Hush of the Land

I explore the interplay between wild lands, politics, and culture. German-born and now based in Montana, my work has been published widely on topics spanning international relations, conservation, and regional history. In my recent book, Hush of the Land, co-authored with renowned conservationist and outfitter Smoke Elser, I capture the timeless spirit of Montana’s Bob Marshall Wilderness. My work has appeared in journals like Big Sky Journal and The Montana Journal of Western History, and I am currently working on two biographical projects. With a Ph.D. in Political Science, I combine my passion for in-depth research with a love for the land, sharing stories that inspire a deeper understanding of both natural and human landscapes.

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“Smoke Elser is a legend not only in the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana but throughout the Rocky Mountain West. . . . Hush of the Land will be read for years by those who want a saddle-high view of a unique and adventurous life well lived.”

—C. J. Box, New York Times best-selling author of Storm Watch

Based on hundreds of hours of interviews, HUSH OF THE LAND tells the captivating story of Smoke Elser’s early days as a packer in the Bob Marshall Wilderness and Bitterroot Mountains. Share the joys and thrills of summer rides, harrowing grizzly bear encounters, fishing in clear mountain streams, and many nights around a campfire within some of the West’s last wild lands. In this lively narrative, Elser recounts how his testimony for the Wilderness Act, and the fight to preserve and expand Montana’s wilderness lands, influenced his career as an outfitter and educator and gave him a voice at the center of Montana’s conservation movement. Read more.

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