Spring 2007 - Yosemite Online

YOSEMITE CATALOGBOOKSOff the Wall: Death in Yosemiteby Charles R. “Butch” Farabee, Jr. and Michael GhiglieriA drunk tourist falling off a 1,430-foot waterfall, amarijuana-filled airplane crashing into a pristinehigh-country lake and a Russian immigrant jumpingoff Half Dome to free his soul are a sampling of thecompelling stories that fill a new book chroniclingall known deaths in Yosemite National Park. Thebook’s co-authors, Michael Ghiglieri and Charles“Butch” Farabee (a retired park ranger), have writtenother books about national parks, including a similarbook about deaths at Grand Canyon National Parkby Ghiglieri. The intent of the Yosemite book is twofold: to compile a history of the park’sdeaths while at the same time entertaining people with real-life accounts of fatal mistakes.Author Ghiglieri said he wanted to intersperse some survival stories to keep the 608-pagebook less predictable. “People’s fascination with death seems morbid, like cheap thrills,”he said. “But underlying that fascination is learning lessons that could save lives.” From theUnion Democrat article by Mike Morris Hardcover $24.95; member price $31.41.Softcover $36.95; member price $21.21The Mysemite Sketchesby Warren Cederborg“Some years back, a guest at the Yosemite Lodge told me he hadushered his family into the park by announcing, ‘We’re in Yosemite.’Thinking he meant, ‘Your-semite,’ his young daughter replied, ‘We’rein My-semite?’ “As John Muir might have said, ‘Isn’t it glorious thatit’s Her-semite, My-semite and Your-semite as well.’”A book of poetry inspired by Yosemite National Park, The MysemiteSketches are derived from YA member Cederborg’s observations ona 58-year association with the park; the sketch being a method of transforming trail notes and journalentries into metrical form. $14.95; member price $12.71Panoramas of the American WestPhotography by Albert Barg and Jeff WeisbergThis book of panoramic photos chronicles many areas in thewestern United States that have been preserved for the enjoymentof the people. Through the eyes of photographers Albert Bargand Jeff Weisberg, you will explore glacially carved mountainsand valleys, reflecting lakes, green plateaus, and red rock canyonswith unique formations. Created by nature, the beauty anddiversity of these public lands are presented in full-colorpanoramic photographs well-suited to these wide openspaces. 120 pages, color photographs, 9” x 5 1/2”.$12.95; member price $11.0124 YOSEMITE ASSOCIATION, SPRING 2007