On a 100-degree day in 1987 I went searching for a spring in Scottsdale's McDowell Mountains. In part,
my search for that spring was an attempt to learn once and for all if Arizona was trying to kill or
embrace me.
My experiences that day are pivotal in Desert Spring, the book that traces my personal journey from a
New Jersey/Manhattan commuter to an newcomer to the West, then a serious hiker, and finally a
passionate advocate for preservation of the McDowell Mountains.
Summary from book's back cover:
Pete Chasar, writer and artist, offers a colorful, first-hand account of the delights and difficulties
that can be experienced in Arizona's stunning deserts. The story is told using evocative narrative
about hikes and other personal outdoor adventures, as well as descriptions of the hard-fought battles
involved in turning an ambitious preservation plan into reality. It's a natural history travel
narrative, as well as a case history to enlighten and inspire individuals and groups struggling to
preserve their precious natural areas.
Price: $14.95 (soft cover, 196 pages) from these sources:
Online stores:
Retail outlets:
Arizona
- Taliesin West Bookstore
12621 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard, Scottsdale
Oregon
- Words & Pictures
407 Oak Street, Brookings
- Gold Beach Books
29707 Pacific Highway 101, Gold Beach
