Catastrophic Colorado

Colorado's serene natural scenery is legendary---however, all is not calm in Colorado. Floods, wildfires, avalanches, and even earthquakes make living in the state an adventure! In this informative and engaing book written for young readers, Lisa Gardiner explains the history and science of Colorad's natural disasters with amazing photos and fun illustrations.

A catastrophic depression engulfed Colorado in 1893. The government's decision to adopt the gold standard and stop buying silver hit the mining industry like a cave-in. Unemployment reached 90 percent in Leadville, a city built on silver. Strikes by union miners in Cripple Creek and Leadville led to destruction and death. Political parties split along battle lines of gold versus silver. By 1898, the country had begun to recover, but silver mining was never the same. Using firsthand commentary and more than one hundred historic photographs, John Steinle skillfully commemorates the story of Coloradans trapped in the unprecedented social, economic and political conflict of America's first great depression.

Ranked among the top ten states for both disasters and dry climate, Colorado has a long history of extreme weather. On May 19, 1864, residents of the fledgling gold rush town of Denver awoke to a wall of water slamming into the city with enough force to flatten buildings and rip clothing from its victims. The infamous Big Thompson Canyon flood of 1976 killed 144 residents, tourists and campers. Per the National Center for Atmospheric Research, Coloradoans experienced twenty-two floods with contemporary monetary losses of $2 million or more since the flood of 1864. And as the population continues to grow, the loss of lives, property, crops and livestock may increase. Local author Darla Sue Dollman, who witnessed and survived many of the contemporary disasters, examines the state's most catastrophic flash floods from 1864 to 2013.

Fourteener mania, the phenomena characterized by a seemingly obsessive drive to summit The List of all fifty-four of Colorado¿s 14,000-foot peaks, is an older tradition than many may realize. Along with intensely positive experiences in climbing is the possibility of the opposite extreme¿to become stranded, severely injured, or even killed, in disturbingly easy ways. This book explores this dark side of climbing. When an accident happens on a 14er, the victim is far from help and in an environment where rescue is difficult at best. The book is full of hair-raising stories of these disasters and resue attempts and also aids in avoiding such disasters.

DEADLY, DRAMATIC, and WILD... Words that best describe this collection of stories recounting Colorado's long history of catastrophes. In Colorado Disasters, Boulder-based historian and educator Phyllis J. Perry chronicles the Centennial State’s gamut of natural and human-caused disasters, from floods, mudslides and avalanches, to massive wildfires, deadly explosions, train wrecks, airplane crashes, monster tornadoes, and more. Perry honors the survivors and many heroic rescuers who risked their lives to save others. “Most of these stories offer excellent lessons in how to survive a disaster, Perry says. “And they can inspire us to do the right thing when the world turns upside down and your neighbors need help.” Covering more than 150 years of catastrophes, Perry’s careful research and lively writing brings to life the true stories—at turns heart-stopping and heroic—of the victims, survivors, and rescuers who were there. Riveting details from first-person accounts Amply illustrated with more than 70 photographs

Throughout Colorado's history its mountains have been the focus of its economic development but along with the attraction there has been an attendant danger. Avalanches have taken their toll on travelers, miners, and skiers. Avalanches cause more property damage, deaths, and injuries in Colorado than any other state in the Union, including Alaska.In Colorado Avalanche Disasters you will relive the sacrifices, despair, and elation of men, women, and children who faced Colorado's greatest avalanche disasters. These true tales carry the reader throughout the mountains of Colorado -- from the northern ranges to the southern San Juans.John Jenkins graduated from Western State College with a degree in history. He is descended from a pioneering Colorado family -- his being the fourth generation. He has written articles on Colorado history for the Colorado Mountain Club, worked seasonally as a park ranger in Alaska and helped place the American Mountaineering Center in Golden on the National Register of Historic Places. For recreation he enjoys telemark skiing and climbing Colorado's high peaks. This is his first book.

"Colorado 14er Disasters, Second Edition explores the disturbingly easy ways that hikers become stranded, severely injured, or killed on the state's high alpine peaks. When those accidents happen, the victim is far from help and in an environment where rescue is difficult at best."--Back of book