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

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

By: Lee Whittlesey  

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Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Publisher: Roberts Rinehart Publishers

Customer Review: 5 out of 5
My Favorite Book! - This book is excellent! I've read it many times! Lee Whittlesey is one of my most favorite authors.

Customer Review: 5 out of 5
Thoroughly Researched, Very Interesting - Just like watching a car crash. That's how I would describe my interest in this subject. I have never been to Yellowstone, but I love nature and I am very aware of what can happen to those who are careless. This book chronicles all (and I do mean all) of the deaths that have happened in Yellowstone park since it was founded. The first chapter is about deaths due to people who have fallen into hot springs and lakes. I was horrified at the accounts of people who were careless enough to fall into one of them. Just imagine sticking your hand into a boiling pot of water on your stove. Then imagine sticking most of your body in there and you will have an idea. People actually fell into these things and managed to crawl out just to exist in pure agony until they died of dehydration from not having any skin. Another chapter which caught my attention was the one pertaining to drowning. Campers would get into a 40 degree lake in a canoe loaded with hundreds of pounds of equipment with the edge of the canoe just 4 inches above the water (a picture is included), tip over, freeze and drown. There is a particularly gruesome story about a young woman who was camping alone and attacked by a bear. They found parts of her face near her tent and the rest of her strewn for some distance.

This book is extensively researched and documented. It does bog down a bit in death after death in the 1800's, and there is a body count on each page. It is morbidly fascinating and there are definitely lessons to be learned here. The author was a park ranger and steadfastly defends the park as family members of the deceased seek to blame, sue and otherwise disparage the park and its wilderness when the vast majority of deaths were inflicted due to carelessness and drunkenness. The book is very well organized and well written. I recommend it for anyone who enjoys the outdoors.

Customer Review: 4 out of 5
Dying on vacation - While at times the list nature of the names of the dead were tedious overall the book was an interesting tell of the foolishness of man in the great outdoors. It seems if there is a way for man to die he has accomplished it in Yellowstone.

Customer Review: 5 out of 5
Very interesting and well researched - I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend to anyone interested in Yellowstone. Also, can serve as a safety book to read of the dangers before going to the park.

Customer Review: 5 out of 5
Very Eye Opening! - After visiting Yellowstone for the first time in my life I wanted to know more about it. After reading this book I was first amazed at the stupid things that people have done with total disregard of the warnings posted everywhere, and in the information that is given to them at the gate. I can not imagine anyone taking their child and setting them on the back of a bison, or trying to pet a bear. I will never fish in Yellowstone Lake, or in any of the rivers even though I saw people doing that. I will never camp there. My future visits to the park will be in the day time and totally in obedience to the rules of the park. I think everyone should visit the park at least once in their life because there are wonders there that you will never see any where else....but, follow the rules people! They are there for a reason. Read this book first and you will see why.

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