Ranger Confidential: Living, Working, and Dying in the National Parks

This book was eye-opening and a fast read.

While talking about career aspirations with a fellow Army CID Special Agent who just transferred to our office, she mentioned her desire to one day become a Park Ranger. When "Ranger Confidential" popped up in my Amazon "Recommended For You" list the next day, I passed along the info to my colleague. A couple of days later I decided to buy this book myself, and I'm very glad that I did.Former National Park Service Ranger Andrea Lankford wrote a very powerful, affecting account of her experiences, co-workers, family and friends during a decade and a half spent serving in our National Parks. She could have told her story in a very superficial, macho, "There I was" fashion, and the anecdotes would have been entertaining, but still nothing special. Instead, Ms. Lankford took the more courageous path, sharing not only what she and her fellow Rangers did, but how they were affected physically and emotionally. Even though I am aware first-hand of the toll being a first responder exacts on our minds and bodies, reading "Ranger Confidential" still hit me like a punch to the gut. My palms sweated while Ms. Lankford recounted rescues and recoveries in the Grand Canyon and Yosemite; one incident she described occurred at the same time my wife and I were riding mules down to Phantom Ranch. I remember thinking at the time, "I sure wouldn't want to be the one having to rappel down those sheer cliffs!" That time-honored definition of courage: "Being scared to death but doing the task anyway" was never more apt when describing what Park Rangers volunteer to do with terrible frequency.Some Amazon reviewers have negatively commented about Ms. Lankford's frank commentary on "Ranger Burnout" and Critical Incident Stress among law enforcement Park Rangers. For me, those revelations are what vaulted this book from "Ordinary" to "Truly Special". There are very few who can continually put themselves in harm's way to rescue people who make dumb choices without becoming cynical, and often just plain pissed off. Clearly, most Rangers respect their surroundings and value the ethic of personal responsibility and preparedness, and they respect park visitors who do the same. Ms. Lankford adeptly communicated the sense of frustration, guilt, and even passive-aggressive behavior Rangers have to control when confronted daily by people determined to become victims. The cumulative stress resulting from continually seeing gruesome injuries and deaths pretty much will wear anyone down. Add in the constant risk from human and natural hazards, and even the toughest Ranger can get ground down."Ranger Confidential" honors us readers by letting us see behind the tan and green facade, at the human beings who have earned the right to wear the "Smokey Bear Stetson". Ms. Lankford's tribute to a fellow Ranger simultaneously brought tears to my eyes and a smile to my face; I've read none finer."Ranger Confidential" should be required reading for anyone, male or female, considering employment as a National Park Service Ranger. It wouldn't hurt if most park visitors also were exposed to the valuable lessons Ms. Lankford shares. For everyone else, I believe you will gain a deep appreciation and respect for the men and women who serve in our National Park Service, whether it's at Mount Rainier, Yosemite, Grand Canyon or the Statue of Liberty.

This book is well worth the read. The behind the scenes stories are fascinating and a bit terrifying. The rangers who’s stories are shared are wonderfully human flawed heros. Through this story, I became invested in every one. I was glad for the update on all of them at the end.I couldn’t put this book down and would highly recommend it for anyone who loves adventure, the outdoors, rescue stories, crime stories, and especially our national parks. This book hits all the buttons.My appreciation for the rangers was made deeper. As wild as the experiences shared are, I’ve never experienced anything but wonder in the parks. Everything they endure to keep the parks running is why we get to enjoy the incredible experiences we do.10/10. 100% recommend.

I have spent some time in the National Parks, and always wondered about the lifestyles of Park Rangers. I knew the days of rescuing picnic baskets from Yogi Bear have long gone, and I had never quite realized how serious their law enforcement duties had become. I enjoyed Ranger Confidential, mostly, although by the end of the book I had read about as much as I wanted to.=== The Good Stuff ===* Andrea Lankford writes in an honest and forthright manner. She does not sugarcoat what happened, and a lot of what happened was sad, violent, gory and unpleasant. She is very descriptive about her conversion for a bright-eyed, enthusiastic Ranger to a government employee who was disillusioned and almost hateful of her job and the people she met. If you are not ready for very realistic descriptions of people losing life and limb, literally, don't buy this book.* The author does a nice job of explaining the politics of the NPS. She explains its crazy hiring policy (you pretty much can't be hired unless you have already been hired), the rivalry between rangers for the best assignments, the trials of being a female ranger, and the low pay and long hours expected of rangers.* The best part of the book, at least in my opinion, was the descriptions of the rescues, both the successes and failures. The bravery demonstrated by some rangers almost seems to have a self-destructive side to it. The rescues were well described, both from a technical standpoint and the feelings and emotions of those involved.=== The Not-So-Good Stuff ===* Lankford eventually becomes disillusioned with the life of a NPS employee, and her disappointment comes through in her writing. At first it was an excellent description of someone realizing the true cost of "getting to work in the Grand Canyon everyday", but as the book wore on, it become more tiresome. To be honest, some of the things she complains about, incompetent managers, office politics, and long hours, are not exactly unfamiliar to many workers.* The book is a series of vignettes that stand alone. It makes no attempt to present a thesis, or relate the tales together into a common story line. The problem is that many of the stories are somewhat similar, and sort of blur together.=== Summary ===I liked the beginning of the book much better than the latter half. Many of the stories become almost tedious, and as Lankford's attitude worsens, her writing becomes more disjointed and bitter. In a way, it is a marvelous biography of how a dedicated employee can be demotivated.

great book glad i never became a ranger

Maybe it's just me, but I somehow thought there was going to be a bit more animal attacks and the like. Most of the book seemed to revolve around climbing accidents - not that it wasn't fascinating and at times very sad.The book itself is very interesting and gives you a glimpse of what it's like to be a park ranger for the US - very hard but very rewarding.If you want something a bit different to read, but that is still light and easy, then this book is probably it.

Brilliant book, very revealing about the true nature of these jobs and the measures Park Rangers go to to protect holiday goers and the thousands of tourists that visit these parks every week!It is very well written and very harrowing at times as not all stories end well. The demanding extreme situations that rangers are put in is just incredible! From flash floods to scorpions dropping from the ceiling of your trailer, and that is the tame stuff, I had no idea and it has been very eye opening to learn more. It really does bring a rewarding new perspective.

Interesting book. Made me respect rangers even more. If you want to know more about what rangers do and how they put their lives on the line, this is the book for you! I read it while travelling through the US and while visiting several national parks. I kept quoting from the book and was determined not to end up as 'another story' about a 'stupid tourist not following the rules of the park'. The book probably saved my life since it made me more careful :-)

Andrea Lankford hat mehrere Jahre als Nationalpark-Ranger gearbeitet und bietet einen tiefen Einblick in die Branche. In den Mittelpunkt stellt sie viele ihrer Kollegen - vornehmlich in den Grand Canyon und Yosemite Nationalparks. Weder verherrlicht sie den Job, noch dramatisiert sie ihn künstlich. Sie zeigt die harten Anforderungen auf, die der Beruf in seiner Verantwortung, seiner körperlichen und geistigen Anforderung mit sich bringt. Es wird deutlich, dass das auf Dauer nicht jeder Mensch aushalten kann.Sie schreibt dies in angenehmem persönlichem Stil, sachlich, aber nicht emotionslos und mit einer großen Liebe zu diesem Beruf, den sie selbst irgendwann aufgab. Ein interessantes, aber auch spannendes Buch. Empfehlenswert für jeden, der schon einmal in den US-Nationalparks war und bisher wenig über die Arbeit der Ranger wusste.

If you live for the outdoors, have hiked the Grand Canyon and mountain trails of the high country, you may have secretly envied and admired our park rangers.But this book tells of the toll that it takes on their lives from low wages; burnout; PTSD; death in the line of duty; and the stress of dealing with a too often insensitive and ignorant public bent on killing themselves in a myriad of ways.