For All Seasons: A Big Bend Journal [Paperback]

Roland H. Wauer (Author), Nancy McGowan (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1997

Something about Big Bend National Park draws visitors to it again and again. Maybe it's the spare beauty of the mountains and desert, the dawn chorus of birds, or the vivid stars in the velvet night. All of these things have made it Roland Wauer's favorite place. In this book, he shares his love of the Big Bend through journal entries that chronicle a year in the life of the park. Wauer worked as Chief Park Naturalist from 1966 to 1972 and has visited the park frequently ever since. His journal entries span these thirty years, providing not only a composite portrait of a typical year but also a clear sense of how the park's natural history has changed over three decades. He spices his account with anecdotes, often humorous, ranging from stumbling across a herd of javelinas to being trailed by a mountain lion in the dark to discovering new species of plants and animals. Few authors know the Big Bend as Ro Wauer does or have written about it in a more engaging way. This beautifully illustrated book is the perfect companion for a visit to the park, whether in person or by armchair.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Roland Wauer had me hooked from the very beginning. He readily communicates the 'pure pleasure' and the 'joy and excitement' that he experienced both living in and writing about Big Bend." John Jameson, author of The Story of Big Bend National Park

Review

Roland Wauer had me hooked from the very beginning. He readily communicates the 'pure pleasure' and the 'joy and excitement' that he experienced both living in and writing about Big Bend. (John Jameson, author of The Story of Big Bend National Park )

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: University of Texas Press; 1 edition (1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0292791178
• ISBN-13: 978-0292791176
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,542,913 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars If you're a birder, you'll like this one., September 11, 2000

By 

T. Dean McInturff "TDMac" (San Angelo, TX USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: For All Seasons: A Big Bend Journal (Paperback)

Ro's bent is certainly toward the birds of the Big Bend. If you love birds, you will certainly get your quota of bird reports. Being quite fond of the area, it was a nice "walk in the park". I did manage to find a few gems that kept my attention.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Intimate glimpses of Big Bend National Park over the years, May 31, 2007

By 

StdPudel (Somerville, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: For All Seasons: A Big Bend Journal (Paperback)

"For All Seasons" is wonderful complement to a journey to Big Bend for any nature lover. Through reading Ro Wauer's book, I got a clear understanding of what a park naturalist's work entails. The work is a paradoxical blend of solo time hiking in the mountains, inventorying plant and animal species, along with leading tourists on nature walks around the campground. It was on one of the latter that the famous "poodle story" took place - more I will not say.

"For All Seasons" works equally well as a preparation for a trip to Big Bend, reading while at the park, or a companion to reminisce with on return. Wauer knows both the heavily visited and nearly inaccessible corners of the park, and makes you his companion on his journey.