Mountains without handrails: Reflections on the national parks

Abstract

Beloved by academic and general readers alike, Mountains Without Handrails, Joseph L. Sax's thought-provoking treatise on America's national parks, remains as relevant today as when first published in 1980. Focusing on the long-standing and bitter battles over recreational use of our parklands, Sax proposes a novel scheme for the protection and management of America's national parks. Drawing upon still controversial disputes-Yosemite National Park, the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, and the Disney plan for California's Mineral King Valley-Sax boldly unites the rich and diverse tradition of nature writing into a coherent thesis that speaks directly to the dilemma of the parks.