Wapiti Wilderness [Paperback]

Margaret Murie (Author), Olaus Johan Murie (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1987

For over thirty-seven years, Margaret and Olaus Murie made their home in the mountainous wilderness of the Tetons, where Olaus Murie conducted his famous studies of the American elk, the wapiti. Through these years their home was almost a nature-conservation shrine to thousands of Americans interested in the out-of-doors, in animals, in nature in general. In alternate chapters, Olaus tells of his work as a field biologist for the old US Bureau of Biological Survey and recounts stories of his studies. Mrs Murie, from her side, describes their life together, on the trail, in the various camps, and nature adventures in that wilderness during all four seasons. The book is replete with stories of Jackson Hole people, of 'pioneer poets', and of the wild creatures that made their way into the Murie household. Olaus Murie's evocative pen-and-ink drawings illuminate each chapter, and four pages of photographs help complete the picture of what life was like in the wapiti wilderness.

Product Details

• Paperback: 302 pages
• Publisher: University Press of Colorado (December 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 087081155X
• ISBN-13: 978-0870811555
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #315,025 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful, June 27, 2007

By 

L. Loeffler (San Diego) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wapiti Wilderness (Hardcover)

Delightful mix of authorship with suject matter alternating between chapters of ground-breaking elk research (by Olaus) and family life in a near wilderness (by Margaret). The Muries were just as dedicated game biologists studying elk in Wyoming as Olaus' brother Adolph was in Alaska as he dedicated his life to research on wolves for the National Geographic Society. (Adolph's work preceeded Farley Mowatt's writings and subsequent hit movie, "Never Cry Wolf" and provided invaluable background information.) Olaus pioneered the practice of feeding hay to the elk during difficult winters to keep the herds healthy. Margaret deserved some kind of medal for raising those kids under such trying, but ultimately rewarding, conditions.