Two By Digonnet
Digonnet's Books, photo Richard Elliott
DESERT BOOK REVIEW
The REAL Desert News is all about the desert. All our writers love the desert. That is why we write about it, to share and educate others in all aspects of the desert. We love the history, the mystery, the trails, scenic, news and more. Especially, we take pride in enlightening and introducing desert neophytes to the desert. What better way to do that from time-to-time, but to present a book review on classic and new books for desert readers. Apprentice desert people and old time “desert rats” delight in books about the desert. Here is a look at two books about Death Valley, by author Michel Dignonnet. Many readers versed on Death Valley have called these two book, the “Bible” on Death Valley!
The books are Hiking Death Valley–A Guide to its Natural Wonders and Mining Past and Hiking Western Death Valley National Park–Panamints, Saline, and Eureka Valleys. Both books provide a wealth of knowledge and instruction for all types of outdoor adventurers, from sight seers to backpackers, campers, and 4-WD dirt road drivers. There are many interesting and helpful photos, line-drawing maps, along with many facts and histories about the sites throughout Death Valley, with both books numbering over 500 pages each.
Digonnet is a “fly by your pants” adventure writer/traveler, not an armchair writer. He has hiked or driven over most, if not all, the places in the books. His personal tales about his hikes, difficulties and more provides a world of helpful information to those wanting to duplicate Digonnet’s experiences.
Did we say it is about the desert? Digonnet presents everything about the desert from ancient American Indians to the arrival of the first pioneers, leading to the development of Death Valley through mining, tourism and more. He highlights the mining history with tales of those famous individuals who stood out in Death Valley, like Walter “Death Valley” Scott or Frank “Shorty” Harris, to name just a few notable names in the history of Death Valley. Also, Digonnet presents the geological and scenic world of this massive national park, as well as it beautiful flora and striking fauna.
Digonnet writes about the nearly unsolved mysteries of Death Valley, such as the unanswerable meaning of the thousands of years old Indian petroglyphs, to the strangely moving rocks of The Racetrack. After reading the books, filled with photos, maps, illustrations, and much, much more, you will not only find yourself wanting to go to Death Valley to experience it for yourself, but you will join the ranks of readers saying, “Those books are the ‘Bible’ on Death Valley!”
I appreciate your work , thanks for all the informative articles .
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