New book traces human and natural history of Cascades

LEAVENWORTH — Washington writer David B. Williams will discuss his new book, “In the Range of Fire and Ice: A Human and Natural History of Washington’s Cascades,” at Wenatchee River Institute (WRI) on Oct. 27.

“The book is really my love letter to the Cascades. I've lived here most of my life and have been hiking, camping, and backpacking in the mountains forever,” said Williams.

“In the Range of Fire and Ice” is an exploration of Washington’s Cascade range as a place of deep time and constant change. Beginning with the mountain range’s signature elements — fire and ice, volcanoes and glaciers — the book tells the stories of the Cascades through the geology, flora, fauna and people that have shaped it.

“They're all interwoven into this complex tapestry. That for me, is just beautiful,” said Williams.

“In the Range of Fire and Ice” draws on conversations with anthropologists, park rangers, ecologists, and climate scientists, as well as firsthand experience, to tell the story of a landscape over the millennia.

Similar to his previous works, Williams blends human and natural history in his portrait of the Cascades, taking the readers to the traditional Indigenous huckleberry harvesting grounds, forgotten mining camps, and high mountain lakes that contain fish because people placed them there.

“You can't separate people from the story of the Cascades. We are intimately involved, have been for 10,000 years, and we will continue to be from management to our impact,” said Williams.

Though the book confronts the lasting impacts of logging, mining, fires and climate change, it also illustrates the mountains’ recovery and resilience, including the return of wolverines and wolves and ending with the rebirth of Mount St. Helens.

“The mountain is coming back in ways that were completely unexpected. It is so green, and so many animals and so many plants have come back,” said Williams.

For Williams, Mount St. Helens is a reminder of how the world can renew itself after devastating destruction, offering readers a sense of hope amid a number of modern ecological challenges.

“Mount St. Helens is not alone. That's happened across the Cascades for thousands of years. The mountains have rebuilt themselves ecologically and geologically, we're just lucky enough to have been here to see it happen…and to learn from it,” said Williams.

Williams hopes that “In the Range of Fire and Ice” will inspire both newcomers and seasoned explorers to get outside, spark curiosity about their surroundings, and empower them to be stewards of the Cascades.

During the Oct. 27 Red Barn event, Williams will sit down with author and former trail-crew laborer Ana Maria Spagna to explore the unique character of the Cascades as a living, evolving realm of fire, ice, and hope.

Registration is not required, but attendees can RSVP to receive email reminders about the event at wenatcheeriverinstitute.org. Doors to the Red Barn will open at 6:30 p.m. for a community social with beer and wine available for purchase. The presentation will start at 7 p.m.

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media