I’m happy to hear that, Federico. Thanks very much.

Hi Cris, thanks for writing, I really appreciate hearing from readers of my book. Our kids are now 14 and 12, so not quite grown, and we take a lot of adventures with them (which you can read about at this blog). I hope to get to Australia to write about adventures in your country.

I am presently reading ‘before they’re gone’. Fantastic read. You bring not only the beauty, but the issues of loss to our world vividly to life. Your energetic children, who must be much grown by now, sound amazing. You are both wonderful parents offering an immeasurable education.

In Australia our treks offer different insights, dangers and amazements.

Thank you for bringing your world to life through your descriptive prose.

Regards
Cris

Thanks Jamie, I appreciate hearing that.

Hi James, thanks for the compliments and nice review in your blog. I hope to get a chance to visit your beautiful country.

Hi Eric, thanks for the nice words and for sharing your thoughtful observations. Good on you for getting your kids outside in beautiful and important places. Thanks for caring about our parks. By the way, North Cascades is one of my favorite places.

But I think your book espouses a great deal of hope as well in getting your kids out there. My kids are 10 and 7, and i too try to get them out as often as possible. Over the last year, my oldest has asked how climate change is impacting national parks we visit. This winter we went to Death Valley and she asked the ranger about such change when we were in Badwater. He said to look at the “lowest point” sign, and of course the elevation below sea level is changing. There are many other changes too, but I think people just say Badwater has a fixed elevation, or even Everest, but it’s not.

Maybe that doesn’t sound hopeful, but I think by taking my kids to national parks that they see beautiful things, learn of the pending threats, and determine to preserve them. Hopefully they believe they can stem the tide, and maybe it’s going to just take another generation to get there.

Thanks again for writing such a great book, I really enjoyed it!

Thanks Sue, much appreciated. You certainly picked a great trip from my book. I think you’d enjoy the other parks I write about just as much.

Thank you so much for writing this book. Much needed, much appreciated.
Keep up the good work that you do!
Happy hiking!
Boise Native

I’m reading your book Before They’re Gone right now. I have a 9 year old son and 13 year old daughter and take them on (for us) big outdoor trips at least once a year. When the boy is older I want to take him more often, plan on taking him on a “rites of passage” trip when he’s 13, maybe to the Maze in Canyonlands in Utah.

Anyway, just wanted to say thanks for your book, am thoroughly enjoying it. In the chapter on Glacier Bay you mentioned your “most beautiful places” list. I had never heard of Dientes de Navarino before. Since Torres Del Paine is my favorite mountain place in the world, I was very curious about it and looked it up online. WOW!!! Wish I knew about it when I was in Tierra Del Fuego a long time ago. Who knows if I’ll ever make it, but it’s high on my long wish list now.

My wife and kids go to England every year or two to visit her family, I went with her twice and was not planning on going the next time. Her Mom may take her and the kids to Scotland next time, I still said likely not. (Too far, too expensive since I only like England so much). Since the Scottish Highlands made it on your list, I may have to reconsider!

Looking forward to your next article in Backpacker, whenever that may be.

Thanks again,
Barry