Monday, September 24th, 2007...9:35 pm
The Story of Missing Kings Canyon Backcountry Ranger Randy Morgenson
I just finished Eric Blehm’s book, The Last Season, a recounting of the fate of Randy Morgenson, the legendary ranger who disappeared in the mid-1990’s in Kings Canyon National Park. He grew up in Yosemite, where he’s father served as his role model: photographer, hiker, bird watcher, docent, lover of all wild things. Ansel Adams even gave him a camera and Wallace Stegner reviewed and helped him with his nature writing.
Young Randy grew up, got married and spent the summers of his adult life patrolling the wilderness and helping backpackers, cleaning up trash, destroying fire rings, rescue injured and lost hikers.
The book has some surprises. Well written, compelling. Troubled by an affair gone wrong and a pending divorce as he headed into the backcountry for that “last” summer, you can imagine all kinds things happening. Ultimately, the author reveals the secrets.
I won’t say much more, except to recommend highly that you read the book. You don’t know whether to love this guy and his passion to protect the wilderness or think of him as a little crazed in the sense that he felt like it was his wilderness and no one else should be allowed. But by all accounts, he was a really good man, who treated just about everyone well.
Be light. Be safe. Be one with the pack.
4 Comments
October 21st, 2007 at 4:43 pm
Cutter, thanks for reading my blog and for your honest comments.
Bruce
October 25th, 2007 at 7:47 pm
Bruce: I was just surfing around the internet, and found your blog, and the kind review about my bookâThe Last Season. Thanks so much for spreading the word. I read your bio, and hope your two hiking buddies have read it as well… With your combined backgrounds, I’m sure your trips are always filled with good conversation. Anyway. I like to acknowledge and thank people when I see they have both enjoyed the book and taken the time to write about it. Randy’s “wilderness gospel” continues to spread almost two years after publication, thanks in great part to folks such as yourself. Have a great day. Eric
November 13th, 2007 at 9:20 pm
Hi Eric
Well, thanks for taking the time to reach my blog. I really appreciate all depth of reporting and care with which you told the story. Amazing amount of detail.
Thanks for your kind comments.
Bruce
December 11th, 2007 at 3:21 pm
The Last Season - a must read. My friends and I have been hiking the Sierra near Yosemite and the Emigrant Wilderness for over 30 years. We’ve all read the book and plan to take our annual trek a little further south this summer to Kings Canyon / Sequoia and retrace Randy Morgenson’s last hike. Any tips?
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