Death in Yellowstone: Accidents and Foolhardiness in the First National Park

by Lee H. Whittlesey

Overview

Intriguing stories of how people have died in Yellowstone warn about the many dangers that exist there and in wild areas in general.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781570984396
Publisher:	Rinehart, Roberts Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	06/25/1995
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	763,842
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Lee H. Whittlesey is a historian and the author of Storytelling in Yellowstone and Yellowstone Place Names. He has appeared in numerous documentaries on the national parks and the West in general, most notably Ken Burns’s recent series. He lives in Gardiner, Montana.

Editorial Reviews

Whittlesey believes that far too many people enter our national parks with "a false sense of security." He then goes on to chronicle the deaths in Yellowstone National Park of more than 250 people. Most of the deaths, Whittlesey argues, occurred because of human mistakes and "negligence." In this sense, the book is meant to teach and warn about the many dangers that exist in Yellowstone itself, and wild areas in general. The catalog of deaths includes all manner of dying at the hands of nature (hot springs, bears, bison, avalanches, exposure, and forest fires top the list), as well as deaths strictly caused by human actions (murders, suicides, carbon monoxide poisoning, car and plane accidents, and so forth). A little morbid, but strangely fascinating.

Brian McCombie

Behind the gripping adventure, drama, and heartbreak of the stories told in this uniquely authoritative book are deep lessons—not only in personal responsibility but in the role of national parks in our society. Lee Whittlesey's compelling study of Yellowstone fatalities wisely reminds us of both the price and the pricelessness of protecting wild nature.

Dr. Paul Schullery

PRAISE FOR THE FIRST EDITION
A little morbid, but strangely fascinating.

Booklist

It is hard to imagine anyone but Lee Whittlesey recounting these stories of death in Yellowstone. He is unquestionably the Yellowstone expert for ferreting out and weaving together the details of how visitors and personnel met their untimely ends in and around the park. The sheer weight of new material added to bring this second edition up-to-date is a clear indication that the Yellowstone landscape continues to demand both our awe and our respect. But it is Whittlesey’s personal perspective that sets this book apart. His passion for historical detective work combined with his intimate knowledge of both the park and the park experience give the reader a very real glimpse into the author’s long relationship with the place and its people, endearing the reader to both.

Dr. Judith L. Meyer

PRAISE FOR THE FIRST EDITION
.. . One thing is certain: it is the most fascinating book ever written about Yellowstone Park and its environs.

Journal of the West

A former Yellowstone tour guide himself, Lee Whittlesey has written a book that every guide studies in Death in Yellowstone. While guides may wish to discuss the role of wolves or forest fires in a wilderness ecosystem, their passengers too often just want stories of the misfortune of their fellow travelers—and this is the seminal work on the subject.

Leslie James Quinn

Whittlesey’s already gripping account of accidents and foolhardiness in Yellowstone is now updated, more comprehensive, and all the more fascinating.

Dr. Michael Yochim

Whittlesey’s already gripping account of accidents and foolhardiness in Yellowstone is now updated, more comprehensive, and all the more fascinating.

National Park Service; author of Protecting Yellow Dr. Michael Yochim

It is hard to imagine anyone but Lee Whittlesey recounting these stories of death in Yellowstone. He is unquestionably the Yellowstone expert for ferreting out and weaving together the details of how visitors and personnel met their untimely ends in and around the park. The sheer weight of new material added to bring this second edition up-to-date is a clear indication that the Yellowstone landscape continues to demand both our awe and our respect. But it is Whittlesey’s personal perspective that sets this book apart. His passion for historical detective work combined with his intimate knowledge of both the park and the park experience give the reader a very real glimpse into the author’s long relationship with the place and its people, endearing the reader to both.

author of The Spirit of Yellowstone Dr. Judith L. Meyer

"The most fascinating book ever written about Yellowstone Park and its environs." ---Journal Of The West

From the Publisher

PRAISE FOR THE FIRST EDITION
A little morbid, but strangely fascinating.

Booklist

PRAISE FOR THE FIRST EDITION
. . . One thing is certain: it is the most fascinating book ever written about Yellowstone Park and its environs.

Journal Of The West

Behind the gripping adventure, drama, and heartbreak of the stories told in this uniquely authoritative book are deep lessons—not only in personal responsibility but in the role of national parks in our society. Lee Whittlesey's compelling study of Yellowstone fatalities wisely reminds us of both the price and the pricelessness of protecting wild nature.

Paul Schullery

In the first audiobook in the genre of cautionary books about major national parks, which include OVER THE EDGE: Death in Grand Canyon and OFF THE WALL: Death in Yosemite, Whittlesey chronicles the more than 300 deaths in Yellowstone. As he focuses on the gruesome and foolhardy, Stephen Thorne, a veteran performer with a clear tenor voice, does everything in his power to salvage the compendium of tragedy. Still, it’s easy to imagine a disgruntled teenager sharing this in the car or on the trail to darken a family vacation. Thorne carries the listener through at a well-measured pace. He seems at home with Yellowstone’s sometimes-challenging place names and never seems to lose interest. F.C. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine

MAY 2017 - AudioFile