FROM SD EPEC ORGANIZER: TRACIE WEBER Author tries to give sense of Lewis and Clark Jarett C. Bies Argus Leader published: 3/25/2003 Natural history part of book's focus While traveling the course of the trail paved by American explorers Meriweather Lewis and William Clark, author and outdoors enthusiast Elizabeth Grossman tried to focus on the parts of the trail that still resemble the sites seen by those two men and their traveling companions. "To find things like this, you have to get off the trail a bit," Grossman says, "But with the book, I wanted to highlight those undeveloped areas, the ones that give a true sense of Lewis and Clark's experience." Grossman visits Sioux Falls tomorrow for a multi-media presentation about her book, "The parts of the book I liked most were portions where she incorporates the actual verbiage of Lewis and Clark," says Tracie Weber, conservation organizer in Sioux Falls for The Sierra Club. "There's more of a thought process in this book, more than just an A to Z trail guide book." Conservation efforts are an important part of the work, Grossman says. "If we achieve the goal to get people out of their cars, they will want to learn more, hopefully," she says. "If they develop curiosity, then in time, they will develop concern." With a focus on natural history, Grossman catalogues wildlife still present in many of the lands Lewis and Clark explored. "There are places along the trail, refuge areas where there are clouds of snow geese and thousands of pelicans," she says. While vacationing explorers can use the book within the state, it also can help those planning more distant travels. "Most of the area east of the North Dakota border is now farmland," Grossman says. "Farther afield, the trail falls across some areas which are amazing in their beauty and remain nearly as they were." Reach Jarett C. Bies at 977-3925 or [log in to unmask] --This was the lead story for the Life Section and includes a picture of the book cover and a highlighted paragraph detailing the event info (who/what/where, etc.). Tracie Weber Conservation Organizer 231 S Phillips Ave #250 Sioux Falls, SD 57104 [log in to unmask] www.sierraclub.org Explore, enjoy and protect the planet. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask]