Books, articles
and links about  nature writing, science and extreme weather

Nature

Musings on Nature Writing

Weather

Mount Washington Observatory tales and links

Photography

Outdoor photography by Eric Pinder

Humor

Essays and humor

Books

Books, anthologies , excerpts and reviews

Home : nature writing books and essays by Eric PinderClouds wash over Mount Katahdin's Tablelands, just a mile or so from the northern terminus of the Appalachian TrailSandy Stream Pond in Baxter State Park, with a view of Mount Katahdin. This is moose country. I have never not seen a moose at Sandy Stream Pond.







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Looking for something to read when you’re bored? Enjoy these articles and book excerpts, organized by topic.

Mount Washington Observatory

Facts and trivia about the Mount Washington ObservatoryLife at the Top: Tales from Mount Washington

Visit the windiest place on Earth in the comfort of your own home! Learning about mountain weather is a breeze with these excerpts and essays.

A Day in the Life
of a Meteorologist

Go behind the scenes at the Mount Washington Observatory, the “Home of the World’s Worst Weather.” A team of weather observers and researchers (and one very cool cat) lives on the icy summit year round. A minute-by-minute account (with photos) of a typical day in an untypical place.

A Purr-fect Storm
Meet Nin the Mount Washington cat, and his predecessors Jasper and Inga.

Into Deep Slush
“Nature writing about weather.” Wade through rivers of slush on the Mt. Washington Auto Road during an Observatory EduTrip adventure gone wrong. Sometimes it’s the thaw that will kill you. Excerpted from Tying Down the Wind.

More Weather Wisdom

Talking Up a Storm
Learn about World War II meteorology and other fun facts in an exclusive interview with Don Kent, Boston’s first TV weatherman.

Celsius vs Fahrenheit
Which scale is better? A heated debate (no pun unintentional)

Pilgrim Weather
William Bradford and the Pilgrims botch the first weather forecast at Plymouth Rock

Top Ten Nature Writing books according to Milkweed EditionsNature

Interviews with Nature Writers Here are a dozen entertaining and informative interviews with writers John McPhee, Annie Dillard, Barry Lopez, Linda Hassalstrom and others in the natural history field.

Best Nature Writing Books
What if Henry David Thoreau and Emily Dickenson had gotten married? Edward Abbey found the idea hilarious. An annotated list of the Top Ten nature writing books, featuring Abbey and Thoreau. Find out why you shouldn’t read Walden until you’re 30.

Book Reviews
Tolkien sure had an eye for mushrooms. Click here for Eric Pinder’s reviews and musings of books (not necessarily nature writing) that inspired or intrigued him.

Katahdin and
Baxter State Park

Lost on Katahdin
Donn Fendler’s famous ordeal revisted.

Bradford Washburn, Curmudgeon
“The Appalachian Trail was just a name to me.” An amusing letter from the Everest mapmaker and mountaineer about the book North to Katahdin.

Follow Thoreau to Katahdin
Baxter State Park traveler’s tips and photographs. Also read about Thoreau’s misquoted mirror metaphor.

Fog on Pamola Peak
An excerpt from North to Katahdin, plus an annotated bibliography of obscure Maine books.

Hunting with a Camera
Musings about nature photography, with pictures and postcards from Baxter State Park, Mount Washington, Iceland and the Appalachian Trail.

More Excerpts and Humor

Why won't Senator Joe Lieberman stop calling me? Some New Hampshire Primary political humor.

Bear with Me
One day I saw a bear riding my bike. How he got on my bike I’ll never know. Bicycle limericks and humor from Sheep Football.

Signs of the Times
New Hampshire Primary humor

Iceland Traveler’s Tips
Volcanoes, geysers and glaciers. And don’t forget to try the rotten shark.

 

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Text and photographs © Eric Pinder