California's Eastern Sierra: A Visitor's Guide (Paperback)

~ Sue Irwin (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A book that not only opens up the Eastern Sierra for the tourist but also provides a wealth of information about the history, geology, flora, and fauna of the area." -- Westways

"This is a guide as unique as the area it celebrates. The text of California's Eastern Sierra is a factual and philosophical joy." -- Mono Lake Newsletter

Product Description

California's Eastern Sierra: A Visitor's Guide explores and celebrates a unique western landscape. A rugged country of enchanting beauty, the Eastern Sierra lies at the junction of the Sierra Nevada, Great Basin, and Mojave Desert. The heart of this vast region is the eastern slope of the Sierra, extending from the 14,000-foot ramparts of Mount Whitney to the glacier-scoured peacks west of Mono Basin. No other area of North America encompasses more dramatic mountain and desert scenery, and this guidebook is the ideal companion for discovering its diverse natural history and fascinating human past.

California's Eastern Sierra: A Visitor Guide features more than 100 scenic and historic destinations. Some of the renowned landmarks and natural wonders it covers are Mount Whitney, Mammoth Lakes, Devil's Postpile, Mono Lake, Bodie ghost town, and the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Cachuma Press (June 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0962850500
• ISBN-13: 978-0962850509
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 7.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #129,850 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Complete and Beautiful, January 3, 2001

By	J. Charles Hansen (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The photos in this book jumped out at me and encouraged me to purchase it, yet I was very happily surprised by the thoroughness and readability of the text. I made a road trip down highway 395 this past summer through the Eastern Sierra region and this book proved to be an invaluable resource. It turned me onto many great places to visit off the beaten path. There is excellent history, wildlife and geological info, and descriptions of the towns along the way. The photos are just great, making this both a coffee table book and a great visitors guide. I stopped at the Interagency Visitor Center in Lone Pine (which I would recommend as a good starting point for anyone exploring the area) and among their large selection of books about the region I found this book to the best single source if choosing just one. You'll be very happy with this purchase.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best travel guide I ever bought., June 24, 2004

By	Jerald R Lovell (Clinton Township, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was fortunate enough to purchase this book on the first day of two-week vacation in the Sierra. Since part of the vacation was a planned visit to Mono Lake, the title attracted me. A brief perusal demonstrated the exquisite color photography throughout the book.

After reading sections of the book, plans were changed to include much more time in the Owens Valley and kindred points. We saw and experienced many things that I had never imagined, such as the Long Valley hot springs, the Owens River Canyon, rockhounding areas galore, Fossil Falls, the Coso Domes, Convict Lake, etc., etc.

The book is well writtten, and very well organized, taking the reader from south(Mojave Desert) to North(Bridgeport area, about 100 miles south of Reno) in successive chapters. Although written for any person with a high school background, the book is particularly well suited for students of earth processes, including physical geology, weather, and field biology. Attractions such as the Ancient Bristlecone pine forest, home of the worlds oldest trees, and the Mono Lake volcanic domes, one of America's most recent sites of volcanic activity, are especiall.y well discussed.

One of the most impressive features of this work is the careful road directions included at the conclusion of each subsection discussing a particular attraction. Without these guideline, finding some of the areas would have been much more difficult.

Mixed in with the recitation of attractions, and things to see and do, is a history of the area, where you will find discussion of the various mining ventures in area mountains and dry lakebeds, as well as a narrative of the Owens Valley Earthquake of 1872. America has not experienced a quake of this magnitude since that date.

The book was a treat to possess, both during my vacation and now. Its photography and text rekindle memories of this wonderful region of our country, and I recommend it as highly as possible.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Eastern Sierra Source of Information, February 10, 2000

By A Customer

As an employee of a resort in the Eastern Sierra, I've glanced through and read many books about the region. Of all of them, this book is the best written and researched. The book's pictures are good, but the text is the true value of the book. This book has it all, from climate, to wildlife, to various flora of the region, to recreational suggestions for each of the region's popular landmarks. A must have for any fan of the Eastern Sierra or for anyone planning a trip to this fantastic region of California.