This book about nature and the environment is told by someone who prefers to approach the wilderness the old-fashioned way. Prepare for an armchair journey into the deserts and mountains of Utah and Arizona, across a stark, broken lava wilderness in New Mexico, into the wild heart of Alaska, and down the white water of rough desert rivers. The reader will be captivated with the vast beauty of the American West, but will also learn the dangers that wild lands face in an age where the population pressures on remaining wilderness are tremendous and growing daily. Each singular experience takes place in a unique and wild setting that faces specific environmental problems. Few books on nature and the environment reach the general public. This book is accessible. The stories give a vivid sense of place and perspective, and the adventures set the pace.