Tag Archives: The West

Glory of Yellowstone on 4th of July

Posted on July 4, 2026 by williamjcobb

So one of my favorite places in the U.S. and the world is Yellowstone. While Old Faithful and the geyser basins accessible by car are all fine and dandy, the real charm of our greatest National Park is its backcountry. … Continue reading →

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Best Reality-TV Series Ever Is Back! “Alone” in the Arctic

Posted on June 27, 2026 by williamjcobb

Their being alone is perhaps the main reason it’s not cheesy in the way other reality shows are: It’s not a matter of personality conflicts and “conspirators” or alliances. It’s just a person alone, having to make a shelter, find food, and survive in wilderness conditions for up to three months at a time. Continue reading →

Posted in "Alone" TV Reality Series, "Night of the Grizzlies" by Jack Olsen, Animal Attacks Stories, Backpacking Adventures, Bear attacks, Bears, Good TV | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Review of Paul Andrew Hutton’s “The Apache Wars”: Historical Origins of Cormac McCarthy’s “Blood Meridian” (1986)

Posted on April 27, 2026 by williamjcobb

Hutton’s The Apache Wars, a nonfiction work, provides great context and understanding to this era, and reinforces the visions of Cormac McCarthy.  Continue reading →

Posted in Cormac McCarthy novels, History of the Southwest, Native American History, The West | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Review of Jim DeFelice’s “West Like Lightning: The Brief, Legendary Ride of the Pony Express” (2018)

Posted on April 9, 2026 by williamjcobb

“One of the keystones of the Pony Express was its sheer speed: They could get mail from St. Joseph, Missouri to San Francisco, California in 10 days.” Continue reading →

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The Year Without a Winter Over, Wildfire Season Begins

Posted on March 29, 2026 by williamjcobb

“So it’s hard to convey or describe just how oddly warm this winter has been in the Southwest.” Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Michael Mann's The Hockey Stick and the Climate Wars, Santa Fe, The West, Weird Weather, Wildfire Season 2026, Year Without a Winter | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

On Pekka Hamalainen’s “Indigenous Continent”: Finnish Historian’s View of Native American History

Posted on March 27, 2026 by williamjcobb

“Hamalainen’s Indigenous Continent is an impressive book, long and detailed.” Continue reading →

Posted in History of the Southwest, Native American History, The West | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Year Without a Winter Ends: It’s Spring!

Posted on March 22, 2026 by williamjcobb

So it’s Spring in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The Cottonwoods and Cherry trees are blooming. And Venus is bright in a dusky sky.

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The Year Without a Winter continues

Posted on March 15, 2026 by williamjcobb

Winter 2025-26 has been a seriously weird weather stretch worthy of the phrase The Year Without a Winter.
Continue reading →

Posted in 2025-26 Drought, Water Crisis, Weird Weather | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

On Randall K. Wilson’s “A Place Called Yellowstone”: Award-Winning History of Yellowstone National Park

Posted on February 17, 2026 by williamjcobb

So as a devoted National-Park aficionado I learned of Randall K. Wilson’s A Place Called Yellowstone: The Epic History of the World’s First National Park last Spring when it was announced as winner of the Barbara and David Zalaznick Book Prize for the best … Continue reading →

Posted in Backpacking Adventures, books, Yellowstone National Park backcountry trips, Yellowstone National Park kayaking, Yellowstone wildlife | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

On the New Film “Grizzly Night,” Based on the Nonfiction Book “Night of the Grizzly” (1971)

Posted on February 4, 2026 by williamjcobb

So it was my (pleasant? gruesome?) surprise yesterday to stumble upon this new film Grizzly Night, which is based on a true story, famously recounted in Jack Olsen’s nonfiction book Night of the Grizzlies (1971). I’m a sucker for a … Continue reading →

Posted in "Grizzly Night" 2026 film, "Night of the Grizzlies" by Jack Olsen, Animal attack movies, Bear attacks, Bears, books/film, Film, Glacier National Park backcountry, Horror Films, The West, Uncategorized, Wildlife, Yellowstone National Park backcountry trips | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment