Missing in the Minarets: The Search for Walter A. Starr, Jr.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Place, Great Story.
Review: Of course, my enjoyment of this book is greatly enhanced because I've spent much of my 50 years visiting, exploring, and at times living in the Eastern Sierra in and around the beautiful Ritter Range and Minarets, where this story unfolds. The fact that I recognized the trails, lakes, mountains, and even precise rocks that these outdoorsmen encountered decades before me, makes this an especially poignant read for me. But the story of Walter Starr Jr., his rugged travels, and the courageous and heart-rending search by his friends and family following his failure to return from a mountain trek, is compelling in any case.
A great story about fascinating people in a wondrous place. A great addition to my Sierra library.

Rating:
Summary: mountain men of long ago
Review: On a winter vacation to the incredibly beautiful world of Yosemite, I explored the bookstore and found this book. My attraction to human survival stories and mountaineering led me directly to this book sold there. I was not disappointed.

You do not have to know the entire landscape of the local mountains of Yosemite to experience the thrill Walter Starr Jr. explorations and climbing feats. This young, handsome man was captivated by these mountains. His lust for exploration was insurmountable. His family understood his passion, and when he became missing in the Minarets, teams were dispatched to find him, alive or dead.

Mounaineer Norman Clyde embarks on a mission to recover Mr. Starr. The experience is well written, including photographs to augment the recovery experience. The accounts of the recovery are forthcoming and revealing. It is impressive to learn that mountain exploration was boldly embarking and achieving remarkable feats. Those interested in historical mountaineering will not be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: mountain men of long ago
Review: On a winter vacation to the incredibly beautiful world of Yosemite, I explored the bookstore and found this book. My attraction to human survival stories and mountaineering led me directly to this book sold there. I was not disappointed.

You do not have to know the entire landscape of the local mountains of Yosemite to experience the thrill Walter Starr Jr. explorations and climbing feats. This young, handsome man was captivated by these mountains. His lust for exploration was insurmountable. His family understood his passion, and when he became missing in the Minarets, teams were dispatched to find him, alive or dead.

Mounaineer Norman Clyde embarks on a mission to recover Mr. Starr. The experience is well written, including photographs to augment the recovery experience. The accounts of the recovery are forthcoming and revealing. It is impressive to learn that mountain exploration was boldly embarking and achieving remarkable feats. Those interested in historical mountaineering will not be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Minarets - Sierra Nevada
Review: Original photographs and first-hand information from previously obscure sources allow you to walk with the participants in the search for Walter Starr, Jr. Alsup's original library and mountain research provide solid credibility. A clear sequence of events surrounding field work for Starr's Guide to the John Muir Trail is provided - clear to the present day. The critical role of mountaineer Norman Clyde is shared from Clyde's and others' perspectives. The "Palisade Climbing School" (1931) laid the foundation for future climbing efforts throughout North America. Alsup confuses the term "ducks" (birds) for "dux" (Latin for "this is the way) in reference to rock trail markers. The largest "cathedral" in North America, the Sierra Nevada, is portrayed with respect and a long-term perspective. Missing in the Minarets fills an important niche in our knowledge and understanding of the High Sierra.

Rating:
Summary: Truth Is More Interesting Than Fiction!
Review: Very moving account of the search for Walter Starr, Jr. The energy and dedication of the searchers (especially Norman Clyde) was truly heroic. Great photos and personal accounts brought the story into clear focus. The Sierras are a wondrous, beautiful place; they are a challenge and even to the experienced climber, can be deadly. This saga brought the "back country" home to me again. Although I know I will never enjoy it first-hand again, I can still visit it vicariously through stories such as this. I heartily endorse this book and encourage any lover of the high country to read it. Thank you.