NCW Libraries

On August 5, 1949, a crew of fifteen Smokejumpers, the United States Forest Service's elite airborne firefighters, stepped into the sky above a remote forest fire in the Montana wilderness. Less than two hours after their jump, all but three of these men were dead or fatally burned. Exactly what happened in Mann Gulch that day has been obscured by years of grief and controversy. Now a master storyteller finally gives the Mann Gulch fire its due as...

In 1810, John Jacob Astor sent out two advanced parties to settle the wild, unclaimed western coast of North America. More than half of his men died violent deaths. The others survived starvation, madness, and greed to shape the destiny of a continent. At a time when the edge of American settlement barely reached beyond the Appalachian Mountains, two visionaries, President Thomas Jefferson and millionaire John Jacob Astor, foresaw that one day the...

The Pacific Northwest abounds with native plants that bring beauty to the home garden while offering food and shelter to birds, bees, butterflies, and other wildlife. Elegant trilliums thrive in woodland settings. Showy lewisias stand out in the rock garden. Hazel and huckleberry number among the delights of early spring, while serviceberry and creek dogwood provide a riot of fall color. Gardening with Native Plants of the Pacific Northwest is the...

"Explore North Cascades National Park and the wilderness around Washington State's scenic North Cascades. Now fully updated and featuring full-color photography, the Day Hike! series was written for people who want to spend their days in the mountains and their nights at home. From Mount Baker to Washington Pass and the Methow, the 59 incredible hikes in this popular guidebook feature the lush forests, mountain vistas, waterfalls, and alpine meadows...

Formed in early 1988, Mudhoney originally comprised Mark Arm, Matt Lukin, Dan Peters, and Steve Turner and their debut single, "Touch Me I'm Sick," was the catalytic force behind Nirvana and Pearl Jam, who took grunge global. Mudhoney's would have been another story of half-forgotten pioneers paving the way for others who grabbed the prize ... except they not only survived all the classic rock band excesses, but they also kept on producing great music...

"Doug Deur invites us to discover the taste and history of the Northwest." -Spencer B. Beebe, author of Cache and founder of Ecotrust The Pacific Northwest offers a veritable feast for foragers, and with Douglas Deur as your trusted guide you will learn how to safely find and identify an abundance of delicious wild plants. The plant profiles in Pacific Northwest Foraging include clear, color photographs, identification tips, guidance on how...

Find out the top ten sites to see or things to do in the Evergreen State! We'll explore Washington's scenic coasts, lush parks, iconic landmarks, and rich history. The Washington by Map feature shows where you'll find all the places covered in the book. A special section provides quick state facts such as the state motto, capital, population, animals, foods, and more. Take a fun-filled tour of all there is to discover in Washington.