America's first "road signs" were trees bent as saplings by the Indians, marking trails. They were part of an extensive land and water navigation system that was in place long before the arrival of the first European settlers.

In this unprecedented effort to gather and share knowledge of the Native American practice of creating, designating, and making use of marker trees, an arborist, an anthropologist, and a Comanche tribal officer have merged their wisdom, research, and years of personal experience to create Comanche Marker Trees of Texas. A genuine marker tree is a rare find—only six of these natural and cultural treasures have been officially documented in Texas and recognized by the Comanche Nation. The latter third of the book highlights the characteristics of these six marker trees and gives an up-to-date history of each, displaying beautiful photographs of these long-standing, misshapen, controversial symbols that have withstood the tests of time and human activity. Thoroughly researched and richly illustrated with maps, drawings, and photographs of trees, this book offers a close look at the unique cultural significance of these living witnesses to our history and provides detailed guidelines on how to recognize, research, and report potential marker tree candidates.

The Indian Trail Tree Project is an effort to map Indian trails throughout America and document the bent trees that serve as the trail's markers. Documentation of this project will preserve this portion of Native American culture.

In Every Root an Anchor, writer and arborist R. Bruce Allison celebrates Wisconsin's most significant, unusual, and historic trees. More than one hundred tales introduce us to trees across the state, some remarkable for their size or age, others for their intriguing histories. From magnificent elms to beloved pines to Frank Lloyd Wright's oaks, these trees are woven into our history, contributing to our sense of place. They are anchors for time-honored customs, manifestations of our ideals, and reminders of our lives' most significant events. For this updated edition, Allison revisits the trees' histories and tells us which of these unique landmarks are still standing. He sets forth an environmental message as well, reminding us to recognize our connectedness to trees and to manage our tree resources wisely. As early Wisconsin conservationist Increase Lapham said, "Tree histories increase our love of home and improve our hearts. They deserve to be told and remembered."

Ute Indian Prayer Trees of the Pikes Peak Region is a book about Culturally Modified Trees, skillfully shaped by the hands of the indigenous people of Colorado, which can still be found today in the Pikes Peak Region. John Wesley Anderson shares the beginning of his journey into the past which led him across the ancestral homeland of the Ute to seek an understanding of these living Native American cultural artifacts. John shares the wisdom of the elders from the Reservations who believe at the beginning of time Creator brought them to the Shining Mountains. The Ute knew Pikes Peak by the name Tava, which means Sun Mountain. This is a story about the People of Sun Mountain and their sacred prayer trees.

Most histories of the Cherokee nation focus on its encounters with Europeans, its conflicts with the U. S. government, and its expulsion from its lands during the Trail of Tears. This work, however, traces the origins of the Cherokee people to the third century B.C.E. and follows their migrations through the Americas to their homeland in the lower Appalachian Mountains. Using a combination of DNA analysis, historical research, and classical philology, it uncovers the Jewish and Eastern Mediterranean ancestry of the Cherokee and reveals that they originally spoke Greek before adopting the Iroquoian language of their Haudenosaunee allies while the two nations dwelt together in the Ohio Valley.

CLICK HERE to download the chapter on "Backpacking" from Hiking the Wonderland Trail "There's no other trip, trail or peak that any backpacker should rank higher on his life list than the Wonderland Trail." - Backpacker magazine * Comprehensive and affectionate guide to one of the nation’s iconic wilderness trails * Everything you need to help plan this 93-mile trek, whether done in one trip or several * Lavish, full-color design, yet informative and practical, with 125 photographs and 18 maps * Find even more details, updates and added trip extensions at hikingthewonderlandtrail.com Washington State's famed Wonderland Trail is a spectacular 93-mile route that circumnavigates Mount Rainier, challenging hikers with its strenuous 22,000 feet of cumulative elevation gain and loss. Hiking the Wonderland Trail: The Complete Guide to Mount Rainier's Premier Trail is an authoritative guidebook penned by Washington native Tami Asars, a professional instructor on hiking the trail, a third-generation hiker of the Cascade mountains, and seven-time hiker of the entire Wonderland Trail. In this guide Asars draws on her experience, covering these essentials: * How to work with the Wonderland Trail permit reservation system, and when to apply * Recommended gear--with a checklist--and ways to reduce pack weight, prevent blisters, and stay warm and dry * How to pack the perfect backpack * Food and fuel caching on the Wonderland, tips and instruction * Detailed camp-to-camp route descriptions and suggested itineraries * How to extend your adventures with the Northern Loop Trail and the Eastside Trail Over the years, Asars has taken extensive notes that she shares at workshops and in the field. Hiking the Wonderland Trail distills her boot-tested knowledge so that everyone can enjoy the magic of Mount Rainier's premier trail.

Mike Sullivan loves his adopted city of San Francisco, and he loves trees. In The Trees of San Francisco he has combined his passions, offering a striking and handy compendium of botanical information, historical tidbits, cultivation hints, and more. Sullivan's introduction details the history of trees in the city, a fairly recent phenomenon. The text then piques the reader's interest with discussions of 71 city trees. Each tree is illustrated with a photograph--with its common and scientific names prominently displayed--and its specific location within San Francisco, along with other sites; frequently a close-up shot of the tree is included. Sprinkled throughout are 13 sidelights relating to trees; among the topics are the city's wild parrots and the trees they love; an overview of the objectives of the Friends of the Urban Forest; and discussions about the link between Australia's trees and those in the city, such as the eucalyptus. The second part of the book gets the reader up and about, walking the city to see its trees. Full-page color maps accompany the seven detailed tours, outlining the routes; interesting factoids are interspersed throughout the directions. A two-page color map of San Francisco then highlights 25 selected neighborhoods ideal for viewing trees, leading into a checklist of the neighborhoods and their trees.

A short guide to Virginia Indian tribes, archeology, museums, reservations, events, and historical figures. Includes maps.