—Jordan Fisher Smith, author of Nature Noir
“The search [for Morgenson] drives the engrossing narrative forward at the speed of a bestselling thriller.”
—Audubon (Editor’s Choice)
"The Last Season has the feel of a big-league writer coming into full voice. And Morgenson proves to be a worthy subject. A passionate wilderness defender, he had logged twenty-eight seasons at Kings Canyon and was a search-and-rescue sage. ‘Randy knew the country better than the map did,’ one ranger told Blehm. Which only deepened the mystery: If Morgenson didn’t want to be found, his colleagues would never be able to track him down. Five years after official search operations ended, a trail of clues turned up in a remote area of the park. Yet Morgenson’s disappearance, Blehm writes, ‘will always be open to speculation.
—Outside
“Blehm, a snowboarder and journalist, deftly interweaves the story of Morgenson’s lifelong devotion to wilderness with a riveting account of the hunt for him.”
—National Geographic Adventure
“Part detective story, part sensitive biography, and part Park Service procedural, Blehm’s book probes the mystery of Morgenson’s disappearance…. Author Blehm blends his love of the mountains (he was a competitive snowboarder and winter sports writer for years) with serious journalism skills to produce a deeply layered, meticulously researched, greatly entertaining read.”
—San Francisco Chronicle
“Some considered Morgenson the Park Service’s best backcountry ranger, and when he went missing while on patrol in the summer of 1996, his friends were at first astonished, then suspicious…. Blehm ably evokes the world of seasonal backcountry rangers, whom the Park Service slights even as they put in long days protecting the land they manage and coming to the aid of backpackers in trouble.”
—Washington Post Book World
“Not only a compelling portrait of this remarkable man [Morgenson], but a whole mountain range to match him, seen through the eyes of men and women who are alive to its every magical nuance. Deftly weaving the critical elements…Blehm tells a riveting story that combines the virtues of Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild with Norman Maclean’s Young Men and Fire…. [An] absorbing account of a remarkable man and the wild country he knew and loved.”
—Contra Costa Times
“Blehm skillfully weaves the ranger’s past with the rescue effort, providing meticulous details that could only come from an author who clearly respected his subject.”
—Associated Press
“[A] compelling picture…of the pristine backcountry and the lonely, bittersweet lives of those charged with protecting it…. Well reported, and like the country in which it is set, it glows in serene places.”
—Chicago Tribune
“Beautifully written…. Blehm blends descriptions of the spectacular setting of the Sierra Nevadas with stories of Morgenson’s coworkers, friends, and wife to tell the story of a man’s life, his work as a ranger, and his deep love for the outdoors.”
—E/The Environmental Magazine
“A must-read…. Eric Blehm has written an important book. He has succeeded in informing readers about wilderness, backcountry rangers, and important National Park Service issues—all through the lens of Randy Morgenson’s life and [his mysterious disappearance].”
—Ranger
“The legendary tale of an unsung witness of wilderness devotion, a true conscience and disciple of the backcountry.”
—Aron Ralston, author of
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
“When Morgenson disappeared, some speculated he had committed suicide or fled the country. Still, his fellow rangers…valiantly searched for his body. The thoughts of those involved in the search for Morgenson are perhaps the best part of the book, but it is the life of the main character that makes the story so compelling.”
—Salt Lake City Tribune
“Impeccably researched and compassionately told, The Last Season is a compelling story of one man’s passion and pain.”
—Jennifer Jordan, author of Savage Summit
“Thoroughly researched…. Like any good mystery, even one whose ending is known to many, Blehm keeps the pages turning.”
—Fresno Bee
“A taut and compelling narrative, Eric Blehm channels Morgenson and his pure love for nature.”
—Charleston Post & Courier
“A first-rate detective story, and an even better account of the love for wild places leads us ever deeper in and higher up.”
—Bill McKibben, author The End of Nature
“A must-read for all wilderness lovers…. Fantastic…. If you enjoyed Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild or Into Thin Air, you will want to latch on to The Last Season. Because like these other real-life mysteries, it will latch on to you.”
—Dayton Daily News
“This is a hell of a story, a tale of lost souls and human frailty and very real sadness, but it’s also a one-of-a-kind look into a truly rarefied American subculture, the specialized world of elite backcountry rangers.”
—Daniel Duane, author of El Capitan
“Guaranteed to send a chill up and down your spine…. A must-read for people who love wilderness…. Blehm provides a riveting account of the National Park Service’s extensive search-and-rescue effort.”
—Capital Times (Madison, Wisconsin)
“The story of a wild man of profound vision and sustaining conscience. Blehm has superbly captured that soul and given it voice; it is one we all should listen to carefully.”
—Page Stegner, author of Outposts of Eden
“An ode to Morgenson’s beloved Sierras.”
—Wichita Eagle
“An intriguing, bittersweet wilderness detective story.”
—Greg Child, author of Over the Edge
“A cautionary tale…. The story of a complicated man, one who lived many summers alone, one who lived in his own world much of the time but who was devoted to protecting the wilderness.”
—The Olympian (Olympia, Washington)