A Guide to Southern Utah's Hole-In-The-Rock Trail

The iconography of the American West is full of discrepancies: the myth-making machinery of 19th century dime novels and 20th century Hollywood movies elevated some people and events into legends and totally ignored better stories. Even today, when revisionist historians have combed through western history to find women and African Americans worthy of hero-hood, one group largely remains off-limits for American hero-hood: the Mormons. Since the Mormons pioneered one of the harshest parts of the West, this means that some of America's most extraordinary pioneer stories have remained largely unknown outside of Utah. In all of American pioneer history, few stories can match the Hole-in-the-rock expedition for unlikeliness, determination, and ingenuity. Though this book is titled as a trail guide, it is first of all a good account of the adventure, along with plenty of photographs that bring home the toughness of the terrain. Then it offers a route guide, although after reading about this ordeal, some people may be content to stay home.