High Peaks

The unique geological history of the Adirondacks can be found in a pebble. So discovers humorist and outdoorsman Tim Rowland as he chronicles the evolution of hiking in the howling wilderness of the High Peaks. From nineteenth-century guides’ “random scoots” to Melville Dewey’s “Adirondaks Loj” to today’s technologically enhanced weekenders, Rowland, who has climbed the forty-six himself, incorporates personal anecdotes and laugh-out-loud wit to capture the appeal and beauty of this beloved region, all the while reminding us of the importance of keeping these stunning mountains, and their attendant “neat rocks,” “Forever Wild.”

Photographer-author Mike Butterfield has spent forty years hiking New Mexico's high mountains, and his magnificent images are paired here with the chronicle of his adventures.

Building transportation routes through the Rockies is dangerous. It always has been. It is also expensive, labour-intensive, and highly political. But railway and highway construction through the western cordillera succeeded thanks to scientific innovation and sheer human grit. In the nineteenth century, steam locomotives, railways, tunnels, trestles, and telegraphy represented the hi-tech advances of the day. A vast country with a small population raised money (and more and more money) and overcame mountain summits, foul weather, and scandal to build the longest railway of its time that would unify the young nation of Canada from east to west. To offset operating costs and increase passenger traffic, the three architectural wonders of the Banff, Jasper, and Lake Louise Resorts were created amid snowy heights, glaciers, and the headwaters of four river systems—Athabasca, Columbia, Fraser, and the North Saskatchewan. Natural marvels like Cave and Basin, Radium, Miette, and other mineral hot springs were also developed. In the twentieth century, the construction of the Trans-Canada Highway accelerated the appeal of the peaks. Today, oil and gas pipelines are pushing new routes through the Rocky Mountains. The physical challenges are similar to earlier eras, but high peaks engineering must also address the ecological impacts of pipeline corridors moving oil and gas through Rocky Mountain passages. It will be another test of Canadian resourcefulness.

Bask in the beauty of Colorado’s mountains and landscapes. The book is full of breathtaking images created by Colorado photographers. The book has two main audiences: First, author Brian Tedesco (Broomfield, CO) and his contributors provide photo enthusiasts and professional photographers alike with detailed instructional text that describes how each breathtaking featured image was made. Readers will learn surefire strategies for selecting and packing the appropriate gear, finding great lighting, maximizing camera settings, and getting an accurate exposure so that they can create similar shots of the alpine landscape. Second, Tedesco provides a plethora of information designed to educate the millions of visitors and hikers to Colorado’s parks (Rocky Mountain National Park, for example) about the history and unique features of the landscape.

Guidebook to hiking trails of the Adirondack High Peaks region