Helpful Score: 2
I really enjoyed this book. Having lived on the Dakota plains, I can say that the depiction of the weather is completely accurate. Those early settlers must have been incredibly strong because the climate is amazing and nearly unbearable, even today. High plains blizzards are a staggering force of nature, and those who fail to respect that force definitely pay the price. When I moved to Dakota I learned an important real estate term: Windbreak. And, I learned that even modern ranchers use the rope system to guide them between the safety of home and the outbuildings where they must care for the animals that are their life blood. One can easily become disoriented and lost in a storm of half this intensity and freeze to death within yards of shelter, even today.
I particularly enjoyed the authors depiction of the morning after the storm because it is so true. Anything with a profile will be blown clean on one side and shrouded in drift behind, and the clean snow sparkles like crystal. However, when you finish appreciating the incredible beauty, you begin the difficult task of digging out and counting the damage.
I was disappointed that the author didn't include any information on the loss of Native American life, as they had been consigned to 'agency' land and could no longer escape to the Black Hills for shelter from these storms. To my knowledge, no count exists as they were not included in the 'human life lost' at that time. Something to think about...
I have to say that I was hoping for more about the settlers and less meteorology and military background of the man who was eventually blamed for not forecasting the storm sooner. Full chapters (and then some) were devoted to both of these subjects. I found some of this information just plain boring and some to not have any bearing on the story at all. Some may really appreciate this information, but I could have done with out it.
All over, a really good book and accurate depiction of early settler life on the plains. I would recommend it.
I particularly enjoyed the authors depiction of the morning after the storm because it is so true. Anything with a profile will be blown clean on one side and shrouded in drift behind, and the clean snow sparkles like crystal. However, when you finish appreciating the incredible beauty, you begin the difficult task of digging out and counting the damage.
I was disappointed that the author didn't include any information on the loss of Native American life, as they had been consigned to 'agency' land and could no longer escape to the Black Hills for shelter from these storms. To my knowledge, no count exists as they were not included in the 'human life lost' at that time. Something to think about...
I have to say that I was hoping for more about the settlers and less meteorology and military background of the man who was eventually blamed for not forecasting the storm sooner. Full chapters (and then some) were devoted to both of these subjects. I found some of this information just plain boring and some to not have any bearing on the story at all. Some may really appreciate this information, but I could have done with out it.
All over, a really good book and accurate depiction of early settler life on the plains. I would recommend it.
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