Climbing the Ladder Less Traveled
Subtitle: Adventures, Insights, and Life Journeys
Publisher: Mountain Forest Pub.
Published: March 21, 2002
Place of publication: Fountain Hills, Arizona
Language: eng
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 140
ISBN-13: 9780971778108
Subjects: United States - West - Mountain (General); Travel; Travel - United States; Agriculture - Forestry; Essays; Fire lookout stations; Fire lookouts; Forests & Forestry; Nature; Personal Growth; Nature / Essays; Nature / Forests & Forestry
First sentence: “Sometimes I have these big monster firefighters holler up, ‘Hey, I can’t come up.  It’s too high.’”  Jennifer Winslow, whose petite size stands in contrast to a ‘monster firefighter’, chuckles when she tells this story.  Although some of those firefighters might hesitate to admit it, they suffer from the willies, heebie jeebies, cold sweats, or some combination thereof, much like a good percentage of people who attempt the ascent.   

Those who have never had the opportunity to climb the exposed, often wind-blown steps of a 100-foot or higher fire tower are missing one of life’s great heart-arresting experiences.  But those who suppress acrophobia have their courage rewarded.  If the steps don’t stop your heart, the breathtaking 360-degree view will.  So magnificent is the panorama that your senses are numbed by a landscape of mountains and valleys that is too expansive to absorb.  It is from this perch in the sky that Jennifer has had time to think about life and what is really important.  Her reflections offer wisdom beyond her years for those who are as frightened by a fork in the road through life as some monster firefighters are by steps that reach toward the clouds.
Description: Perched high on mountains, sometimes even above the clouds, are lookouts, the people who staff the fire towers located throughout our national forests.  Most have one thing in common.  They have taken the road less traveled.

Captured by the author are the life experiences and insights of 18 remarkable lookouts.  Their stories are fascinating and often humorous.  Their memories of the past will appeal to those intrigued with the Wild West, while their lives in the present offer great insight into the protection of our wilderness. The many photographs show views of the landscape that are breathtaking, but the lookouts share views on life that etch equally deep impressions.  Each chapter includes a sidebar that expands on a historical or particularly interesting topic discussed by the lookout in that chapter.

Throughout the book, readers are entertained and inspired --- entertained by vicariously experiencing unique adventures, and inspired by refreshingly clear-sighted perspectives that light new paths for the journey through life.
Table of contents: title: The Journey
pagenum: 11
label: Preface; title: Just Put Your Feet Up
pagenum: 17
label: 1; title: Know The Difference
pagenum: 27
label: 2; title: Enjoy the Whole Bloody Thing
pagenum: 33
label: 3; title: Life is Short, Eat Black Raspberries First
pagenum: 41
label: 4; title: Don't Look Back
pagenum: 49
label: 5; title: You Know, - I'm Perfectly Free
pagenum: 55
label: 6; title: Just Take It On
pagenum: 61
label: 7; title: Listen to the Wind
pagenum: 67
label: 8; title: You Have a Friend
pagenum: 73
label: 9; title: Unless You Keep Searching
pagenum: 81
label: 10; title: It's Good to be Different
pagenum: 89
label: 11; title: Instead of Making Hay
pagenum: 95
label: 12; title: There You Are
pagenum: 103
label: 13; title: Dream Again, And Deeper
pagenum: 109
label: 14; title: Find Your Own Quiet Tower
pagenum: 113
label: 15; title: Avoid Trading On Your Future
pagenum: 119
label: 16; title: Bring Your Vision to Life
pagenum: 125
label: 17; title: There Doesn't Have to be a Last Chapter
pagenum: 131
label: 18