A Brief Introduction

Who am I, a new intruder here? I teach at the University of California, Davis, where I got a Ph.D. a few years ago. Before that, I was a perfect national park bum. I worked in Yellowstone for about five years, a glorious experience that literally saved my life. I also worked in Death Valley and Carlsbad Caverns, both horrific experiences. But even they helped save my life a little (and I managed to keep away from the scorpions).

I have written books on national parks and other outdoor topics, although I am not here to try to sell them to you (the book business is headed down the tubes in the same way newspapers are, anyway). I'm here to talk about the national park and wilderness life. That life does not have enough advocates--indeed, it amazes me how few such advocates there are. The outdoor life is more and more thought to be the province of eccentrics.

I was serious, before, when I said that it saved my life.