Sugarloaf: The Mountain's History, Geology and Natural Lore (Paperback)

by Melanie Choukas-Bradley (Author), Tina Thieme Brown (illustrator) (Author, Illustrator) "With an elevation of less than thirteen hundred feet, Sugarloaf is no Everest or Denali..." (more)
Key Phrases: strong mansion, yellow blazes, northern ridge, Sugarloaf Mountain, Gordon Strong, White Trail (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Listen for the calls of nesting ravens and warblers, watch the growth of wild geranium and black cohosh, and savor the first autumn blush in the tupelo trees. Revel, as did Frank Lloyd Wright, Henry Benjamin Latrobe, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt--among generations of other amateur naturalists-- in the remarkable natural, historical, and geological treasures of Sugarloaf, the Maryland Piedmont’s only mountain.

A favored destination of nearly one-quarter million visitors each year, some 35 miles northwest of Washington, D.C., and 50 miles west of Baltimore, Sugarloaf is a National Natural Landmark and privately owned park that is open to the public year-round. In this natural history and guidebook, Melanie Choukas-Bradley presents a fascinating blend of local, natural, and historical detail that transports the reader simultaneously onto the slopes of today’s mountain and into the region’s past. Discover why prominent architects and real estate barons have found the land so compelling, why preservationists and botanists strive to protect the natural habitat of so many native species, and why families return again and again to hike, study flora and fauna, and picnic at Sugarloaf.

Choukas-Bradley lists practical information on how and when you might best enjoy a visit to the trails, wildflowers, and seasonal variations of the land. Her text is beautifully complemented by Tina Thieme Brown’s pen-and-ink illustrations.

About the Author
Melanie Choukas-Bradley is the author of City of Trees: The Complete Field Guide to the Trees of Washington, D.C. and a frequent contributor to the Washington Post.

Tina Thieme Brown has been a landscape artist and environmentalist for twenty years. She currently serves as campaign director for Solutions Not Sprawl, a regional alliance working to protect open space.

Product Details

• Paperback: 114 pages
• Publisher: University of Virginia Press (March 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813921686
• ISBN-13: 978-0813921686
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 4.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #322,972 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A truly beautiful book!, May 26, 2003

By	Jo Singer "Sophocles" (Maryland) - See all my reviews

Choukas-Bradley and Brown's book is superbly written and provides a wealth of compelling information. Perhaps even more importantly, it reminds us of the value of our connection to sacred places in nature, something so threatened in our modern culture. This book has really increased my appreciation and enjoyment of Sugarlaf Mountain and all the natural beauty that surrounds it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Gem of a Book, April 18, 2003

By A Customer

As a regular visitor to Sugarloaf Mountain, I was pleased to learn so much more about it from reading this book. I normally shy away from nature and history books but the writing in "Sugarloaf: The Mountain's History, Geology and Natural Lore" is so good that it just drew me in. I literally couldn't put the book down!

I especially loved the chapter describing each season on Sugarloaf. With such obvious love for and knowledge of the mountain, the author vividly describes the different aspects of each season in exquisite detail.

I highly recommend this book!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Little Book, February 8, 2004

By	Vincent G. Ferrari "vferrari" (Bowie, Maryland, U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

I thoroughly enjoyed this book about Sugarloaf Mountain. As a hike leader with a local trail club, it was most helpful before leading a recent hike on the mountain. But more than that, I just loved reading it. The history, especially, was interesting to me, but the rest was very good as well. If you have ever been to (or wish to visit) this wonderful little slice of nature amidst all the suburban sprawl, you should read this book.