Wildsam Field Guides: Joshua Tree

by Taylor Bruce (Editor), Camellia Neri (Illustrator)

Wildsam Field Joshua Tree leads travelers into one of America's most iconic and alluring desert destinations, exploring the national park and surrounding area with guidance from local experts and longtime residents. Contributors include multimedia artist Kim Stringfellow, climbing guide Bob Gaines, writer Claire Vaye Watkins, Indigenous naturalist Elizabeth Paige, World Famous Crochet Museum creator Shari Elf, biologist Tim Shields and others. In addition to base camp recommendations, great hikes and practical tips for the high desert, the book digs

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

144 pages, Paperback

Published November 15, 2021

Reviews

[Peiharn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first time reading a Wildsam Guide. The anecdotes on history and persons in the region make this a delightful little "ambience guide."

[Aimee Truchan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhere in the description I missed that this is a pocket-sized book which was a real disappointment because the book is filled with history and timelines and the tiny font makes it difficult to enjoy them. The guide to the park itself is not very useful compared to other options that typically provide better detail around the various trails and not including maps felt like a big miss. Fell for the aesthetic of a less commercial guide book but didn't find it particularly helpful.

[jaimedannie · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you're looking for a guide to Joshua Tree National Park, this is NOT it. This book has minimal information about the park. only a few hiking trails listed and no information regarding camping locations. There are mostly shirt articles about the mojave desert area. Lots of recommendations for local restaurants, hotels and shops, which may be long gone by the time you read this book. This book should have been a magazine. Definitely not worth $24.

[John Salazar]

Not so much a roadmap as much as a cultural and historical contextualization for any Joshua Tree trip. I spent a lot of time in deserts last year and felt "done" with them by the end of those trips, but the writing in this book made me rethink a lot of what I love about them -- mainly fear. We fear the vastness and the perceivable lifelessness. But once we accept that... it's quite comforting.

[Jonathan Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know this part of the world pretty well, but there's so much depth in this book that it would have been mindblowing to encounter it when I didn't have the knowledge I have now. I learned a lot reading this and can't wait to read more in this series.

[David Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

An orientation to and appreciation of the desert, with useful tips. While designed to be toted, this is less of a practical book of answers than one worth reading at leisure and in full.

[Carly Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book with history, stories, and travel tips! looking forward to putting it all to use during my upcoming trip to the area.