The Klamath Knot

Wallace is first an explorer, then a writer. He explores the wild places of the Kalamath Mountains, from the "wonder of dreams" of the upper canyons of the Chetco River, to the scrubby peaks of the Siskiyou and fits it all together in a fasinating evolutionary story. I have explored many of these same areas and found this work to best capture that feeling of being in truely wild places. Read it, then go explore!

Wallace takes on evolution (and the way we were taught about it) the way Annie Dillard lifted the veil over nature in "Pilgrim at Tinker Creek": you are forced to replace the myths with a newer, even more mysterious understanding. Ironically, the theory of Sasquatch is retold as common-sensical, scientific fact. The steelhead trout, in fact, comes across as the greater nystery!I count this book among my all-time favorites, a sort of heir apparent to "Walden."

Inviting book that made you want to visit the Klamath Mountains and learn about the wild plants of any forest system.

Interesting book that explores the ecologically unique world of the Klamath Mountains of northern California and southern Oregon. Author travels from one ecosystem to the next and moves from one taxon to another while exploring evolutionary theory. Wallace also discusses whether Sasquatch might exist, and why humans are so fascinated with the idea. Tone is rather pedantic at times. Sometimes one wonders how many of the ideas and theories expounded here are fairly well accepted in current (i.e. 1983) evolutionary thought, and how many are strictly those of the author's. However, he makes a good case for most of the ideas and seems to know his subject well. Overall an interesting read that makes you want to explore the area on your own...while looking over your shoulder for Sasquatch