Washington writers book reviewed

Thank you for this review of Peter’s latest book (Dec. 4). It contains many titles and authors new to me, in spite of living most of my adult life in Washington State.

In 1957 the excellent librarian at the UW’s College of Forestry put me in touch with many definitive works, such as “Smoke Over Sikanaska” by Gowland, documenting his adventures as a ranger in the Canadian Rockies before World War II. It proved to be a preview of my own career as a national park and wilderness ranger.

I met Peter Donahue at the Shaffer Museum here in Winthrop, at a historical presentation. I’d just reclaimed a large format book of Remington paintings, with a text by Owen Wister, author of “The Virginian,” which started the whole “western” cultural tradition in North America. Owen was a classmate and friend of Guy Waring, who founded Winthrop, and scenes in “The Virginian” were based on Owen’s adventures here in the North Cascades. My grandfather gave me that book, and it now resides in Winthrop’s Shaffer Museum, care of Peter’s wife Susan, who indirectly put me on to your review.

My own book “Ski Trails And Wildlife,” also references many books I’ve thought significant to our evergreen state. Peter’s research reminds me of two authors who turned me, as a New England raised teenager, on to Washington state: Archie Binns, with his novels about the sailing ship era, and Justice William O. Douglas, with his “Of Men And Mountains.”

From the Salish Sea at La Conner to the Columbia with Stehekin and the Methow, the North Cascades are blessed with many writing talents, like Peter Donahue.

Eric Burr

Mazama