Stemming largely from a disagreement about the 1964 Wilderness Preservation Act, “Developers” claim that roads increase access to the parks, while “Preservers” argue that pavement defeats the point of nature. Abbey calls this development Industrial Tourism, and he rails against it. Jumping ahead in time to 1967, he notes that this highway was realized and how Arches-along with many other parks-has flooded with tourists and industry. Abbey realizes that the isolation and rarity of the desert he’s come to love will disappear.

As Abbey begins his ranger duties, he makes his rounds to various landmarks, awestruck by the enormous rock arches and lamenting how carelessly humanity tends to treats the environment.Ībbey soon feels he could live here forever-but one day, some government engineers stop by his trailer and inform him of the enormous highway they’re plotting into Arches. He explores plants, too: by May, a nearby juniper has particularly obsessed him, as the 300-year-old tree seems tied to another realm. Listing different nearby species, Abbey can’t help but personify the animals as he marvels at their beauty and complexity. But soon, he discovers the rich animal life around his trailer, even domesticating a friendly gopher snake. After sharing a meal together, the men leave, and Abbey is struck by how isolated he feels in his solitary lifestyle as a park ranger. Soon, park superintendent Merle McRae and chief ranger Floyd Bence bring Abbey some supplies. He vows not to apply human-centric language to nature, hoping to bring himself closer to it and to understand its mysteries more clearly. The next morning, after watching his first, breathtaking sunrise, Abbey wonders whether appearances equal reality. Arriving at his trailer in Arches National Monument, where he’ll live and work for the summer, Abbey notes the surrounding wildlife and accepts the fact that he’ll be sharing his space with the animals who inhabit the area. In the summer of 1956, Abbey makes the long drive from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Moab, Utah.

government has begun developing Abbey’s beloved park beyond recognition, he’s now publishing his experiences in that area in hopes of accurately reflecting the beauty of the wilderness and calling out the National Park Service for not sufficiently protecting it. Desert Solitaire is Edward Abbey’s memoir of a summer spent in 1956, 10 years prior to writing the book, as a park ranger in Arches National Monument near Moab, Utah.

Abbey edward desert solitaire