It make me wonder just how far above all us regular humans the author places himself...
Still, I was able to enjoy his descriptions of different day trips he makes throughout the park. It makes me wish I had more time to spend there myself.
April 2, 2019
Challis Book Lovers selection for April.
I HAVE only been to Yellowstone once,right after the devastation of the earthquake and never returned. Your description of the wild animals left me with a deep concern for our parks.and the assault by much love and the greed that threatens their borders. I am a retired rancher and am glad there are parks that give sanctuary to those animals. Humans encroach on then so they encroach on humans. Salvation of the fittest. We created it and need much wisdom to understand our impact on the animals. Thank you for your concern.
I HAVE only been to Yellowstone once,right after the devastation of the earthquake and never returned. Your description of the wild animals left me with a deep concern for our parks.and the assault by much love and the greed that threatens their borders. I am a retired rancher and am glad there are parks that give sanctuary to those animals. Humans encroach on then so they encroach on humans. Salvation of the fittest. We created it and need much wisdom to understand our impact on the animals. Thank you for your concern.
August 20, 2024
I love Yellowstone and I’m a sucker for all of these books by people who follow the wildlife and the seasons and live Yellowstone too. This feels like a good intro book to Yellowstone or something to read while you’re vacationing there. But I found it to be a little navel-gazing. Loved the descriptions and the wonder in the animal encounters but the advocacy entries didn’t seem to be very deep. I’m an advocate for good wildlife planning and management but it is a very complicated and difficult issue for the communities that border Yellowstone and none of that is in evidence here.
December 18, 2018
Good read. Thought provoking and entertaining
The second book by Rick Lamplugh I've read. This one seems even more personal than In The Temple of Wolves with Rick sharing more inner thoughts and insights about his love for Yellowstone, the creatures in and arround the park, and the threats that challenge it's existence. Humorous at times but always thought provoking. It's been a great read. Now on to his third book The Wilds of Aging. It's on my Christmas list.
The second book by Rick Lamplugh I've read. This one seems even more personal than In The Temple of Wolves with Rick sharing more inner thoughts and insights about his love for Yellowstone, the creatures in and arround the park, and the threats that challenge it's existence. Humorous at times but always thought provoking. It's been a great read. Now on to his third book The Wilds of Aging. It's on my Christmas list.
audiobooks-read
February 5, 2025I feel the need to call out the comment made of Asian tourists and their misuse of US style toilets. What point did that serve other than blatant racism? Not cool and definitely gave me a sour taste.
Also the whole idea of wolves being alpha to one another has been disproven a while ago so Everytime I read about that it irks me. We know wolves and canids live in generational and familial packs not alpha/ leader styles as we once thought
Also the whole idea of wolves being alpha to one another has been disproven a while ago so Everytime I read about that it irks me. We know wolves and canids live in generational and familial packs not alpha/ leader styles as we once thought
July 9, 2018
This was an amazing book about life in and around Yellowstone. Yellowstone is one of the most amazing places on earth, and this book chronicles the beauty, some of the science of the ecosystem there, and the challenges of overuse and politics to different aspects of the park. Excellent combination of storytelling and non-fiction. I'd highly recommend this book to any Yellowstone fans.
January 21, 2020
Great book!
Rick's writing paints very vivid images of his experiences and the challenges faced by those who care deeply about the park and wildlife in general. He and his wife are to be commended for their commitment and on-the-ground contributions to the preservation efforts.
Rick's writing paints very vivid images of his experiences and the challenges faced by those who care deeply about the park and wildlife in general. He and his wife are to be commended for their commitment and on-the-ground contributions to the preservation efforts.
May 19, 2020
2 down, 1 to go !!
This is my second book from Rick, as I have already read In the Temple of Wolves. Now looking forward to the next. Once you read the first, you will be hooked, and this book is no different.
This is my second book from Rick, as I have already read In the Temple of Wolves. Now looking forward to the next. Once you read the first, you will be hooked, and this book is no different.
July 31, 2025
Excellent book. The author provides information on a plethora of issues/topics surrounding Yellowstone and the challenges it faces. He does this with appropriate humor, wonderment, sadness, and equal parts concern/hope for the future of the park.
February 21, 2018
Excellent, touching tribute to Yellowstone NP, its majesty and its challenges.
August 12, 2018
I am a major YNP nerd, so I really enjoyed this book. I learned a lot of obscure facts about the park.
December 24, 2019
If I could give this a higher rating I would. Sad in places but glorious mostly. If you read only one nonfiction next year, this should be it.
November 3, 2020
Wonderful informative book
I love Yellowstone National Park, have visited many times, but still learned so more. My passion, wolves and their reintroduction
I love Yellowstone National Park, have visited many times, but still learned so more. My passion, wolves and their reintroduction
January 8, 2021
Loved this book! A great look into how yellowstone is impacted by social concerns in surrounding communities. Very interesting.
October 22, 2021
Read on the kindle!
November 11, 2021
Excellent first-hand account of urbanites who move to live in Yellowstone full time. I’ve been to Yellowstone and learned many things that I wish I had known before going to the park.
January 20, 2024
Wild freedom 💚
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