Due West

I went kayaking on Fremont Lake Sunday last. Although a novice in such things, I nevertheless managaged a few hours on the lake without capsizing or crashing into rocks. (I have F. Pickett, uber-Wyomingite,  to thank for that) For those who feel the pull of the paddle the Library has books that may be of interest. Check our catalog.

‘Basic Kayaking: All the Skills and Gear You Need to Get Started’

Rounds, Jon

This newest title in Stackpole’s Basics series takes on the wildly popular sport of river kayaking. Packed with information and featuring hundreds of full-color photographs and illustrations, it provides clear, easy-to-follow instruction on selecting gear, getting your boat on the river, and mastering fundamental moves. Also covered are the ferries, peel-outs, and turns required to maneuver a kayak in moving water. For would-be day-trippers, river-runners, creekboaters, and even those aspiring to the world of extreme rodeo playboating, Basic Kayaking is where the journey begins.

‘The Kayak Companion: Expert Guidance for Enjoying Paddling in All Types of Water From One of America’s Top Kayakers’ – Glickman, Joe

Glickman, a member of the U.S. National Marathon Kayak Team, teaches beginners the basic techniques for all kinds of kayaking–sea, recreational and touring. He not only provides essential information but also inspires enthusiasm for this fast-growing sport.

Stuhaug, Dennis O.

The perfect step-by-step handbook for beginners, with sage advice on every aspect of flat-water kayaking, from selecting a boat to kayak sailing.

‘Cowboy: The Illustrated History’ - Slatta, Richard W. 

Writing with scholarship and passion, Richard W. Slatta, Ph.D., presents an exciting and authentic account of cowboy life around the world. Stirring pictures by award-winning photographer Elan Penn and hundreds of evocative archival images take you on the trail with the cowboys of the old West and international figures of independence and bravado, from Argentina’s gauchos to France’s gardians. Whether it’s the types of horses they rode or the clothes they wore, you’ll come to understand what made cowboys from every country unique.

‘Violence Over the Land: Indians and Empires in the Early American West’ 

Blackhawk, Ned

Blackhawk (history & American Indian studies, Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison) begins with the premise that too many histories written about the United States downplay the violence perpetrated by its citizens on native peoples. Through his study of the experiences of the various Ute, Paiute, and Shoshone groups residing in what is now Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, and California (the Great Basin), Blackhawk vividly demonstrates the importance of illuminating the consequences of that violence, which continue to reverberate today. It should be noted that Blackhawk, a Western Shoshone himself, does not portray the natives as victims. Instead, he demonstrates that their perseverance and ability to adapt to changing conditions over the last two centuries allowed them to help shape the world around them. This exceptional monograph is one of the finest studies available on the native peoples of the Great Basin region.

Whether native or newcomer, the Library offers the curious ample opportunity to learn about Sweetwater County – the towns, the people, the legends. The titles listed below portray many aspects of local history through memoirs, family tales, town sagas, and photographic essays. Check our catalog for availability.

‘Historical Images of Sweetwater County’

Gardner, A. Dudley & Brinkerhoff, Val

The authors style their book as a ‘snapshot of the people and places that make southern Wyoming unique’.  Through use of a compelling narrative and stunning photography, they succeed admirably. Those interested in a concise history of the area would find this work indispensable.

‘Booms & Busts on Bitter Creek: A History of Rock Springs, Wyoming’ – Rhode, Robert B.

The definitive history of the town built upon coal – Rock Springs. Aptly titled, the book relays the turbulent past of a city beholden to the vicissitudes of range, mine, and the economics thereof. The revised edition, published in 1999, covers the latest ‘boom’ – trona mining. An informative and thouroughly entertaining book.

 ‘Superior, Wyoming – Centennial  1900 – 2000′ – Richardson, Betty June

The author prepared this book for her classmates’ 2000 reunion in Superior. Gathering information from many sources, Richardson tells the tale of ‘Little Siberia’ and the mines around Horse Thief Canyon. Though brief, the author nonetheless offers a pithy view of Superior in years past. A most entertaining read about one of our local communities.