Backcountry Forum
Backpacking & Hiking Gear

Backcountry Forum
Our long-time Sponsor - the leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear
 
 
 

Amazon.com
Backpacking Forums
---- Our Gear Store ----
The Lightweight Gear Store
 
 WINTER CAMPING 

Shelters
Bivy Bags
Sleeping Bags
Sleeping Pads
Snow Sports
Winter Kitchen

 SNOWSPORTS 

Snowshoes
Avalanche Gear
Skins
Hats, Gloves, & Gaiters
Accessories

 ULTRA-LIGHT 

Ultralight Backpacks
Ultralight Bivy Sacks
Ultralight Shelters
Ultralight Tarps
Ultralight Tents
Ultralight Raingear
Ultralight Stoves & Cookware
Ultralight Down Sleeping Bags
Ultralight Synthetic Sleep Bags
Ultralight Apparel


the Titanium Page
WM Extremelite Sleeping Bags

 CAMPING & HIKING 

Backpacks
Tents
Sleeping Bags
Hydration
Kitchen
Accessories

 CLIMBING 

Ropes & Cordage
Protection & Hardware
Carabiners & Quickdraws
Climbing Packs & Bags
Big Wall
Rescue & Industrial

 MEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 WOMEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 FOOTWEAR 

Men's Footwear
Women's Footwear

 CLEARANCE 

Backpacks
Mens Apparel
Womens Apparel
Climbing
Footwear
Accessories

 BRANDS 

Black Diamond
Granite Gear
La Sportiva
Osprey
Smartwool

 WAYS TO SHOP 

Sale
Clearance
Top Brands
All Brands

 Backpacking Equipment 

Shelters
BackPacks
Sleeping Bags
Water Treatment
Kitchen
Hydration
Climbing


 Backcountry Gear Clearance

Topic Options
Rate This Topic
#96425 - 05/18/08 02:54 PM God's Middle Finger By Richard Grant
12Step Offline
member

Registered: 03/04/08
Posts: 89
Loc: Southwest Ohio
God's Middle Finger: Into the Lawless Heart of the Sierra Madre.

This book goes more into the cultures and people of the Sierra Madre then the back country itself but is a great and interesting read. I read many books mostly travel essays and survival stories, and this by far has been one of the best books I've read in a long time. It is hard to beleive that people live like this just south of our (US) border.

This book is shocking and you will find it hard putting it down.


Tom
_________________________
"Let's not miss the beauty of the forest by the ugliness of some of its trees." Bill W.

Top
#96426 - 05/18/08 09:26 PM Re: God's Middle Finger By Richard Grant [Re: 12Step]
kevonionia Offline
member

Registered: 04/17/06
Posts: 1322
Loc: Dallas, TX
Tom:

Thanks for that info, cause I hadn't heard of the book. There's been an allure to that area since I saw the movie, "The Treasure of . . . "

From what I could find, it's just out, is $15 softbound, and here's a LA Times book review of it.

I'm going to go look for it tomorrow.
_________________________
- kevon

(avatar: raptor, Lake Dillon)


Top
#96427 - 05/19/08 12:52 AM Re: God's Middle Finger By Richard Grant [Re: 12Step]
NiytOwl Offline
member

Registered: 11/06/04
Posts: 501
Loc: California
Google has a preview of it. Checking it out now.

Top
#96428 - 05/19/08 06:29 AM Re: God's Middle Finger By Richard Grant [Re: kevonionia]
12Step Offline
member

Registered: 03/04/08
Posts: 89
Loc: Southwest Ohio
It would be real easy to talk about this book, but I must wait till some of you have read it. Lots to discuss!!!


Tom
_________________________
"Let's not miss the beauty of the forest by the ugliness of some of its trees." Bill W.

Top
#96429 - 05/21/08 02:22 AM Re: God's Middle Finger By Richard Grant [Re: 12Step]
urbansix Offline
member

Registered: 09/27/06
Posts: 52
Loc: Atlanta, GA
My wife was just reading that and she mentioned I'd like it. Haven't picked it up yet, but now...


Edited by urbansix (05/21/08 02:41 AM)

Top
#96430 - 05/24/08 08:01 PM Re: God's Middle Finger By Richard Grant [Re: 12Step]
coyotemaster Offline
member

Registered: 03/07/06
Posts: 294
Loc: Arizona
So, who all is planning a visit there?

lol, Not me. I like my adventures a little tamer.

Top
#96431 - 05/29/08 01:21 PM Re: God's Middle Finger By Richard Grant [Re: coyotemaster]
Earthling Offline
member

Registered: 02/22/03
Posts: 3228
Loc: USA
I Breezed through the area in the early 1980's before i was cognizant of the real dangers of the area. then in the early 1990's I made another, abliet, short lived foray to the area. it's real, it's dangerous, and yes, you can live or die at any moment <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> Which is only for the young, fool hardy, and criminally insane to venture forth.......A Methhead would be scared travelling in those areas, and they're already on drugs! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

If someone finishes a copy of this book and would like to send it to me to read; I'll remit your postage. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
_________________________
PEPPER SPRAY AIN'T BRAINS IN A CAN!

Top
#96432 - 05/29/08 08:16 PM Re: God's Middle Finger By Richard Grant [Re: Earthling]
12Step Offline
member

Registered: 03/04/08
Posts: 89
Loc: Southwest Ohio
After I bought and read the book, I noticed that the library branch in my area carries it. I don't know how big your city/county library district is, but I am often shocked at the variety of books the library district I reside in.

I'm letting my brother-in-law read it now. When I get it back, I see if any of you want to read it.


Tom
_________________________
"Let's not miss the beauty of the forest by the ugliness of some of its trees." Bill W.

Top
#96433 - 06/01/08 07:35 PM Re: God's Middle Finger By Richard Grant [Re: 12Step]
rockymtnhiker Offline
member

Registered: 12/15/06
Posts: 38
I googled some images of the area and it is gorgeous. It is now on my list of places I would like to potentially hike. What is all this extreme danger everyone is talking about though? I mean anything in particular... not just it being very remote. Is it not mapped well? Dangerous 2 legged creatures? Lack of survival resources like water or shelter if something unexpected happened? Other?

Top
#96434 - 06/03/08 05:30 PM Re: God's Middle Finger By Richard Grant [Re: rockymtnhiker]
12Step Offline
member

Registered: 03/04/08
Posts: 89
Loc: Southwest Ohio
Just some of the comments I found about the area...


Today, local power rests largely in the hands of regional strongmen, with occasional incursions by the Mexican army. All of which would be dangerous enough, but in the last 30 years, the Sierra Madre has also become "one of the world's biggest production areas for marijuana, opium, heroin, and billionaire drug lords."


I would research the area you plan on hiking. I know there are places safe for tourists, however if you want to aviod the tourists and hit the back country I strongly suggest you do your homework. The number one cause of death in males there is homicide.


Tom
_________________________
"Let's not miss the beauty of the forest by the ugliness of some of its trees." Bill W.

Top
#96435 - 06/03/08 05:41 PM Re: God's Middle Finger By Richard Grant [Re: 12Step]
kevonionia Offline
member

Registered: 04/17/06
Posts: 1322
Loc: Dallas, TX
This article in the Miami paper today -- an LA Times story about why I'd be very careful hiking in Mexico at the moment (in geological time). This was the line that scares me:

In the year and a half since [President] Calderon launched a crackdown against drug gangs, about 4,100 people have died, the government says.At least 1,400 have been killed so far this year, including 170 in Tijuana, about 400 in Ciudad Juarez and 270 more in the western state of Sinaloa.

"No Country for Old Men" . . . or hikers, either.
_________________________
- kevon

(avatar: raptor, Lake Dillon)


Top
#96436 - 06/04/08 12:26 PM Re: God's Middle Finger By Richard Grant [Re: kevonionia]
Earthling Offline
member

Registered: 02/22/03
Posts: 3228
Loc: USA
One of, if not the biggest problem one has backpacking in this area is the turf wars that are constantly going on. They tend to shoot first and ask questions later <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> If you went alone it's pretty good chance you'd never come back, just from a high cliff slip, let alone a drunken, high gunman guarding a pot crop or meth camp. there are reasons sane men don't go some places, and all of the reasons are there plainly for you to see. if yo <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> care not to heed them please bring back lots of photos and write a book, which sho <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />ld make for excellent reading <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />
_________________________
PEPPER SPRAY AIN'T BRAINS IN A CAN!

Top

Shout Box

Highest Quality Lightweight Down Sleeping Bags
 
Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bags
 
Lite Gear Talk - Featured Topics
Backcountry Discussion - Featured Topics
Make Your Own Gear - Featured Topics
Featured Photos
Spiderco Chaparral Pocketknife
David & Goliath
Also Testing
Trip Report with Photos
Seven Devils, Idaho
Oat Hill Mine Trail 2012
Dark Canyon - Utah
Who's Online
2 registered (), 174 Guests and 0 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Noodles, McCrary, DanyBacky, Rashy Willia, WanderBison
13240 Registered Users
Forum Links
Disclaimer
Policies
Site Links
Backpacking.net
Lightweight Gear Store
Backpacking Book Store
Lightweight Zone
Hiking Essentials

Our long-time Sponsor, BackcountryGear.com - The leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear:

Backcountry Forum
 

Affiliate Disclaimer: This forum is an affiliate of BackcountryGear.com, Amazon.com, R.E.I. and others. The product links herein are linked to their sites. If you follow these links to make a purchase, we may get a small commission. This is our only source of support for these forums. Thanks.!
 
 

Since 1996 - the Original Backcountry Forum
Copyright © The Lightweight Backpacker & BackcountryForum