Review: Backcountry Roads Idaho

Reviewed by Joan Juskie

 

 

Backcountry Roads Idaho
Text by Lynna Howard, Photography by Leland Howard

Caldwell Idaho: Caxton Press, 2008
978-0-87004-459-5, Paperback

240 pages, $27.95

 

Backcountry Roads Idaho is an incredible, multifaceted book for Idahoans and tourists. It is primarily a guide to backcountry roads, but it goes much further than most guides. It includes detailed instructions for 31 "expeditions" to various wild areas around the state. Important details like approach routes, maps, land administration, total miles/road ratings, expedition directions (including GPS coordinates), and options for returning are covered thoroughly. "Know before you go" sidebars include important cautionary information about availability of gasoline, wildlife dangers, cell phone coverage, best weather conditions for travel, and more. As a guidebook to the wild country in Idaho, it surpasses all others in content and aesthetics.

 

But the book goes far beyond just being a guidebook. Measuring about 8.25 by 11 inches, there is ample space for beautiful full page landscape photographs. The art of the book is stunning, starting with "a sunset's colors peak in the Lost River Range" on the front cover, going all the way through to a two page spread showing Gray's Lake National Wildlife Refuge near the end. The superb photography lets the book double as a "coffee table book" that can inspire the reader to make plans and dreams for summer. Adding to this artistry are poems scattered through the chapters, making this the most creative guidebook I have seen.

 

There's more to appreciate about the book. The preface, an essay on wilderness solitude, was very thought-provoking and interesting. A section on "Idaho Superlatives" states impressive facts about Idaho's many natural areas. For example, Idaho has about 10 million undeveloped acres, Hell's Canyon is the deepest gorge in America, and the Bruneau River is the most inaccessible river in the lower 48 states. Then there's a section on backcountry travel, including discussion of trail/road markers and restrictions, road ratings, GPS coordinates, maps, backcountry travel tips, respect for our public lands, and cautions about common outdoor dangers like poisonous plants and animals, hypothermia, giardia lamblia, wildfires, bears, and more. There are also checklists for vehicles and camping/hiking. Throughout the book there are details about geology, plants, animals, and history to further expand the experience. This book is on wilderness: it does not have information about hotels, restaurants, or shopping (except for gas and service stations), but it does contain some campground information.

 

So who would create such a remarkable book? The authors are a brother and sister team. Lynna Howard writes the text, and Leland Howard takes the photographs. They have also done Montana and Idaho's Continental Divide Trail: The Official Guide Along Montana & Idaho's Continental Divide Trail and Utah's Wilderness Areas: the Complete Guide. Other books by Leland Howard include Idaho Impressions and Idaho: Wild and Beautiful. You can find more information on his website at http://www.wildernessbooks.com/. A WorldCat search shows that many Idaho libraries already have at least one of their books.

 

I would recommend Backcountry Roads Idaho to all Idaho public libraries, all Special Collections departments, and academic libraries that maintain an Idaho travel collection. I also think it is the kind of book that people will want in their personal libraries, and it would make a good gift book. The audience is anyone who enjoys Idaho travel. All but two of the excursions could be done at least partially in 2 Wheel Drive, and the book recommends that if you begin to feel uncomfortable with road conditions, it's time to turn around.

 

The only weakness I found in the book was something that, upon reflection, I decided I liked. Most of my trips are in about a 30 mile radius of Pocatello or further into southern Idaho, near the Utah border. This area was not covered--closest areas were Gray's Lake, Craters of the Moon, Sun Valley, etc. Then I concluded that I liked having our special places still secrets, and that will keep them less crowded.

  

This is the perfect time of year to have a review on this book. Spring and summer are approaching and it's time to start planning our trips. This book will inspire you to do more, do it deeper and better, and find your way searching the silence of nature. Happy travels!

 

Related titles this reviewer also recommends:

Camping Idaho by Randy Stapilus (2004); Idaho Atlas and Gazetteer by DeLorme Mapping (1992); Scenic Driving Idaho by Bob Clark (1998); Idaho: Off the Beaten Path: A Guide to Unique Places by Julie Fanselow (2008); Hidden Idaho: Including Boise, Sun Valley and Yellowstone National Park by Richard Harris (2004); Idaho by John Gottberg (Fodor's 2009); and Idaho for the Curious by Cort Conley (1982).

 

Editor's Note: We have noticed typos in several of the GPS coordinates in the text! Be sure to double-check the included topographic maps for correct coordinates.

 

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Joan Juskie is Library Assistant at Oboler Library, Idaho State University, Pocatello. Joan has lived in Idaho 23 years, has a M.F.A. in Creative Writing, has published poems & articles, and edits the Library News blog on the library's web page.