Listening for Coyote: A Walk Across Oregon's Wilderness

This is a wonderful story of the search for a new Oregon Trail. Backpacker and naturalist Sullivan scouted a West-East route from Coastal Cape Blanco to Hell's Canyon on the Snake River (not as the crow flies; it was more of a wiggly W in shape). His 65-day, 1300-plus-mile journey took him across four mountain ranges and 18 designated wilderness areas, through foggy rain forests, mountain meadows, sun-baked deserts and deep canyons in all extremes of weather. Sullivan has written an engaging account of this pioneering hike, with vivid descriptions of the varied terrain and the people he met along the way. He encountered bears and elk but was at highest risk when he sampled poisonous mushrooms. Nature lovers, active and passive, will find Sullivan's walk a vicarious pleasure. Photos. (September)