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About The Author: Doris B. Osterwald
As a Colorado native, Doris B.
Osterwald was introduced, at an early age, to the infinite
variety of natural features of the West, and to its
fascinating history.
These interests led her to study geology. While working on a
MA degree at the University of Wyoming, she met her future
husband, also a geologist, Dr. Frank W. Osterwald. The
couple coauthored Bulletin 45, Wyoming Mineral Resources for
the Geological Survey of Wyoming in 1952.
Doris and Frank shared many related avocations, including
Frank's life-long interest in railroading. Their family
enjoyed decades of last runs and special excursion
railroading events. On a family outing to ride the
Durango-Silverton narrow gauge in 1964, Doris recognized the
need for a guidebook combining the railroad history with an
explanation of the scenery, geology, and natural history of
the route. Ten months later Cinders & Smoke, a Mile by Mile
Guide for the Durango to Silverton Narrow Gauge Trip was
published. Cinders & Smoke was followed in 1972 by Narrow
Gauge to Cumbres, a Pictorial History of the Cumbres &
Toltec Scenic Railroad (now out of print), and in 1976,
Ticket to Toltec, a Mile by Mile Guide for the Cumbres &
Toltec Scenic Railroad. In 1989 she completed Rocky Mountain
Splendor, a Mile by Mile Guide for Rocky Mountain National
Park. High Line to Leadville, a Mile by Mile Guide for the
Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad, Colorado's newest
tourist railroad was published in 1991. Both Rocky Mountain
Splendor and High Line to Leadville received an award for
excellence from the Colorado Connoisseur magazine.
In 1994, Beyond the Third Rail with Monte Ballough and His
Camera was published. Ballough's photographs document life
in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado between 1898 and 1922.
The book features D&RG photos in a portfolio of railroading
history, Indian portraits, San Juan scenics, Indian ruins,
and the towns of Rico, Dunton, Chama and Durango. Doris has
degrees in geology from the University of Denver and the
University of Wyoming.
Along with other professional positions, she taught geology
in the Jefferson County (Colorado) Outdoor Education Program
at the Mt. Evans and Windy Peak Camps. She is a member of
the Colorado Authors' League, National Association of
American Pen Women, the Denver Women's Press Club, Colorado
Scientific Society, Rocky Mountain Railroad Club, and the
Denver Posse of Westerners. |
