Traveling in the west, working as a naturalist at several national parks, as well as on Mount Greylock in Massachusetts, Kathleen O'Rourke encountered large animals and wild weather, park visitors and native peoples. She writes as a storyteller and pulls the reader along into her experiences as a greenhorn ranger who learns to overcome a fear of snakes, mountain lions and bears by talking to them and being curious about their lives. When she was lonely, or needed to learn about a new environment, or maybe just looking for some fun, it was often the other rangers, Indian friends, as well as the locals in small towns that provided meaningful companionship. Kathy's background as an herbalist, nurse, teacher and outdoor leader adds to her appreciation and fascination with the natural world. She's written nature columns and articles regularly for several publications over the past 30 years.