Desert Solitaire, Chapters 1-3
Terms and Concepts: Abbey introduces us to himself, his job, and Arches National Park in these first three chapters. Try to appreciate this location from his perspective. Appreciate the grand changes in temperature and weather that take place every day. Appreciate the vast loneliness of his situation and his responses to it. Understand the relationships that Abbey is forming with his only neighbors, the mice, snakes, and birds. Compare his attitude toward these animals to the occasional humans he must work with. Appreciate that the physical hardships that he must endure each day are a trade off for the solitude from modern life he is seeking. Compare Edward Abbey to Thoreau.
- Reading due: 29 January.
- First draft due: 30 January.
- Comments due: 3 February.
- Final draft due: 5 February.
- Outside reading questions due: 9 February.
Essay: Write a letter home in the voice of Edward Abbey describing to friends your new situation as a temporary summer park ranger in Arches National Park. Capture the details of your work, living conditions, and the environment. Also convey the emotional attachment you feel to the desert and your response to the solitude of the place.
Outside readings: Read and summarize the two articles on cryptobiotic soil. Be sure you include the correct citations and address the following points. Your answers to these questions should be specific and included detailed examples. Remember avoid using quotes; put this information in your own words.
Cryptobiotic Soils: Holding the Place in Place. Jayne Belnap.
An Introduction to Biological Soil Crusts. USGS, Canyonlands Research Station.
Youtube video of cryptobiotic soil animals.
Questions:
- What is cryptobiotic soil and what important function does it play in the survival of desert biomes?
- What organisms live in this soil and how do they contribute to the function you described in question 1?
Photo of the Delicate Arch from the USGS.
Photo of Edward Abbey from Abbey's Web.
