Country Park City

An updated edition of the most comprehensive guide to the area, full of spectacular scenery and ripe for outdoor adventure. In this definitive guide to Utah’s Wasatch Region, entertainment abounds, from the ski slopes of Park City to the theaters of Salt Lake. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Rockies’ impressive peaks, this region offers the perfect pairing of outdoor escapes and urban options—with convenience, accessibility, and affordability.

Settled by miners and Mormons after the Civil War and incorporated in 1884, Park City grew into one of the world's most prestigious mining camps. Known primarily for its richness in silver, Park City miners also extracted lead, zinc, gold, and copper from the surrounding hills. With the town and its mines located at over 7,000 feet above sea level, miners faced brutal winters to unleash treasure for the nation. As the mines grew, so too did the town, attracting businesspeople, grocers, doctors, lawyers, teachers, and more to the area, in addition to miners and prospectors seeking to strike it rich. While most miners faced tough lives and died young, some did create legacies beyond their wildest dreams. Park City made many a millionaire, including David Keith, Thomas Kearns, R.C. Chambers, John Judge, John Daly, and Suzanne Bransford Emery Holmes Delitch Engalitcheff (also known as the "Silver Queen"). From mines large (like the Silver King and the Ontario) to small (like the Nelson Queen), Park City's early history is that of the triumphs and tragedies of mining, the ebbs and flows of the community, and the metals that made it all happen. Dalton Gackle is the research, digital services, and social media coordinator at the Park City Museum (Park City, Utah). An American West and pop culture historian by way of the Midwest, Gackle manages the Park City Museum's Hal Compton Research Library.

The majestic beauty of Mount Rainier, which dominates the Seattle and Tacoma skyscapes, has in many ways defined the Pacific Northwest. At the same time, those two major cities have strongly influenced the development of Rainier as a national park. From the late 1890s, when the Pacific Forest Reserve became Mount Rainier National Park, the evolving relationship between the mountain and its surrounding residents has told a history of the region itself. That story also describes the changing nature of our national park system. From the late nineteenth century to the present, park service representatives and other officials have created policies, built roads and hotels, and regulated public use of and access to Mount Rainier. Conflicting interests have shaped the decision-making process and characterized human interaction with the park. The Rainier National Park Company promoted Paradise Inn as a destination resort for East Coast tourists; Cooperative Campers of the Pacific Northwest developed backcountry camps for working-class recreationists; Asahel Curtis of the Good Roads Association wanted a road encircling the mountain; The Mountaineers promoted free public campgrounds and a roadless preserve; others focused on managing and protecting the upper mountain. The National Park Service mediated among the various parties while developing their own master plan for the park. In an engaging and accessible style, historian Theodore Catton tells the story of Mount Rainier, examining the controversies and compromises that have shaped one of America's most beautiful and beloved parks. National Park, City Playground reminds us that the way we manage our wilderness areas is a vital concern not only for the National Park Service, but for all citizens.

Get Lost. . . and Find What Really Matters We are made for freedom and adventure, friendship and romance. Yet too much of life is spent unfulfilled at work, restless at home, and bored at church. All the while knowing there is something more. You’ll find some of life’s best moments waiting for you over a campfire, on a river—even in that coffee shop or brewery you didn’t know you’d discover along the way. It’s time to begin the search. In the literary spirit of well-worn tales about America’s open road, this poetic, honest, often hilarious collection of essays shows how to embark on adventures that kindle spiritual reflection, personal growth, and deeper family connections. From surfing California’s coastlines, stargazing southwestern deserts, and fly-fishing in remote mountains of Montana, you’ll be inspired to follow the author’s footsteps and use the hand-drawn maps from each chapter to plan your own trips. There you will hear God’s voice – and it may help you find what you’re searching for. “We search mountaintops and valleys, deserts and oceans, hoping sunrises and long views through the canyons will help us discover who we are, or who we still want to be. The language of our hearts reflects that of creation because in both are fingerprints of God.” —Roger W. Thompson