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The Last Season (P.S.) Kindle Edition
"As Jon Krakauer did with Into the Wild, Blehm turns a missing-man riddle into an insightful meditation on wilderness and the personal demons and angels that propel us into it alone.” — Outside magazine
Destined to become a classic of adventure literature, The Last Season examines the extraordinary life of legendary backcountry ranger Randy Morgenson and his mysterious disappearance in California's unforgiving Sierra Nevada—mountains as perilous as they are beautiful. Eric Blehm's masterful work is a gripping detective story interwoven with the riveting biography of a complicated, original, and wholly fascinating man.
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherHarperCollins e-books
- Publication dateOctober 13, 2009
- File size1167 KB
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From the Inside Flap
The granite spires of the High Sierra have historically been a refuge of inspiration and adventure for the likes of John Muir and Ansel Adams, as well as the pioneering rock climbers of the 1960s. But these brilliant mountains are as perilous as they are beautiful here is where the Donner Party was trapped and where scores of unlucky hikers must be rescued every year. The Last Season tells the inspiring, poignant story of Morgenson who, over the course of 28 summers living alone in this craggy wilderness, became a celebrated ranger in the National Park Service s most adventurous unit. For the solitary, introspective Morgenson, who grew up in Yosemite Valley and honed his mountaineering skills in the Himalayas as a young man, this was more than a job. It was a calling, and he became fiercely devoted to preventing outside forces from encroaching on the wilderness he loved.
But over the years, the isolation Morgenson had once coveted took its toll and he grew increasingly estranged from his wife and friends. When, at the height of his struggles, he went missing without a trace in Kings Canyon National Park where he had long patrolled, many suspected suicide or foul play. Morgenson, after all, had once said, "The least I owe these mountains is a body." As one of the Park Service s most intensive search-and-rescue operations unraveled, some wondered if they were searching for a man who did not want to be found.
Destined to become a classic in mountain literature, The Last Season is a work that is as captivating in its writing as it is compelling in its sense of adventure. It is the result of eight years of research by Eric Blehm to uncover the truth about one of the national parks greatest mysteries. Blehm s reconstruction of a desperate search-and-rescue operation weaved with Morgenson s riveting biography takes readers deep into the heart of the High Sierra and into the little-known and much-romanticized world of the backcountry rangers revealing in the end the mind and spirit of a complicated, thoroughly original, and wholly fascinating man.
From the Back Cover
About the Author
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
The Last Season
By Eric BlehmHarperCollins Publishers, Inc.
Copyright ©2007 Eric BlehmAll right reserved.
ISBN: 9780060583019
Chapter One
I shall go on some last wilderness trip, to a place I have known and loved. I shall not return.
-- Everett Ruess, 1931
The least I owe these mountains is a body.
-- Randy Morgenson, McClure Meadow, 1994
The bench lake ranger station in Kings Canyon National Park was still in shadow when Randy Morgenson awoke on July 21, 1996. As the sun painted the craggy granite ridgelines surrounding this High Sierra basin, a hermit thrush broke the alpine silence, bringing to life the nearby creek that had muted into white noise over the course of the night.
A glance at his makeshift thermometer, a galvanized steel bucket filled with spring water, told him it hadn't dropped below freezing overnight. But it was still cold enough at 10,800 feet to warrant hovering close to the two-burner Coleman stove that was slow to boil a morning cup of coffee. If he had followed his normal routine, Randy had slept in the open, having spread out his sleeping bag on a gravelly flat spot speckled with black obsidian flakes a few steps from the outpost. Hardly the log cabin vision that the words "ranger station" evoke, the primitive residence was little more than a 12-by-15-foot canvas tent set up on a plywood platform. A few steel bear-proof storage lockers and a picnic table completed what was really a base camp from which to strike out into the roughly 50 square miles of wilderness that was Randy's patrol area.
Before, or more likely after, the hermit thrush's performance -- assuming he followed his custom before a long hike -- Randy ate a hearty "gut bomb" breakfast of thick buckwheat pancakes with slabs of butter and maple syrup. Then began the ritual of loading his Dana Design backpack for an extended patrol. Methodically, he stuffed his sleeping bag into the bottom, followed by a small dented pot -- blackened on the bottom -- that held a lightweight backpacker stove wedged in place by a sponge so it wouldn't rattle. A "bivy" sack was emergency shelter. A single 22-ounce fuel bottle, a beefed-up first aid kit, a headlamp, food -- each item was a necessity with a preordained spot in his pack.
He locked his treasured camera equipment, six books, and a diary inside a heavy-duty "rat-proof" steel footlocker that was "pretty good at keeping rodents out too," he'd been known to say. His only source for contacting the outside world -- a new Motorola HT1000 radio, along with freshly charged batteries -- was zipped into the easily accessible uppermost compartment of his pack. This was the second radio he'd been issued that season; the first one had lasted only eight days before it stopped working on July 8. On July 10 he'd hiked over Pinchot Pass to the trail-crew camp at the White Fork of the Kings River, the location he'd arranged in advance with his supervisor if his radio conked out. A backcountry ranger named Rick Sanger had met him there with the replacement Motorola he now carried.
The least-used item in his pack was a Sequoia and Kings Canyon topographic map. He reportedly referenced it only while trying to orient lost or confused backpackers, or during a search-and-rescue operation. As longtime friend and former supervisor, retired Sierra Crest Subdistrict Ranger Alden Nash, says, "Randy knew the country better than the map did."
For nearly three decades, when someone went missing in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, standard operating procedure had included at least a radio call to Randy, the parks' most dependable source of high-country knowledge.
"Randy was so in sync with the mountains," says Nash, "that he could look at a missing person's last known whereabouts on a topographic map, consider the terrain and 'how it pulls at a person,' and make a judgment call with astounding results.
"One time, a Boy Scout hiking in the park got separated from his troop and couldn't be found before nightfall. Randy looked at a map for a few minutes, traced his thumb over a few lines, and then tapped his finger on a meadow. 'Go land a helicopter in that meadow tomorrow morning, he said. 'That's where he'll be.'
"Sure enough, the Boy Scout came running out of the woods after the helicopter landed in that meadow. He'd taken a wrong turn at a confusing trail intersection and hadn't realized his mistake until it was almost dark and too late to retrace his footprints. The Scout was scared after a night alone, but he was fine.
"Randy," says Nash, "had figured that out by looking at a map. He told me where to go over the radio. John Muir himself couldn't have done that. But then, Muir didn't spend as much time in the Sierra as Randy."
A bold statement, but true. At 54, Randy had spent most of his life in the Sierra. This included twenty-eight full summers as a backcountry ranger and the better part of a dozen winters in the high country as a Nordic ski ranger, snow surveyor, and backcountry winter ranger. Add to that an enviable childhood spent growing up in Yosemite Valley -- where his father worked for that park's benchmark concessionaire, Yosemite Park and Curry Company -- and Randy had literally been bred for the storied life he would lead as a ranger.
His backpack loaded, one of the last things he would have done was tuck into his chest pocket a notepad, a pencil, and a hand lens that had been his father's.
At some point, Randy tore a page from a spiral notebook and wrote: "June 21: Ranger on patrol for 3-4 days. There is no radio inside the tent -- I carry it with me. Please don't disturb my camp. This is all I have for the summer. I don't get resupplied. Thanks!"
He fastened the note to the canvas flap that served as his station's door, tightened the laces on his size 9 Merrell hiking boots, and pinned a National Park Service Ranger badge and name tag to his uniform gray button-down shirt. With an old ski pole for a hiking stick, he walked away from the station.
Continues...
Excerpted from The Last Seasonby Eric Blehm Copyright ©2007 by Eric Blehm. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Product details
- ASIN : B000S1LV0O
- Publisher : HarperCollins e-books; Illustrated edition (October 13, 2009)
- Publication date : October 13, 2009
- Language : English
- File size : 1167 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Sticky notes : On Kindle Scribe
- Print length : 297 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: #276,175 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #35 in Mountaineering (Kindle Store)
- #100 in Western U.S. Biographies
- #192 in Adventurer & Explorer Biographies
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Eric Blehm [ericblehm dot com] is the award-winning author of the New York Times bestsellers Fearless and The Only Thing Worth Dying For. His book The Last Season won the National Outdoor Book Award and was named by Outside magazine as one of the “greatest adventure biographies ever written.”
Blehm got his start in journalism writing for Powder and then TransWorld SNOWboarding in the early 1990s where he became editor in chief before moving on to freelance. In 1999, Blehm was the first journalist to accompany and keep pace with an elite Army Ranger platoon on a training mission for the feature article “Painted Demons” (POV magazine). His access into the Special Operations community and reportage set an important milestone for American war journalism two years before reporters gained widespread embedded status with the U.S. military during the global war against terrorism. Blehm’s immersion with the Rangers also led him to write the account of an elite team of eleven Green Berets who changed the course of a nation’s history while operating in the hinterland of Taliban-held southern Afghanistan just weeks after 9/11 (The Only Thing Worth Dying For/HarperCollins). His next book, Fearless (Waterbrook/Multnomah; Random House), told the heartrending and inspiring story of Naval Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Adam Brown, who battled addiction and overcame devastating injuries during his redemptive rise to join the hallowed ranks of SEAL Team SIX. Blehm followed Fearless with a deep dive into the 1960s with Legend (Crown Books, Penguin RandomHouse)—the unforgettable account of the U.S. Army’s 240th Assault Helicopter Company and Green Beret Medal of Honor recipient Staff Sergeant Roy Benavidez, who risked everything to rescue a Special Forces team trapped behind enemy lines in Cambodia during the Vietnam War. Both Fearless and Legend are currently being adapted for film by major Hollywood producers and studios.
In his current book, The Darkest White, A Mountain Legend and the Avalanche that Took Him (HarperCollins), Blehm returned to his mountain roots to tell the story of snowboarding’s original superstar Craig Kelly. Known as the sport’s first true professional, Kelly walked away from the fame and fortune associated with competition to return to the powdery backcountry that originally drew him to his calling, and ultimately took his life. “The Darkest White is a gripping and heartfelt story of a bold, short life well-lived,” says New York Times bestselling author Hampton Sides. “Not just a terrific story of an amazing life,” adds number one New York Times bestselling author of The Terminal List series, Jack Carr, “not just the origin story of an entire sport, but a riveting disaster narrative that builds tension masterfully.” It is “… a must read,” says Tony Hawk, “not just for fans of snowboarding, but for anyone looking for inspiration from an unlikely hero.”
Blehm continues to research, write, and bring to life sometimes obscure, but always amazing true stories from his basecamp in north San Diego County where he lives with his editor wife and brood of three talented and creative “kids” all of whom make him look good on paper (and to infinity) and beyond.
#Believe
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Customers find the emotional tone sad but beautiful. They also appreciate the detailed and researched account that pulls them into the high country. Readers describe the writing style as beautiful and the pictures as an added plus. They like the biography, history, and plot. Opinions are mixed on entertainment value, with some finding it interesting and captivating, while others say it's not captivating at all. Reader opinions are mixed also on pacing, with customers finding it quick and others slow moving in parts.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book very detailed, researched, and masterful. They also appreciate the author's work detailing the life of missing backcountry ranger Randy. Readers also say the book presents an accurate view of what it's like to work for the NPS and how Randy was an amazing and inspirational individual.
"...Eric Blehm has done an excellent research job showing us how the influences in Ranger Randy's lives led him to his love of the Sierra Nevada's and..." Read more
"...This book is part narrative epitaph, part mystery, part love story, and part a guide to reflection on the beautiful wilderness that Randy and other..." Read more
"...when reading about the search but also gave me a wonderful sense of appreciation for Randy and his thoughts on nature...." Read more
"...The way Blehm presents the nonfiction narrative as a genuine mystery is masterful...." Read more
Customers find the writing style beautiful, well written, and page-turning. They also say the author keeps the reader's attention and performs well in narrative and writing. Readers also appreciate the beautiful descriptions of some beautiful countries.
"...Well written and a good story for those who love the Sierra." Read more
"...It is a real page turner. The author keeps the reader's attention while knowing the ultimate outcome is not a happy ending...." Read more
"...This non-fiction account of Morgenson's fascinating life is deftly told and deeply intriguing...." Read more
"...Again I wanted to thank Eric Blehm for such a tragically beautiful, inspiring story...." Read more
Customers find the emotional tone of the book sad but beautiful, with a perfect ending. They also say the book is entertaining, well-written, and gives nothing away until the end.
"...This book was absolutely beautiful, bittersweet and heart wrenching. Thank you Backpacker Magazine for the recent list of 10 classics to read...." Read more
"...This book is part narrative epitaph, part mystery, part love story, and part a guide to reflection on the beautiful wilderness that Randy and other..." Read more
"...The ending is sad but all to common for some. The story has several people in it that I knew, worked with and/or supervised...." Read more
"...The ending really sets the book apart and ends the story just perfectly. Makes you want to hit the trails." Read more
Customers find the history in the book interesting. They also appreciate the biography, locale, mystery, and the story about a great ranger.
"...The man and the history is compelling, but it is the superb writing that takes you on the journey where you can picture every event as it unfolds,..." Read more
"...The author weaves this well written biography as if he were there...." Read more
"Sad story but a great one about a great ranger. Well written and will be read again." Read more
"Randy Morgenson's biography is fascinating but I thought that the book tried too hard to build suspense around the circumstances of his..." Read more
Customers find the plot gripping, haunting, and wonderful. They also say the book sticks with them long after they finish reading it.
"...It is a haunting account...." Read more
"...Written in a style that is both informative and gripping." Read more
"A gripping read that adds to one's respect for and appreciation of one of the world's great mountain ranges. I couldn't put it down...." Read more
"...This book sticks with you, long after you've finished reading it." Read more
Customers find the main characters' lives interesting. They also love the style and stories the author shares.
"...The passion that Randy had for the Sierra was wonderfully portrayed by the author. I recommend this book to anyone." Read more
"...It was slow moving in parts but the main characters life was very interesting and I enjoyed learning about him and his life as a ranger in the park...." Read more
"...Love his style and the stories he shares. Read Fearless and The Last Season and will be continuously trying to catch up on all his other books...." Read more
"...It was like reading a good mystery and you felt connected to so many characters at the same time!" Read more
Customers are mixed about the entertainment value of the book. Some mention that it keeps them very interested and makes them want to hit the trails, while others say that it's not captivating at all, repetitive, and tedious.
"...far too long, includes way too much superfluous detail, and gets badly repetitive...." Read more
"...Makes you want to hit the trails." Read more
"...Some of Randy's writings would be nice, but so many made the book even more dull. Its also insulting to compare Randy to Stegner and Abbey...." Read more
"...Not captivating at all. Skipped a lot of pages to get to a unclimactic peak." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book. Some find it quick and entertaining, while others say it's slow moving in parts.
"...It was a fast read, probably because of the fact I couldn't put it down!" Read more
"...The book seemed to drag a little at times and the book's subject leans more to the "tree hugger" element, which is not a bad thing, mind you, it's..." Read more
"Quick, entertaining read. Easy to relate to if you ever hiked the high Sierra. Makes me wish I had more time to spend in the mountains." Read more
"Overall it’s a good story, but I wouldn’t read it again. It was slow moving in parts but the main characters life was very interesting and I enjoyed..." Read more
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Morgenson's death--and the conjecture about his state of mind at the time--are what make the last section of "The Last Season" such a page-turner. By that point, we have grown to know Morgenson so well that the massive search for his body is equal parts pounding and breaking hearts. The analysis of how he died requires some clever sleuth work and imagination.
Blehm's book covers so much territory--Morgenson's family, his upbringing, his spirit guides, his relationships, his marriage, his stellar record and his unique view of the world. His mother, for instance, said Randy could make a swarm of mosquitoes "seem like the most romantic thing in the world."
Blehm's account neatly inter-cuts the search for Morgenson (he disappeared in 1996) with background about Morgenson's family and his relationship with his wife, Judi. The storytelling is brisk, straightforward and as good as anything Jon Krakauer or Timothy Egan have written. Blehm draws heavily from Morgenson's own writings. You will feel like Randy Morgenson was an old (if a bit unusual) friend by the time he goes missing. If you liked "Into the Wild," you'll enjoy this one, too. In some ways, I liked this one better. Like Christopher McCandless, Randy Morgenson isn't always likable or approachable. He's an enigma, at times, too.
Read "The Last Season" for a deep glimpse into the people who relish the outdoors, who need it to survive. A friend loaned me a hardback to read. I'm ordering a paperback to keep on my shelf.
There are a couple of things in the book that rang a little odd to me. Referring to Randy's travels to Bangkok as "exploring" the religion of "hedonism" is hopefully intended as humor, and there are other places where the writer glosses over what seem to be major lapses in relationship judgement. Ditto for Randy's female friend in the mountains, who escapes with barely a scratch despite some pretty questionable tactics. I also did not really grasp the picture painted of Alden Nash, who seems to graduate from passive, annoyed observer to active participant only after the mystery has been solved. Maybe the writer had to steer around some complex politics in writing this book given that so many of the participants are still alive and even contributed to his work.
If the book's aim was to show what an incredible ranger and asset to our parks Randy was, then it succeeded completely. He seemed to be the absolute ideal ranger. Indeed I would have liked to have seen him move more into oversight and politics as he got older, as his thoughts on managing parks and visitors aligned very closely with my own.