Yellow Pine Backcountry Historical Museum

Bound for the Backcountry: A History of Idaho's Remote Airstrips, by Richard H. Holm (2012) – a big, detailed compendium of well-researched historical detail about places as well as airstrips specifically, with many wonderful old photographs; at least 1/4 of the book is on our area

Cabin Creek Chronicle: The History of the Most Remote Ranch in America, by G. Wayne Minshall (2014) – a book that "wraps around" Minshall's story of the Caswells at Thunder Mountain (Wilderness Brothers - see below), focusing on their settlement east of Big Creek, and on the pre-settlement events as well as later residents in that vicinity

For Better or Worse: The Legacy of William “Deadshot” Reed, by Kathy Deinhardt Hill (2003) – story of the Reed family, parents and 12 children who grew up near the S. Fork Guard Station and attended school in Yellow Pine

Idaho Mountains Our Home: The Life Story of Lafe and Emma Cox, by Emma Cox (1997) – memoirs full of local history and photos (the Coxes honeymooned out of Big Creek, ran Cox Dude Ranch on Johnson Creek for decades, raised 2 girls in the backcountry; Lafe was long a guide to local lakes, went to the first school in Yellow Pine in 1920)

He Gave Me a Song, by Rose Marie Saleen Rebillet (1978) – a memoir of a woman who raised her family in Cascade and Yellow Pine, among other places, and later lived at a ranch on the South Fork of the Salmon

Mountains of Memory: A Fire Lookout’s Life in the River of No Return Wilderness, by Don Scheese (2001) – an account of 12 seasons as a USFS fire lookout:  the daily life, local geology and flora/fauna, and musings on wilderness

Pans, Picks & Shovels: Mining in Valley County, Idaho, by the Valley County History Project (2012) – a collection of articles about a plethora of mines and miners, most in the mountains; plenty of historic photos to go with them (contact:  VCHP, PO Box 1886, McCall, ID 83638)

Rewards of Rage: The Deadshot Reed Story as Told to the Author, by Art Colson (1997) – history of William “Deadshot” Reed (see For Better or Worse), who was given the nickname for his prowess and unhesitancy in using a gun to defend his interests

Wilderness Brothers: Prospecting, Horse Packing, & Homesteading, by G. Wayne Minshall (2012) – about the Caswell Brothers who were responsible for the early development of Thunder Mountain (see also Minshall's Cabin Creek Chronicle above)

Yellow Pine, Idaho, by Nancy G. Sumner, ed. (1993) – a compilation of stories about Yellow Pine and the surrounding areas as told by the old-timers and organized by “flat-lander” Nancy Sumner (cover by one-time local artist Al Haskins) – to purchase, email: “fieldsmarjie (at) yahoo.com” ($15 + S/H)

Alpine Sentinels: A Chronicle of the Sheep Eater Indians, by Tony Taylor (2001) – this was the tribe of Shoshone-Bannock which herded sheep through the Yellow Pine Basin as late as the early 1900s

Idaho for the Curious: A Guide, by Cort Conley (1982) – a mega compendium of interesting history and attributes of about all of Idaho’s places and spaces, sorted by driving routes, with a section on Warm Lake, Yellow Pine, Stibnite, Edwardsburg, and Big Creek

Miles from Nowhere: In Search of the American Frontier, by Dayton Duncan (1994) – a truly wonderfully written exploration of the contemporary not-much-populated West in juxtaposition to the early frontier of a hundred years before (and guess what tiny Idaho mountain village is pictured on the original cover!)

Valley County Idaho: Prehistory to 1920, by the Valley County History Project, ed. by Shelton Woods (2002) – includes a chapter by Deanna Riebe on the Yellow Pine area

Birds of Idaho: Field Guide, by Stan Tekiela (2003) – take-along paperback with large color photos and arranged by primary color, with information on juvenile and winter appearances

Butterflies of the Pacific Northwest, by William Neill (2007) – a field guide (lots of color photos) to identifying 118 butterflies in various stages of growth

Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest, by Steve Trudell & Joe Ammirati (2009) – color photos of 460 regional mushrooms of all types in a field guide size, with edibility noted, plus tips for the would-be picker

Northwest Foraging: The Classic Guide to Edible Plants of the Pacific Northwest, by Doug Benoliel (2011, rev. ed.) – 50+ edibles (plus a section on can-fool-you poisonous plants), with detailed line drawings, advice on harvesting and storing, even some recipes

Scats and Tracks of the Rocky Mountains, by James Halfpenny (2001, 2nd ed.) – descriptions and illustrations of the droppings and other tell-tale signs of 70 different mammals, birds, even reptiles and amphibians of the mountains, very interesting as well as useful

Wild Trees of Idaho, by Frederic D. Johnson (1996) – a field guide with ecological information on native trees and smaller vegetation

Wildflowers of the Inland Northwest, by Ralph & Peggy Faust (1999) – a packable paperback arranged by color, with color photos and interesting facts about the 200+ flowers identified (including native uses)

Wildlife of the Pacific Northwest: Tracking and Identifying Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians, and Invertebrates, by David Moskowitz (2010) – 180+ animals covered, including ecology and microhabitats as well as scat, tracks (gait patterns, spacing), and other signs of occupation, with many color photos

Idaho Minerals: The Complete Reference Guide to the Minerals of Idaho, by Lanny R. Ream (2004, 2nd ed.) – many good photos plus field guides

Modern Prospecting: How to Find, Claim and Sell Mineral Deposits, by Roger McPherson (2003) – not a rock hounding book but a practical manual on how to go about more serious prospecting and bringing it along to production

Roadside Geology of Idaho, by David D. Alt (1989) – a great way to learn what you’re seeing alongside the highways and byways…so you’ll have a better idea of what you’re hiking through in the mountains, too

Backcountry Cooking: From Pack to Plate in Ten Minutes, by Dorcas S. Miller (1998) – 140+ varied recipes for quick camp meals using standard ingredients, information about home food dehydration and at-home prep for the meals

Fly Idaho!: A Guide to Adventure in the Idaho Backcountry, by Galen L. Hanselman (1998) – color photos, lots of important as well as merely interesting information about using backcountry airports and bush strips

Flyfisher’s Guide to Idaho, by Ken Retallic & Rocky Barker (2010, 3rd ed.) – much on the major water, bits on most of the minor options, including this area, plus other useful local and fishing information, good maps/directions

Rafting the River of No Return Wilderness, by Thomas Walsh (2011 – Kindle only) – memoir of a family adventure vacation, also a good preparation for such a trip of your own

Trails of the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, by Margaret Fuller (2002) – guidebook to 101 hiking and riding trails “back behind Big Creek” (a gateway to this federal wilderness area)