Oregon east, Oregon west Book

This is a generally enjoyable book somewhat reminiscent of Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods". It is filled with great descriptions of Oregon's natural wonders, a great deal of humor, and a few doses of the spiritual qualities of nature. After reading this book, one cannot doubt the passion the author feels for things wild and for wilderness. I for one admire his drive and the effort he put forth in making this 1,300 mile trek across Oregon from Cape Blanco on the coast to Hat Point in Hells Canyon; and then writing a book about it.

The hike upon which this book is based took place in I believe 1987 - one year prior to my own arrival as an employee of the US Forest Service in the Blue Mountains - the final leg of the author's journey. It is easy to see that he is no friend of the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, or other federal land management agencies. I had the pleasure of working directly with several of the people mentioned in the book. Two in particular were firmly entrenched on the "environmental" side of issues and I admired their dedication. There were others at the time who were equally as passionate about making a living off the land - a land that they cared about. Nothing was mentioned about these views or the role of federal land managers in trying to balance them.

I guess it is the author's prerogative to write a book they way he or she pleases; but I think I would have enjoyed this one more had he stuck to descriptions of what is out there, how wilderness made him feel, and how people can advocate for wilderness if they believe strongly about it. He kind of lost me when he spoke in awe of a person who appealed 74 Forest Service timber sales with a single postage stamp.