Customer Reviews (2)

THE BEST BOOK ON THE OLYMPIC COAST, EVER!
This is the epitome of good writing. It is an excellent resource for all those who love the Olympic Coast. If you are heading to the Olympics, this book is essential. Filled with fascinating facts, history, details, and soforth, it is the Olympic Coast Bible. Buy this book for all your friends,you won't be disappointed.

GREAT BOOK IF YOU LIKE HIKING ON THE OLYMPIC COAST
THIS IS AN EXCELLENT BOOK ON HIKING THE OLYMPIC COAST. I HAVE HIKED HALF OF IT AND THE BOOK CAME IN HANDY. IT POINTS OUT A LOT OF LANDMARKS THAT I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE MISSED. ALSO GIVES THE HISTORY OF THE OLYMPIC COAST,AND TELLS WHERE SHIPWRECKS AND MEMORIALS ARE. ... Read more

Product Description
Covers the history of the Special Olympics, the various events in which mentally and physically handicapped athletes compete, and some of the people involved in this international competition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

From a Special Olympics Athlete
I got this book off of half.com.I would recommend this book for all the Special Ed Schools to have. I am sending out letters hoping to talk to Schools in are County about getting more Athletes.Are County has mostly older Athletes.This is one book I would show them.

Special Olympics Indiana Tippecanoe County.

the special olympics experience
I am a Special Olympian and have been for 17 years. This book is totally amazing. I recommend this book to anyone with a mental or physical challenge. The families with a challenged person in their family will totally be in awe after they read this book. I am also a global messenger for Special Olympics. I have gained self-esteem because of Special Olympics. Whatever I do in Special Olympics, I know my family is behind me 100%.

the special olympics experience
I AM A SPECIAL OLYMPIAN AND HAVE BEEN for 17 years. this book really touched me. i do not own the book but i have borrowedit from the library several times. where can i get my own copy. i am a global messenger for special olympics. I love this book i totally recommend this book to any person that is physically or mentally challenged.and it would be a real blessing to those families that have a handicappedperson in their family.special olympics has helped my self esteem. and my family is so happy that i am involved in special olympics.

A Wonderful Experience
This book is one of the most enjoying books I have had the priviledge of reading.I am saying this as a parent whose son Chad Kocabinski is one of the featured athletes.He is the young man talked about in the equestrian events section.

I and my wife will have this book forever as a living memorial to our son who passed away from cancer on the 23rd of December 2000.The way the author did her interviews and the way the book has been written and it's content is something that makes us to be very proud.We had it on display at the funeral home as a tribute to not only him, but to Special Olympics as a whole.

As a matter of fact, we would like to get 8 more copies of this book to place in each one of the schools in our community in his memory. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is based on facts. We all have seen Munich(the movie), the fictional story of The Israeli response. This book sets the facts straight. It is meticulously researched and it is based on a masters thesis of the author who is a professional soldier in the Marine Corps. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME OR CASH!!!!!!!!!!!
Written as a thesis, it's amazing that his Professor didn't giver him an 'F' and then toss this poorly written pamphlet into the trash bin.Very disjointed and repetitive for something that purports to be 'the true story of the Israeli response and the development of independent covert action teams'.There is nothing new or informative here.If you do order it, don't set to much time aside to read it.I opened the cover soon after boarding my flight and I was done with it before we went wheeels up.Maybe 20-25 minutes at the most.At least it put me into an almost comatose state for the rest of the flight.

A Great Book on the FACTS behind the Munich events and
the Israeli/Mossad response that followed. The fictional story of the reteliation of the rogue/freelance team headed by Avner is sexy and great for a movie but it had precious little history behind it. This book tells you the true story and it analyses, dissects an makes sense of the birth of independent covert teams that todays terrorists namely Al Quada mimics. The author is a professional soldier/marine so his account and views are highly regarded as expert analysis on terror cells. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (18)

A Clash of isms and a Cry of Foul
I cannot compete with Jeremy Schaaps research or scholarship. My objection to this work is more visceral and based on my own research of the period and by statements from Marty Glickman and from newspaper sources. Mano o mano, I've written a novel, and it's only time away that I will stand in some cubicle arguing my belated point. But if truth be known, the period sources must say that a great injustice herein lies to the Brown Thunderbolt. Marty Glickman was a lifelong friend of Jesse Owens. He credited him for trying to defy the coaches and Brundage for not letting Sam Stoller and him compete in the four man marathon run. Owens was exhausted by then, had already lost about ten pounds and wanted to go home. He was told to shut up and do what he was told. To suggest that HE was really jockeying behind the scenes to run for his fourth gold medal does not fly. He was no double agent, befriending Glickman and Stoller. It was not this gentle giant who was the instrument that helped lead to the total marginalization of Jews that was implicit in these Games. To suggest otherwise is a great disservice and blunts the impact of how powerful were the forces behind the rise of the Third Reich--specifically, the American corporations and financiers who profited unmercifully from Hitler's fledgling government and whom Avery Brundage served with all his might. I spent twenty-seven years writing my story and though Schaap is sometimes poetic, even brilliant in getting the pulse of the place, I think he does no service to Jesse or the commeraderie of the intermingled races that were evident in the Eleventh Olympiad that may have set the almost unbreakable bonds created twenty years later when Blacks and Jews marched through Montgomery together. What is not explored in this novel is the innocence, and ultimate betrayal of the American dream. While American athletes were competing, Americans also lay dying in Spain. Fifteen thousand white Americans were getting ready for a lynching of a Negro in Kentucky, and President Roosevelt was sailing aboard his yacht in Maine. I hope my novel,as historical fiction and often told as parody(Arian Bandage is the arch-villain) addresses some of these issues and brings that sorry period to a more fitful rest.

Robert Rubenstein
Author, Ghost Runners
on AmazonGhost Runners

Interesting Look
Interesting look at an historic time in history - the Olympics of 1936 (Hitler's Olympics) and the man of the hour, Jesse Owens. The author brings the reader into the politics of the time - the good, bad and the ugly. He sets up Jesse's background and how he arrived on the world stage as well as what happened to him after all the hoopla died down. There's a little something for everybody - history, politics, intrigue and the Olympic games in an uncomfortable social/political setting.

Informative
I listened to the audio version of this title. It was well read and held my attention. Made me appreciate for all our societal failings in the area of race relations just how far we've come since Jesse Owen's time. A timeless story of triumph over adversity.

great service
I bought this for my niece's husband, who has taken up marathons.Arrived quickly and in great shape.

I wouldn't recommend this book
As a student at The Ohio State University, for two years I lived next door to a building named after Jesse Owens. He is considered a hero, and rightfully so. I have always been interested in getting to know more about his life, and thought this book would be a good start. I was wrong.

There are a lot of inconsistencies about Mr. Schaap's book. The most frustrating one to me is that he paints the title as if Jesse Owens was involved in the politics of the Third Reich. Owens admittedly didn't care about politics at this time in his life. He was doing it because he couldn't live a great life without winning Olympic Gold. Owens, later in life, made mention that Hitler was nicer to him about winning a Gold Medal then FDR (because Roosevelt never congratulated him and Hitler at least waved to him).

Second, the story isn't very fluid. As we all know, Hitler hated blacks, Jews, the disabled, and anyone else that didn't fit his bigoted mold. But at the same time, this book covers Hitler's anti-semitism more then his hatred of blacks and Christians. Covering Hitler's hatred of those (since Owens was both Black and Christian) would have been more on topic. This gave me the feeling that I was reading two books at once. One about Owens, the other about Hitler's hatred of the Jews.

Finally, there are some topics that don't seem to contribute anything to the story. Schaap mentions a documentary about the Olympics many times in the book, but doesn't really connect the dots. Sure, it had Owens in it (to Hitler's annoyance) but there were more important things to talk about then a director and her getting the right camera angles during parts of the games.

Overall the book has a few parts that are fun to read, but it's nothing more then that. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent Photography
This coffee table book has some absolutely beautiful pictures of Salt Lake City, the Wasatch Mountains and surrounding areas. The photographers did a fantastic job capturing light, and the pictures are extremely well printed. This would be a great book to have on hand while watching the olympics.

It is also a good book for people who want tohave a coffee table book about Utah.

The book itself starts with a brief overview of the Salt Lake Bid, and the resulting Olympic bidding scandal. It then takes us on a tour of the geology of Utah and the mountain west. The book includes pictures of both the mountains in Northern Utah, and the Colorado plateau in Southern Utah. It provides a summary of historical and cultural information about the Salt Lake Valley.

In the last quarter of the book, we get into sports photography, and we can see some high quality shoots of skiers and other athletes.

All in all, it is a well made and designed coffee table book. The main reason to buy it is the high quality photography. You will definitely enjoy having it on hand while you watch the Olympics. The book covers a great deal of information, mainly at a summary level; so it really would not serve as a reference book.

Finally, having been written before the Olympics, there are no actual pictures of 2002 Olympic events.My guess is the book was written before 9/11/2001, and there is no mention of the international tensions which will be in everyone's mind during the events.

Great Overview
This is a great overview of the Salt Lake Olympics and Salt Lake Valley.If you want one handy reference book with information all in one place, this is your move. ... Read more

Product Description
Why is hosting the Olympic Games so important to China? What is the significance of a quintessential symbol of Western civilization taking place in the heart of the Far East? Will the Olympics change China, or will China change the Olympics? Susan Brownell sets the historical and cultural contexts for the 2008 Beijing Olympics Games by placing it within the context of China's hundred-year engagement with the Olympic movement to illuminate what the Games mean to China and what the Beijing Olympic Games will mean for China's relationship with the outside world. Brownell's deeply informed analysis ranges from nineteenth-century orientalism to Cold War politics and post-Cold War _China bashing._ Drawing on her more than two decades of engagement in Chinese sports, the author presents evocative stories and first-person accounts to paint a human picture of the passion that many Chinese people feel for the Olympic Games. It will also be essential reading for journalists and sports enthusiasts who want to understand the fascinating story behind the Beijing Olympics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

An American Anthropologist with keen attention to the Beijing Games
Susan Brownell has approached the topic of the Beijing Olympics with the seriousness which it deserves.As an anthropologist, historian, and athlete who has lived in and competed in China, she approaches the topic with professional dispatch, as well as personal knowledge.Susan has confronted the Bob Costa stereotypes about Chinese athletes over the past decade, and brings her arguments together in seven succinct chapters.Because of her professional relationship with International Olympic Committee member He Zhenliagn, Ms. Brownell's insights into motivation, goals, and obstacles are substantive.She accomplishes her goal of providing comprehensive analysis of the Olympic Movement in context of the imminent prospect of the world stage turning to the Beijing Olympics.I would urge all journalists who intend to write about their experiences in Beijing to prepare themselves by studying Susan's excellent text.

Very good reading
Reviewed by Lori Plach for Reader Views (2/08)

Why were the Chinese people all excited when it was announced that the 2008 Summer Olympics would be held in Beijing? Why was it so important to them? Sure, it is a major boost to their economy. What with all the people from all over the world coming to China to cheer on their children or country's athletes. It is more than money and people that will come to Beijing this year. It will be a first in all the years of the modern-day Olympics.China has never hosted an Olympic Games. China is not known to have many Olympic champions; in the last few Olympic Games, China has accomplished their first medals of any color, including Gold.

Susan Brownell has written a brief history book about China and its customs as well as an explanation about what impact, more than financial, these Olympics will bring to Beijing and China itself. The author uses her personal experience as a previous exchange student to China to bring her book to life. She has even competed in athletic events with Chinese women and can bring their stories about not having the advantages that men have. In recent years, more has come out about possible doping in order to make better athletes achieve even higher; she addresses some of the issues of performance enhancing drugs.

For anyone who will be watching any of the 2008 Olympic Games from Beijing this book is very good reading. Through the pages of "Beijing's Games," you will learn more about this Olympics history, host country, host city and invitation to be the "people's Olympics."
... Read more

Product Description
Ideal for today's young investigative reader, each A True Book includes lively sidebars, a glossary and index, plus a comprehensive "To Find Out More" section listing books, organizations, and Internet sites. A staple of library collections since the 1950s, the new A True Book series is the definitive nonfiction series for elementary school readers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Excellent Service
I received my order in 2 days, and the book was in near unused condition.I would have not qualms about doing business with this seller again.Thanks.

A fun and useful reference
I have already used this book extensively in the few weeks that I've owned it, both outdoors and while thinking about the outdoors at home.I am a total amateur with plant and tree identification, but this book's casual-yet-informed style has already taught me how to identify the most common local trees and more about their ecosystem (why one tree is more likely to grow in an area than another and which trees should win in the end) than I've bothered to think about before.For species of flora or fauna I'm familiar with, it's still worth looking them up to see what interesting facts the author learned first-hand and compiled.I can skip the identifying elements and learn why I see ravens on Hurricane Ridge and crows in Port Angeles rather than the other way around, or why the wolverine is also called the skunk-bear and why there might be hope for the re-expansion of its habitat.

Its size is perfect for carrying anywhere, which also limits the breadth of its coverage.You will not be able to identify every bird or flower you come across, but instead you can learn which type of rock you're looking at and why it's there and then refer to which tree you're looking at and why it's the dominant local species or why it doesn't have fungus but the next one does and then maybe understand why the animal you passed by is here but not on the other side of the mountain.In other words, it will give you a better general knowledge of our ecosystem and geology than any other single book I've been able to find on the Northwest.

Excellent book - a must-have!
I lived in the PNW my whole life until I moved to MI three years ago.I of course used this book for my college environmental studies classes as well as my summer interpretation job with the forest service.The facts are unusual and interesting and, my favorite part, the Latin names for each entry (the book details trees, flowers, herbs, insects, herps, mammals, birds, mushrooms, rocks, etc) are spelled phonetically and are explained.Ex: Procyon lotor (raccoon...) procyon is a star near the dog star, lotor is washer.Very useful, especially as an educator!There are also interesting side essays, like the progression and classification of raptors, or the difference between torpor and hibernation, or a PNW native story about coyote and a cedar tree.
Even in Michigan I can still use this book since some of the animals and plants are found in both places.I learn something new every time I open this book - I am never too far away from it!

great guide AND great read
Matthews does not only a great job describing just about every part of northwest nature, but does it with a sense of humor. This guide is not the most in-depth out there, but it covers a LOT of different areas of ecology, geology, zoology, and botany. I consider myself more of a plant person, but sometimes I'd not only like to be able to identify a plant, but also what the name of the bug is that's eating it or the rock that it's growing on, or even the rodent that stealing all the food out of my campsite.

In addition to being a great field guide, this book is great just for casual reading. It carries a lot of standard textbook information, but doesn't put me to sleep. I actually found myself laughing out loud at a few tidbits.

Even if I never took it out into the field, this book would have been worth the purchase.

Excellent Guide
This is a great guide for anyone tromping about in the Northwest. It combines several other guides into one that is easy to carry and easy to use. The book covers almost anything you'll venture across from plant to animal. It even includes a short section on regional geography and minerals. Must have for the backpack ... Read more

Product Description
Dean Rhodes, Peninsula Daily News editor, arrived at work at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2005. At about 10:45 a.m., Dean looked up and asked inquisitively, "Where's Brian?" Fellow reporters Jim Casey and Raul Vasquez both stopped what they were doing, turned in unison to look at Brian's empty chair, turned back to Dean and said they didn't know. They were wondering the same thing, especially since Brian hadn't been there Monday either. "What do you mean he wasn't here Monday? Did he call in sick?" Thus was set in motion the search and rescue effort that later was described as "looking for a needle in a needlestack." The author says, "When I tell people about spending 65.5 hours lost in the wilderness in my running outfit with no food, the two questions I get most often are 'Were you scared?' and 'Did you think you were going to die?' The short answers are "At the beginning and at the end." and "No." The longer answers I hope I will provide to your satisfaction in the pages ahead." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Available at King County library
A self-published account of the author's experience with being lost in the mountains.As a whole it's a scattered narrative and void of much that engages.There is some modest interest in understanding the multiple factors that lead to him being out there as he was, things you usually dont read about in news accounts, but as noted, the detail is sparse and it reads like a rambling conversation.In other words he's pretty open about his long history of poor judgement in planning backcountry trips so it will leave you shaking your head.Check it out from library, its a 30 minute read. ... Read more

Product Description
The Story of the Greatest Sports Moment of the Twentieth Century

Once upon a time, they taught us to believe. They were the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team, a blue-collar bunch led by an unconventional coach, and they engineered what Sports Illustrated called the greatest sports moment of the twentieth century. Their “Miracle on Ice” has become a national fairy tale, but the real Cinderella story is even more remarkable.

Wayne Coffey casts a fresh eye on this seminal sports event, giving readers an ice-level view of the amateurs who took on a Russian hockey juggernaut at the height of the Cold War. He details the unusual chemistry of the Americans—formulated by their fiercely determined coach, Herb Brooks—and seamlessly weaves portraits of the boys with the fluid action of the game itself. Coffey also traces the paths of the players and coaches since their stunning victory, examining how the Olympic events affected their lives.

Told with warmth and an uncanny eye for detail, The Boys of Winter is an intimate, perceptive portrayal of one Friday night in Lake Placid and the enduring power of the extraordinary.


Also available as an eBook ... Read more

Customer Reviews (36)

Relive the Game and Get to Know the Players
Coffey writes an awesome book, capturing not only the drama of the game with the Russians, but also providing snapshot biographies of the key players.Like an expert skater, he weaves in and out with game and player details.The story never gets old and the insight as to the boys in red, white and blue is fascinating. Matters not if you are a hockey fan or sports fan or even if you weren't yet born in 1980, pick it up and give it a read.Great book about a key moment in sports and our nation's history.

Good read
My son actually had to read this book as part of a report for his English class, but said he really enjoyed reading it. He is a huge hockey fan and plays the sport himself, so it probably wasn't a stretch.

The Boys of Winter:The Untold Story of a Coach, a Dream, and the 1980 Olympic Hockey Team
The book arrived in new condition, even though I paid used price.The content of the book is very detailed with every USA Olympic hockey player featured thoughout the book.In addition, the author interviewed the Soviet hockey players and gives their view of the game.A must read for hockey fans.

Good read...Great memories
Anyone who fondly remembers the "Miracle On Ice" will find this book to be an enjoyable walk down memory lane of the greatest sports event in the history of the United States.The author's unique storytelling intertwines the play-by-play of the semi-final game between the USA and USSR with the individual stories of the game's major "characters."

The story of the game and circumstances surrounding that time in US history has been told so many times, that many of the tales in the book are familiar but the author keeps it interesting.He also provides more insight into the Soviet team and its background than I've ever previously encountered.The only dissapointment for me was the lack of attention to the other games that the United States played during its Olympic run.

I was at that game
I just finished reading Wayne Coffey's book "The Boys of Winter" and old memories came back,
as I was at that game on February 22-1980 in Lake Placid. The book tells this incredible story
in a fascinating way. Once you start reading it, you cannot stop reading, so interestingly it
is written. You learn a lot what happened befor and after this game.
I highly recommend this book.
Bernard SamterFebruary 25-2010
... Read more

Product Description
Olympic Mountains Trail Guide Revised guide on every trail in the Olympics. Scenic and historic highlights, mileages and elevation.Amazon.com Review
Whether you're planning an actual trip to the OlympicMountains or searching for the vicarious thrills of a smart guidebook,Robert L. Wood's encyclopedic knowledge of this enchanting wildernessat the edge of the Pacific will inform and enthrall. This is not aquickie job: the author has hiked every one of the trails he detailshere (over a hundred) backwards and forwards, most of them more thanonce, and his enthusiasm is infectious. Before you know it you'll bean expert too--rattling off, for instance, peaks visible from DodgerPoint (Rainier, Olympus, the Bailey Range), and the name for the"noisy chatter" along the Putvin Trail (Whitehorse Creek).Divided into two main sections--Leeward and Windward--this handy guidecovers the bulk of national forest and parklands worth venturing into.Concise yet thorough, it includes all the necessities--elevation,mileage, maps, landmarks, vegetation, and possible wildlifesightings--in an easy-to-read format. A must for the would-be visitorand armchair adventurer both. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Does not offer degree of difficulty or description of elevation changes
Extremely unhelpful. Does not rate trails with respect to degree of difficulty; nor does it indicate whether trail is generally level, uphill, downhill, etc. Descriptions are wordy and vague. Where was the editor?

Avid Olympic backpacker
Bottom line: This is an absolute must have for anyone serious about backpacking in the Olympics. Every trail, including ones that barely exist anymore, are included in this book. Lots of useful information. Perfect for planning trips.

Inaccurate.Read at Your Own Risk
Warning: This Book May Result in Serious Injury or Death!Multiple times on a recent trans-Olympic backpack this book let our group down, and a couple times trusting Robert Woods' advice placed us in danger.Most of the inaccuracies were related to campsites and where to find them...or that they even exist at all!The most extreme incident was his depiction of Bone Camp on the trail coming down from Hayden Pass.It did not exist, and there were no other campsites.As a result our group spent 5 hours hiking in the dark on steep trails to get to the next camp.Had his writing been accurate in this case and several others, we would have had a safer and more enjoyable hike.When i bought this book i was excited about the amount of detail, but i simply cannot afford to trust Robert L. Wood. I suggest buying another book.

Useless for me
As a day hiker going to the Olympics for the first time I found the book rather useless and much inferior to a day hiking book a friend brought (Day Hiking, Olympic Penisula).It is of little help in choosing which trail to do, it has poor to non-existent maps and does not give elevation change data. It is exhaustive on the mountain trails (including abandoned trails), but it does not include beach hikes, only mountain trails.

The best
This is the best and most informative trail guide to the Olympic Mountains. Bob Wood has hiked most of these trails himself and he has written book on the history of Olympic National Park.This book contains information you will not find anywhere else.Sadly Bob Wood has passed away and this book is getting a bit dated. ... Read more

Product Description
The Olympics thrill the world with spectacle and drama. They also carry a cultural and social significance that goes beyond the stadium, athletes and fans. The Games are arenas in which individual and team athletic achievement intersect with the politics of national identity in a global context. "The Olympics at the Millennium" offers essays that explore the cultural politics of the Games. The contributors investigate such topics as the emergence of women athletes as cultural commodities, the orchestrated spectacles of the opening and closing ceremonies, and the alternative sport culture offered via the Gay Games. Unforgettable events and decisions are discussed: Native American athlete Jim Thore winning - and losing - his two gold medals in 1912; why America was one of the few countries to actually send Jewish athletes to the "Nazi Olympics"; the disqualification of champion Ewa Klobukowska from competing as a woman, due to chromosomal testing in 1967. Written with the 2000 Sydney Games in mind, several essays address concerns with which every host country must contend, such as the threat of terrorism.Highlighting the difficult issues of racism and nationalism, another article explores the efforts of Australia's aboriginal people to define a role for themselves in the 2000 Games, as they struggle with ongoing discrimination. And with the world watching, Sydney faces profound pressure to implement a successful Olympics as a matter of national pride. ... Read more

Product Description
The only climbing guide devoted to Washington’s Olympic National Park—now completely updated and expanded with more than thirty percent additional new material.• New Alpine Rock, Crags and Sport Routes, and Bouldering sections added• Expanded historical and biographical anecdotes • GPS waypoints added for key route descriptionsFrom the hard basalt lava peaks of Constance and The Brothers, to the high-angle faces of The Needles and Sawtooth Ridge, to the sandstone and vast glaciers of Mount Olympus, and hundreds of other mountains large and small: It’s the definitive climbing guide authored by Olympic Mountain Rescue (OMR), a group of volunteers dedicated to saving lives for the last 50 years through search, rescue, and mountain safety education. In preparing this new edition, OMR drew not only on their own extensive experience throughout the range, but also on the knowledge of the National Park and Forest Services and other organizations and climbers.

This greatly expanded new edition adds an Alpine Rock section featuring classic climbs, a Crags and Sport Routes section revealing several rock climbing challenges within a short walk from roads, plus great bouldering locations. In addition, there are enhanced route descriptions for "High Alpine Traverses" including refined Bailey Range data; new traverse legs have also been added. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Olympic Mountains #4
This is a great guide and Amazon was a very good (and easy) place to get it.

A good guide to bad rock
If you already know that you want to climb in the Olympics and want a some decent beta on the climbs, then this is not only the only guide out there for you, but it's really quite good.The route and approach descriptions are generally well detailed and accurate.The book includes scrambles, alpine routes, rock climbs, old school alpenstock und lederhosen ridge treks and even some bouldering areas.
If you don't already know that you want to climb in the Olympics and are thinking of buying this book to come up with some climbing ideas, look elsewhere.The Olympics are the last place you want to go for a few recreational climbs.There are indeed a few classic safe routes, mostly scrambles, on good rock.And there are a few decent alpine routes in these mountains.Mostly though, you've got a range of very poor quality basalt that is heavily weathered and breaks off readily.The book is full or routes with warnings about bad rock and the dangers of party inflicted rockfall.
So yes it's a great guide, but for the small percentage of climbers that want to tackle something a little wilder and less tracked out.

only climbing guide to the Olympic Mountains (revised)
This is the fourth edition of what is, as far as I know, the only climbing guide to the Olympic Mountains. Most of the content of the book seems to be barely revised. In particular, many of the routes in the book are very simple sketches -- things like "follow the rocky ridge for 0.5 miles, class 3". However, what do you expect from a book which covers pretty much every summit on the peninsula?

What's new in this edition is two sections which try to bridge the gap between traditional guidebooks (like Beckey) and the modern crag climbing style of guidebook. The first section is called "Alpine Rock Climbs" and gives more detail about some of the class five routes (including a few route topos). The second new section is "Crags And Sport Routes", which is pretty much self-explanitory.

As before, the book also has sections on High Alpine Traverses and Winter Climbing. Also as before, the main part of the guidebook is organized by geography, with the mountains separated into seven "groups", separated by major river drainages.

Note: like Beckey, this is not a hiking or camping guide. It is assumed that if you want information on the approach trails, you will get that elsewhere. ... Read more

Product Description
In this thoroughly revised edition, Tim McNulty returns his gaze to the Olympic National Park: 1,400 square miles of rugged mountains and wilderness in the heart of the Olympic Peninsula. By examining the effects of global warming and its rapid changes throughout the region alongside current archaeological discoveries that shed new light on the early people of the peninsula, McNulty brings together our past and future. McNulty also tells the stories of the Olympic National Park's animal populations. From marmots and black bears to the prospect of reintroducing wolves, he then looks at the resurgence of bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and the burgeoning sea otter populations rejuvenating the coastal ecosystems. Finally, the restoration of the Elwha River, the removal of salmon-blocking dams, and salmon recovery efforts across the peninsula are bringing wildlife back to the wilderness. Tim McNulty is a poet and nature writer living in the foothills of the Olympic Mountains. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Very happy reader
I bought this book to get some natural history background before a 10-day backpack trip in Olympic National Park.The book is so fine I ended up carrying it with me.The information is vast and accurate, the writing is first-rate, the author's knowledge is deep, and his understanding and compassion for this special place are infectious.A MUST read for anyone interested in the Olympic Mountains and their unique natural heritage. ... Read more

Product Description
The first and only guide to bicycling the national parks and wilderness areas of Oregon and Washington. Bicycling is becoming an ever-more popular option as some national parks are closing roads to cars. This complete adventure guide to the national parks of Oregon and Washington features 58 road and mountain bike rides through the parks' most spectacular natural areas. The stunning geographical diversity of Washington and Oregon is perfectly captured by their national parks and recreation areas, and the best way to explore these spectacular national treasures is to get out of your car and onto a bike. David Story has sought out routes of all levels and lengths for both road bikes and mountain bikes in this new guide. From the arid sagebrush landscape of John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, to the glaciers capping Mount Rainier National Park, to the volcanic legacy of Crater Lake, to the temperate rain forest of Olympic National Park, the national public lands of the Pacific Northwest offer stunning views, invigorating air, and a mix of easy to strenuous rides. These riding opportunities can only improve with time, as the parks continue to restrict automobile use to better preserve and protect their natural beauty. Each of the 58 ride descriptions include a detailed map, tour directions, information about the trail or road surface, sights along the way, and the length and difficulty of the ride. In addition, a trip-planning appendix for each park tells you where to stay or camp, do your laundry, eat, buy supplies, and repair or rent a bike. 58 rides are described and mapped in detail. Part of a new national series: Bicycling America's National Parks. Heavily illustrated: Includes 25 professional color photographs of the parks, 75 black and white photographs, and 60 maps. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Unique and Broad, though Slightly Incomplete Guidebook.
Story's first guidebook in the 'Bicycling America's National Parks' series (California) is an excellent all-around cycling guide (and general guidebook) for the Golden State.It's concise, thorough, and balanced, presented in personable, witty language.He includes a variety of road and mountain bike routes for virtually every riding level.His lodging, shopping, and especially dining suggestions are first rate.It includes almost all the information a would-be tourist (as I was) needs for a bicycling trip to CA.Story also throws in some nice tidbits about natural and cultural history of each park, as well as description of fauna and flora (plants and animals), and worthwhile less-known attractions.

This guide from Story features most of the same attributes as his previous guide.He includes a variety of rides that highlight the nearly infinite geographical and ecological diversity of Oregon and Washington.Once again, he includes abundant, but concise information and recommendations related to lodging and related travel info, presented in personable language (though he's not as consisently funny).As before, he provides a nice natural and historical background, serving to not just describe, but introduce the reader to each park (or recreational area).

There is one minor shortcoming, relative to Story's National Parks/California book.That guide contained abundant supplemental information related to dining and other special attractions within or near each park.While this guidebook has some info. of that nature, it seems much more sparse.This might be because many trails in Oregon and Washington are in fairly rural areas far from any major (or even minor) population center.This considered, this guidebook still doesn't seem as complete as his California edition, which provided that reader with virtually everything we'd need to plan our trip.This isn't to say this guide is poor, it just doesn't quite match up to the standards of Story's previous guide.Once again, it would be helpful if Story included a general map of each park (this was the only minor problem I had with his CA edition).

Even if it doesn't quite measure up to Story's California guide, Oregon/Washington is still far superior to most other cycling guidebooks available (even allowing for it's uniqueness).It's an indespensible tool for anyone planning a cycling trip to or near the national parks/recreational areas of Oregon and Washington.It's a perfect starting point, though you might want to research the areas more before heading out.

A superb addition to a great series
I purchased this book after reading a glowing review of it from the San Francisco Chronicle. I'm very glad I purchased it. This latest addition to the Bicycling America's National Parks series is informative, helpful, and truly captures the ambience of the different national parks it covers. It's not just national parks, but national recreation areas, and national monuments too, and you really get a sense of where the great bicycling opportunities are in places that also have national-caliber scenery and attractions.After reading the book, I'm definitely planning on using it for a Hells Canyon National Recreation Area trip later this summer. The chapters on Crater Lake, Olympic National Park, and Mount Saint Helens totally appealed to me, cause I've been to those places and wondered about biking there.The author does a great job of showing that the myth that you can't ride offroad in national parks is just that-- a myth.(All the rides are legal, though some do take place just outside park boundaries.) The book presents everything you need to know in a clear, often funny way. The pictures are great too. That's about all I ask from a guidebook. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
An irreverent look at the world's biggest sporting event

 The sixth volume in the popular "Most Wanted" series
 Dive into amusing Olympic moments both high and low
 Written by the author of four books in the "Most Wanted" series: Baseball, Football, Wrestling, and Golf, as well as the successful sports title Golf!: Great Moments & Dubious Achievements in Golf History

Olympic history is filled with the unusual, the bizarre, and the unbelievable. THE OLYMPICS' MOST WANTED chronicles 700 of the most outlandish competitors in the history of the winter and summer Olympics. Its seventy lists describe in humorous detail the Olympics' most inept athletes, strangest events, most embarrassing performances, poorest losers, most outrageous cheaters, unlikeliest heroes, most notorious disqualifications, and more. Only here will you find out that Margaret Abbott won the gold medal women's golf in 1900 without realizing she was competing in the Olympics or that Fred Lorz rode in a car for eleven of the twenty-six miles of the 1904 marathon. American tennis player Marion Jones won a bronze medal at the 1900 games without winning a match. Stella Walsh, 1932 gold medalist in the women's 100-meter dash, was, in reality, a man. All this and more can be found in THE OLYMPICS' MOST WANTED. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Hilarious!
Strip away the pomp and circumstance, and you will find the eccentricities, extravagance, and scandals of the Olympic athletes to be much more entertaining than the televised games.

Fun, Wacky, and AmazingTrivia about the Olympics!!
As a huge fan of the Olympics, I thought I had seen all the odd facts and quirky moments in Olympic history (after all we've all seen those vignettes on the networks that cover the Games!). But when i read this book I was amazed at the fun details that no one has ever mentioned before!! Can you imagine not knowing you were competing in the Olympics?? Or riding in a car for part of the marathon and still winning a medal?

This book has all the unusual, weird and bizarre facts that only an event as big as the Olympics could generate! Keep it next to your television and laugh your way through the Winter Games this February! ... Read more

Product Description
"Here is the story of the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin during which the German Nazi Party attempted to turn the Games into a propaganda vehicle for its own political agenda.This fascinating book, based on an exhibit mounted by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, tells the story of those infamous Olympics.Profiled are the organizers, the politicians, and most important, the athletes: those who boycotted the games, those who were banned from participating, and those who competed.All these riveting tales are vividly recounted by Susan Bachrach, author of Tell Them We Remember.Using intriguing sidebars and evocative photographs, she brings this iconic event to life in a book that not only will be read avidly this summer as the 2000 Olympic Games take place, but also for years to come." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Nazi Olymics
The book I read on the Holocaust was called The Nazi Olympics: Berlin 1936 by Susan D. Bachrach. This book is about the Olympics held by the Nazis.In this book, it tells about the steps Nazis took to hold the Olympics.It also tells you where exactly the Olympics were held. This book is not a book that actually tells a story, it is a factual book that tells facts and gives you images to describe the facts.Adolf Hitler was head of Germany's Government.In 1931, Berlin was chosen as the site of the 1936 Summer Games.After World War I, Hitler and the Nazi promised a "new Germany" that would give to those many Germans who were fearful to the future.Soon Germany was turned into a police state for "Aryans only".As the year of 1936 came closer and closer with the Olympics, people questioned whether the Olympics should be held in a country whose ideology ran counter to the ideals that inspired to the Games.Many participants questioned the same thing.

Absolutely wonderful!
This large and attractive book tells the story of the 1936 Summer Olympics held in Berlin. Many Americans have heard of them, though their knowledge is limited to the fact that Jesse Owens, an African-American, won four gold medals, humiliating Adolf Hitler. This book tells the story of those Olympics from the choice of venue in 1931, through the rise of Hitler and National Socialism, the Nazi racial policies, the movement to boycott the games, the Olympics themselves, and finally on to the aftermath of the games and the Holocaust. Following the texts are some wonderful appendices on the chronology of the games, statistics on the 1896-1936 Olympics, and a list of nations participating in the 1936 Olympics. But don't stop there! After the index is collection of in-color reproductions of posters and artwork connected with the 1936 Olympics.

This book is absolutely wonderful! It covers everything you ever wanted to know about the 1936 Olympics, and even quite a few things you never would have thought to ask. Although this book is placed under Ages 9-12 category, it is very informative, and a must-read for anyone who wants to understand those games. I highly recommend this book! ... Read more

Product Description
Most hiking guides are written by backpackers who occasionally day hike. But most people are day hikers who occasionally backpack! So Sasquatch Books has created a series from the ground up just for them. Written for people who want to get out and sample the vaunted Northwest lifestyle with as little hassle and unpredictability as possible, the fresh style, content, and design will also win sales and loyalty from more experienced hikers. Since the book is organized in the way that people travel -- by major roads and highways -- it's easy to find trails without having to cross-reference three or four different guides. Also included are complete trail descriptions; easy-to-read USGS topo maps with elevation profiles; clear and up-to-date driving directions; overall trail ratings; mileage and estimated hiking time; elevation gain; trail conditions; difficulty level; best season; map references; exploring options; access; permits required; special notes on dogs, bikes, and kids; and where to find more information. A quick-reference chart to season and difficulty level as well as sharp, contemporary black-and-white photographs round out the guide. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Not as easy as you think!
This is a very thorough hiking guide, no doubt about it. My only comment besides that is, the author is a VERY experienced hiker; so when he describes a hike as "easy", it might no really be the case! I am young and healthy, but the difficulty level seemed definitely more strenuous than described.
On the other hand, if you are super fit, go for it, the book is good.

good book
I bought this book and "Best Easy Day Hikes Olympics"in 5/2007.I found this book, "Day Hike! Olympic Peninsula ...", to be much more substantial.

Let down in the Olympics
I had high hopes for this book but, suffice to say, it's no longer in my collection.I have no question but that the author knows his topic.However, like a previous reader, I found myself confused and even lost (at $3.00+ a gallon) trying to follow directions that are too vague and in one case really led me astray.

If you want someone's opinion (and don't we all have one), this book is okay.But do yourself a favor and cross reference suggestions and particularly directions.Or, better yet, just find a better resource.Sure wish I had.

Wouldn't Recommend
Just returned from the Olympic Peninsula and found this guidebook to be less helpful than expected. Perhaps things have changed their since the 2002 publication so double check info on hikes before heading out. Had trouble finding trailheads for #61, specific distances would have been helpful in the "Getting There" section, wasted 1 hr and lots of gas trying to find #59 Big Flat,never found it. A confusing time trying to locate #35 Mount Angeles Saddle, trailhead signage doesn't include this name, located it nearly a mile in. Recommend a more current publication.

Concise & Easy to Use
I consider myself a moderate hiker and had no trouble traversing the trails described in this book in the time frame stipulated. When I'm hiking I'm not studying flowers or sitting still looking for birds. I usually trot along at the average pace that rangers have told me most hikers do, two miles an hour. That includes stopping to take photos, appreciate views and grazing in the occasional blueberry patch. Mostly, however, I'm there to hike.

Day Hike! Olympic Peninsula is a good, concise, easy-to-use guide that provides perfectly useable directions to trailheads. A pet peeve of mine is wasting valuable outdoors time trying to navigate my way in a car to a trailhead. I never had that problem with this book. In fact, I appreciated the tip provided for the trailhead at the end of the 8-mile gravel road accessed near the Hurricane Ridge Visitors Center. I never would have known this narrow road leads to a trail.

The walks listed are a good assortment for average day hikers. I only tried a few of them (Hoh River Trail being my favorite - not least of which is because there's basically no elevation gain and I saw 25 - 30 Roosevelt elk there!) so I can't vouch for the complaints of other reviewers. However, I've kept the book for future reference, meaning I'd definitely use it again. I can't wait to get back to the Pacific Northwest to explore more of the wonderful wilderness and hiking is the best way to do it.

All in all I'd recommend this book. It's not perfect but for casual day hikers it can be mighty handy.

... Read more

Product Description
On September 20th 1911, the Titanic's older sister Olympic, sailed from Southampton England. Within the hour a collision occurred, compromising the Olympic's structural integrity. Did the Olympic suffer from damage that was so severe that she was not worth repairing? Did the White Star Line switch the Olympic with her near identical sister Titanic in a ruse to intentionally sink their mortally damaged flagship on April 15th 1912?

Olympic & Titanic, The Truth Behind the Conspiracy explores the switch theory, addresses evidence and gives the final answer to the intriguing question of which ship actually lies on the bottom of the North Atlantic today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Not convincing.
Taking pictures of nuts and bolts is not very convincing, the pictures could be of either ship.I find it more believable that Morgan would want his money back by switching ships than pictures supposedly taken of a particular bolt.Also, the pictures do not show dates of the photos, and their explanations of controversial letters and conversations are not convincing.Save your money.

Excellent book
Those who say there is nothing new to write about the Titanic, have not read this book. Written in response to the outrageous claims of the Titanic and Olympic being switched, the authors take great pains to show that the sister ships were not identical in obvious areas and that the theory of the switch is impossible. In the process, we learn more about the two ships and various designs that have not been covered in other books. There are also several never seen before pictures that are also very helpful in illustrating their points. All-in-all, I came away with some new knowledge and the authors should be congratulated for putting a new spin on the Titanic story.

This book belongs on the shelf of every TITANIC enthusiast
When I originally heard about the new Beveridge/Hall book, OLYMPIC & TITANIC: THE TRUTH BEHIND THE CONSPIRACY, I was skeptical. I had heard about the "conspiracy" theory, and was not particularly keen on reading anything about a conspiracy. However, this book is de-bunks the OLYMPIC & TITANIC switch conspiracy. It is also far more than just the demise of this conspiracy theory; Beveridge and Hall are unparalleled in their historical research on the differences between the two sister ships. The pages of this book are also chock full of information on all three sister ships. It also sports many rare or previously unseen photographs, and is a top-notch read that you should not be prepared to start unless you are willing to see it through to the end - in just one sitting.

Highly recommended
This publication is an informative and well researched book which covers in superb detail the Titanic and Olympic switch conspiracy. Half the book concentrates almost entirely on the different physical features between both vessels and graphically shows their individual beauty. This book is extremely well researched when presenting historical facts surrounding each ship. By time I had reached the last page, what ship actually resting on the bottom of the North Atlantic had been satisfactorily addressed? The book contains that much historical detail about Olympic and Britannic, coupled with rare photographs of both these vessels, that material alone could stand within a single publication. A must have book for any person interested in Titanic. The book is rich in text, lavish in photographic material and well researched. Highly recommended. ... Read more