Laurence Parent

Another in a series on how to die in a national park (Death in Rocky Mountain National Park, Over the Edge: Death in Grand Canyon). There is the usual mix of bone head stupidity (taking a 2wd vehicle on a road posted “4wd only”, getting stuck, drinking a bottle of vodka, and trying to walk out the next day in 114°F weather while wearing flip-flops) and just plain bad luck (letting rangers and friends know your plans and setting out fully prepared for the weather and terrain only to be show more hit by lightning during a snowstorm). There have been a couple of unsolved murders in the park, and a suicide. Some of the stories are not about death but dramatic rescues; climbers get stuck without enough rope and have to be extricated. No wildlife cases, although the park is home to black bears, mountain lions, and various venomous things. Once again, the moral is don’t do dumb stuff in nature. show less

Parent emphasizes that the vast majority of park visitors have a great time and a smooth visit and are certainly never injured or killed. And yet, there are apparently a lot of ways to die in Big Bend. By combining incident reports and investigations with after-the-fact interviews with survivors and their families, Parent almost always strikes just the right balance in bringing us these stories of mistakes, accidents, malice, and bad luck. Reading this book didn't make me any less eager to show more go back to Big Bend, but it did give me a sense of the risks and responsibilities any hiker or camper has when they take themselves out into the wilderness.

[full review here: http://spacebeer.blogspot.com/2012/04/death-in-big-bend-by-laurence-parent.html ] show less

I've read several FaceBook posts highly recommending that potential visitors to Big Bend National Park read this book prior to visiting. Author Laurence Parent details seventeen events that have occurred within the park requiring rescue and/or recovery from tragic events. The stories are eye-opening and sobering and all contain words of wisdom for staying safe during a visit to the park.

This is a gossipy collection of interesting stories about people who have died in Big Bend National Park. Some stories are predictable, the foolish and unprepared, the suicides, desperate immigrants. A couple are horrifying crimes you wouldn't expect. Some are about people who are just very unlucky, some take on too much risk, a few stories turn out well and give a little relief to the reader.
I've visited this park many times over the years and enjoyed this behind the scenes look into the place.