Encounters in the American Mountain West, A Review

Encounters in the American Mountain West: A Sinner Amonst the Latter-Day Saints by Ian R. Michell. Encounters (which is how I will refer to this book from now on) is a book that I recently finished reading and semi read aloud or regurgitated to Christopher.

We were visiting the library several weeks ago to re-issue my library card. I had a temporary card in August and needed proof of address. Lalalala...and I finally got around to proving I lived in SLC and they let me have a permanent card.  SLC has many lovely looking libraries. The main library downtown is, is....very modern and futuristic. Chris thought it was cool.....me....I was actually frightened by it. It reminded me of some futuristic movie where everything is glass and metal. Cold. Sterile. But, that's just me - an old fashioned gal who's brain automatically reverts back to the 1920s or before. :-P So, when I discovered the library down in Sugarhouse, I was overjoyed. An actual 1920s library, small but overwhelmingly charming. It reminded me of my two favorite library buildings  - The Wyomissing Library and the Beach Haven Library (both early 1900s buildings.) I was enchanted and when I feel the need to haunt rows of book shelves, I plan to go there. Yes, I will do the 10 minute or so drive verses the seven minute drive (haha) and park in a real parking lot. Folks from SLC may laugh. But I am, deep to my core, a country girl.

Anyway, back to the book. I was wandering my way through the stacks of books and found myself in front of the travel section. I honed in on local guides in hopes to find something to learn more about the area. This book caught my eye. I pulled it off the shelf along with a historic road markers book and a guidebook to the Four Corners Region, I then trotted off to find Chris.

I started reading Encounters and could not put it down. Mr. Mitchell,the author, is from Scotland, is a "writer of historical and mountaineering literature", a mountaineer himself, and has a fine way with words. He begins with how he found himself in Utah and throughout the book you discover what kept calling him back.  Each chapter is dedicated to a "trail". Each trail leads the reader through an amazing journey through Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and a humorous stint in Wyoming. If you have an interest in hiking, traveling, history, sociology, anthropology, Native American studies, Pop Culture, mountaineering, or conservation in America (and a how the rest of the world views it), this book will keep you captivated. If you are not interested in any of that, you will be by time you are through.

He observes the Mormons, the American Pioneer, the Native American cultures in the Southwest, the Miners highs and lows, the Cowboys, the Mountain Men, America's parks, and how Americans do things with new eyes. Eyes of someone from the United Kingdom....shocked that some people in American think Scotland is in Germany or in Russia. He finds himself in very interesting, sometimes dangerous but most times humorous situations that make one think about how we really do things here in America.

His descriptions of America (or "Merka" as he calls it)  are spot on , here is one of my favorites, " The Ben Lomond Hotel was, as such places in the US often are, luxurious but with an additional slight air of vulgarity."   Oh, so true.

As a newcomer to this part of the country, I could relate to his observations and a few of his experiences. Utah is a very unique state. It's one of the last states people ever think to visit on vacation or it's just a state to pass through. But, despite people shying away from the LDS church and it's influence out here, the desert, and stinky lake....it's actually a really nice place to to live and explore. There much more than just desert - there are mountains, snow, and trees! The Mormon history is actually pretty interesting. One has to dig a bit to find out more of the "sinners" or "gentiles" history in this state, but it's there and fascinating. The natural beauty of the landscape is breathtaking. SLC  itself is actually a really nice city to live in. Easy to navigate (thanks to Brigham Young) and lots to see and do.

What I like most is the location? Well... We are four hours and forty minutes from Yellowstone National Park, fours from Zion National Park, roughly six hours to the Four Corners monument, Seven hours and forty minutes from the Grand Canyon, 12 hours from Yosemite National Park, and almost eight hours from Monument Valley....you get the idea. A days drive to some of the greatest destinations west of the Mississippi. As an East Coaster....that's pretty darn cool. Places like Yellowstone and Monument Valley were just places you dreamed of. Or if your family took long road trips or have lots of travel money....you were the lucky one.

If you want a book full of adventure, I recommend, Encounters in the American Mountain West: A Sinner Amongst the Latter-Day Saints. It's a great read!