Oregon's Dry Side: Exploring East of the Cascade Crest [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Alan D. St. John (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 15, 2007

Come explore the sights, sounds, scents, and stories of Oregon's dry side, the stunning, vast, arid East, which is the state's true West. Here are the volcanic mountains and mysterious fossils, vanilla-scented ponderosa pines, painted desert colors, wild creatures large and small, rugged wildflowers, remote outposts, and rich history reaching back to prehistoric times. Your expert guide is Alan D. St. John, naturalist, photographer, native Oregonian, and lifetime dry-side explorer who shares it all, including — and this is generous indeed — some of his own little-known favorite places. Also a broad field guide to eastern Oregon, this treasure of a book shows the region's flora and fauna and dramatic geology in gorgeous photographs.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Oregon's Dry Side is neither an insider's travel guide, nor an informative natural history, nor an engaging portrait of the contemporary culture and economic landscape in cetral and eastern Oregon: It's all of the above. From a primer on plate tectonics to tips on family-friendly hikes in the central Cascades, this book covers everything you need to know to go native in what is colloquially referred to as Oregon's "high desert" (and you'll even learn why this label is technically innacurate)."
—Camela Raymond, Portland Monthly (Portland Monthly )

"Oregon's Dry Side is a labor of Stetson spirit and tumbleweed love...it captures the sage-scented lifestyle, the granite and ice, the tule dingles, the pine-scented paradises, and sense of spaciousness so many of us treasure."
—Jeff Petersen, La Grande Observer (La Grande Observer )

“The book is beautifully illustrated with striking photographs and historical reproductions, and St. John’s description of Oregon’s dry landscapes is fascinating.” (Keith R. Benson Pacific Northwest Quarterly )

From the Back Cover

Come explore the sights, sounds, scents, and stories of Oregon's dry side, the stunning, vast, sunny East, which is the state's true West. In three extensive, flexible driving and hiking trous of the region, you'll visit the rugged mountains, mysterious fossils, vanilla-scented ponderosa pines, painted desert colors, wildlife and wildflowers, remote outposts, and rich history.

Our expert guide is Alan D. St. John, a naturalist, photographer, native Oregonian, and lifetime dry-side explorer, who shares it all, including some of his own little-known favorite places in Central, Southeastern, and Northeastern Oregon. Illustrated with hundreds of St. John's magnificent photographs, this treasure of a book will delight armchair travelers and intrepid adventurers alike.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 324 pages
• Publisher: Timber Press (May 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881928291
• ISBN-13: 978-0881928297
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #148,682 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #39 in Books > Travel > Specialty Travel > Travel with Pets

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding guidebook, May 31, 2007

By 

Theodore Fremd (John Day Basin, OR) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Oregon's Dry Side: Exploring East of the Cascade Crest (Paperback)

The varied wonderlands of Oregon East of the Cascades are largely unknown, even to many Oregonians, who think of it as "the desert". This book finally offers glimpse after glimpse of the diversity of scenery, ecosystems, and satisfying landscapes that exist here.

The photography is absolutely outstanding, and the images are accompanied by accurate captions. The choices of human history photographs and quotes are great. The natural history sections are readable, unlike a field guide, and there is an excellent balance of "charismatic species" coverage. As one of those who prefers places to people, I found the balance between obsession with our own species and appreciation for the others to be perfect.

As far as I can tell, it is extraordinarily accurate - and I learned a few things even after Skylar and I have been exploring the subtleties of these places for over 20 years. There are some excellent perspectives; for example, St. John probably wins the prize for the best way to frame the Columbia River dam "controversy" (see page 177). He is unafraid of "deep time" to explain modern ecosystems and weaves the fossil record throughout the text.

My only concern is purely selfish = he describes some of our favorite haunts so eloquently, readers are going to flock to them and the desert solitaire he praises will change. Oh, well. Maybe those readers will be moved to protect these special places as a result. I just hope the editors of Outside never get a copy...

I plan to buy a few dozen as gifts for friends who wonder "Why are you guys living out there in the frontier instead of in _____ (insert city, bay, whatever)?"

This is on the top of my list of "Books that Work".

Ted Fremd

Paleontologist

John Day Basin

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Other Oregon, July 29, 2007

By 

M. Freese "Traveller/Naturalist" (Las Vegas, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Oregon's Dry Side: Exploring East of the Cascade Crest (Paperback)

This book provides, in stunning pictures, as well as words, a picture of Oregon that most people don't know exists. It is a travel guide that covers small towns and natural areas in good detail. Most people don't know that these places exist, an a vacation or weekend trip to these areas will get you away from the crowds (unless you choose to attend a local festival, where the crowds are still not exceedingly large).

St John gives listings of wildflowers and wildlife you might see along the route or at your destination and when the best chances of sightings occur. These helpful hints prove to be very useful. Being a desert rat, I find it easy to see the beauty in the remote areas St John describes.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read, March 10, 2008

By 

D. Peterson (Bend, OR) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Oregon's Dry Side: Exploring East of the Cascade Crest (Paperback)

Having traveled many of these places, this book makes me want to get out and see more. Good history, good recommendations, great photos!!