Hey Ranger 2: More True Tales of Humor and Misadventure from the Great Outdoors (No. 2) [Paperback]

Jim Burnett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 26, 2007

In this sequel to the wildly successful Hey Ranger: True Tales of Humor and Misadventure from America's National Parks, former ranger Jim Burnett casts his net globally in search of the most outrageous and humorous stories of man in his eternal quest to experience the natural world. Burnett tells of campers being belted by mysterious objects falling from the sky, like potatoes and ice cream; wildlife photos that went awry, including a ground squirrel that outwits a photographer; dumb crooks in parks, such as the drunk driver who mistakenly knocked on a judge's door to report an accident; and drivers who went over the hill and into the woods instead of to Grandma's house. Burnett also assembles contenders for the strangest questions ever asked of a park ranger, lessons on how not to pick a campsite, life lessons you can learn from a canoe trip, as well as some classic bear stories. As always, Burnett's stories are meant to inform as well as entertain, and serve as cautionary tales on how not to become "a victim of your vacation." Told in Burnett's classic, conversational style, Hey Ranger 2 will not disappoint.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“All National Park rangers have a treasure trove of stories about the silly and the serious side of visitor adventures. Jim Burnett not only shares his own tales, but manages to pry other amusing spins from his cohorts in this second book of the Hey Ranger! series. The accounts are not only entertaining, but informative as Burnett provides answers to questions all visitors have longed to ask, but were too embarrassed to discuss.” (Brett Prettyman The Salt Lake Tribune )

"Jim Burnett has struck gold again with Hey Ranger 2 thanks to the uncanny ability of some national park visitors to show how little they actually know about the out-of-doors. Along with providing a nicely delivered dose of humor, Jim's collection of anecdotes should serve as a reminder for the rest of us to prepare properly for our forays into nature." (Kurt Repanshek Author Of Frommer's National Parks With Kids )

"It has been my experience that the truth is much stranger than fiction-and thus simply more interesting. Jim Burnett's true tales of adventure as a 30-year park ranger are most often funny, sometimes poignant-and always entertaining. It's the perfect bedside book for lovers of the out-of-doors." (Thom Gabrukiewicz Outdoors Editor, Record Searchlight )

"This book is a sequel to author Jim Burnett's first book of stories culled from incidents in national parks, at which he worked as a ranger for 30 years. Regularly interacting with the public, the encounters gave Burnett plenty of fodder to share in this second book, which he broadens to include global experiences. Combining his outdoor knowledge and true stories (he changes names occasionally to protect, as he writes, "the guilty and the innocent"), Burnett choose some interesting, hilarious and perplexing incidents. At times you'll wonder what in the h-e-double-toothpicks the person was thinking. But one man's foolishness is another man's amusement. This book is a fun trip away from the usual writings about outdoor experiences." (Amy Maestas Inside/Outside Magazine )

From the Publisher

In his second Hey Ranger book, veteran national park ranger Jim Burnett tells of campers being pelted by mysterious objects falling from the sky; wildlife photos that went awry, including the tale of a ground squirrel that outwits a photographer; dumb crooks in parks, one of whom offered perhaps the lamest alibi ever uttered by a culprit caught in the act; and drivers who went over the hill and into the woods instead of to Grandma's house.

The author has also assembled contenders for the strangest questions ever asked of park rangers, advice on how not to launch a boat or pick a campsite, and life lessons you can learn from a canoe trip, as well as some classic bear stories.

As always, Burnett's stories are meant to inform as well as entertain and serve as cautionary tales of how not to become a "victim of your vacation." Told in the author's classic, conversational style, Hey Ranger 2 will not disappoint as the follow-on to what has become a campground classic.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing (April 26, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1589793293
• ISBN-13: 978-1589793293
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #498,820 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I've had the rare opportunity to enjoy not one, but two "dream careers" during my lifetime. For 30 years I worked as a National Park Service ranger at 8 parks all across the U.S., including Grand Canyon and Glacier National Parks, Lake Mead, Buffalo National River, Lincoln Boyhood, Big Thicket and Colonial National Historical Park.

Following my retirement from "rangering" I finally had time to try my hand at a second goal - writing. My first book, "Hey Ranger! True Tales of Humor and Misadventure from America's National Parks," was published in 2005, and I'm gratified that it continues to attract new readers six years later.

Thanks to great support from readers, the sequel, "Hey Ranger 2 - More True Tales of Humor and Misadventure from the Great Outdoors," was released in May 2007.

In addition to the two "Hey Ranger" books, some of my shorter items have been published in several national periodicals, and I enjoy being a regular contributor to the e-zine National Parks Traveler. I'm honored to be a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors and the Outdoor Writers Association of America.

My writing has provided the opportunity to share some fun stories on National Public Radio, ESPN radio and several regional and local TV and radio shows, and to speak to a variety of groups about my experiences as a ranger.

I now live in western North Carolina with my wife of 44 years. She's also my best friend and resident editor. "Retirement" has been great, but it sure hasn't been dull!

I hope you have a great day. "Life - It's an adventure. Find something to smile about today!"

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fun book, September 4, 2007

By 

Avid Reader "Reader" (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hey Ranger 2: More True Tales of Humor and Misadventure from the Great Outdoors (No. 2) (Paperback)

Having enjoyed Mr. Burnett's first book, I was eager to read his sequel. This book was also fun to read. A good vacation book that as each chapter is short and can stand alone.
It's hard to believe that people come to our National Parks so ill-prepared. It taught me a lot of what not to do!
This is a book that is great for the whole family - I shared it with my 85 year old mother and she is still laughing.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More great short stories!, February 13, 2008

By 

loujr (Colorado) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hey Ranger 2: More True Tales of Humor and Misadventure from the Great Outdoors (No. 2) (Paperback)

Just like the first book, these stories keep you smiling! You simply have to enjoy being able to read a short story that makes your laugh AND then be able to share it with your friends and family. That is what Jim Burnett gives you with this book. Mr. Burnett painstakingly sets up the stories so that you see the trouble coming and that is where my grin starts to grow! A definite camp-fire read for those who want to laugh instead of jump!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Even worse than the first one, May 19, 2011

By 

Brad Allen "Middle Fork Giants" (Redmond, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hey Ranger 2: More True Tales of Humor and Misadventure from the Great Outdoors (No. 2) (Paperback)

Jim Burnett seems to have run out of material in his first "Hey Ranger" book so he applied his tiresome style of over-writing and using out of place phrases to incidents he seems to have only read about in reports. Many, possibly most, of the stories in the initial part of the book have phrases like "the report didn't mention" or "the report was unfortunately silent". I would expect an author to research beyond the report and check facts. What little information he does research seems to come directly from websites with references like "unverified claim on the Internet".

A "fun" book like this could get by on unresearched anecdotes if it were not for the author's insulting approach. Everyone in the park seems to be, according to Mr. Burnett, way more stupid than he. The chapter titled "Assumption Junction" is a prime example. He tells the story of a man and his wife, experienced outdoors people, who make a navigation error. In hindsight it is a dumb error but typical of what many of us have done on rivers or trails. The man is a canoe instructor and has done the route before. He goes past a sign and down a rapid way beyond their ability, then walks 3.5 miles back to get picked up. He made a mistake but got himself out. Mr. Burnett gives him and his wife insulting names ("Mo and Flo"), he does not attempt to interview them and instead makes up dialogue which makes them sound stupid since the report "does not record their conversation", and gives no credit to the couple figuring out their mistake and self-rescuing.

One of the few good stories was by an Australian friend and was not even about a national park. Mr. Burnett, after 120 pages does finally present some interesting material from his life, written without filler and insult, and "researched" because he lived it. But it is too little too late. The stories could be funny, well-written, with some details beyond official reports, and not insulting. But they are not.

Pass this book by, there are so many better ones out there.