The Granite Landscape A Natural History of America's Mountain Domes, from Acadia to Yosemite

by Wessels, Tom; Cohen, Brian D.

• ISBN13: 9780881505283
• ISBN10: 0881505285
• Edition: 00
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-11-17
• Publisher: Countryman Press

Summary

In The Granite Landscape Tom Wessels synthesizes history, geology, biology, and personal narrative to enhance our understanding and appreciation of these high, wild placesthe granite summit balds of North America. He explores the unique and fragile ecosystem that is common to exposed granite expanses from Acadia to Yosemitehow it evolved slowly over millennia, and how it is threatened today by foot traffic and overuse. Wessels' wonderfully informative and accessible text combine with his dramatic photographs and Brian Cohen's beautifully detailed illustrations to bring the denizens of the granite bald to life. The mountains they celebrate include: Acadia National Park in Maine; the White Mountains of New Hampshire; the Adirondacks of New York; the Wind River Range of Wyoming; the Beartooths of Montana; the Enchantments of Washington; and Yosemite National Park in California. 18 photographs, 30 illustrations, 1 map, glossary, index.

Author Biography

Tom Wessels is a professor of ecology at the Department of Environmental Studies at Antioch New England Graduate School, and has conducted workshops on landscape ecology throughout the United States for more than twenty-five years. He is chair of the Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation Brian D. Cohen is a printmaker, teacher, director of Two Rivers Printmaking Studio, and publisher of Bridge Press in Westminster Station, Vermont. His etchings and limited edition letterpress books are in major university, private, and public collections

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	9	(2)
Introduction Black Mountain	11	(10)
PART ONE THE MAKING OF GRANITE DOMES
Origins of Granite	21	(12)
Sculpted by Glaciers	33	(16)
Graced with Lichen and Moss	49	(16)
Exposed by Fire and Ice	65	(12)
PART TWO AMERICA'S GRANITE MOUNTAINS
Acadia: Land of Fire and Fog	77	(16)
The Whites and Adirondacks: Fragile Summits	93	(18)
The Wind Rivers: Temples of Stone	111	(18)
The Beartooths: Alpine Gardens	129	(14)
The Enchantments: Land of Contrasts	143	(14)
Yosemite: Range of Light	157	(24)
PART THREE APPENDIXES
Appendix A Geological Time Line	173	(2)
Appendix B List of Plants	175	(6)
Glossary	181	(8)
Selected Bibliography	189	(2)
Index	191