Chapter 2 Solitaire Summary and Analysis

Merle McRae, the park service superintendent, and Floyd Bence, the chief ranger, bring water in a tank truck for Abbey. Both are married with children, McRae about fifty years old and Bence about thirty. Abbey learns about their backgrounds and their desires to stay in the West close to the outdoors and as far away from paperwork as possible. Neither wants to be promoted to administration positions back East.

The three take a tour of the area in a fully equipped park service pickup truck provided for Abbey's use during his job. He is to help visitors, keep the three campgrounds stocked with firewood, and remove any trash left behind. The roads are unpaved but passable by any two-wheel drive vehicle, except during or just after a rainfall. They stop at the end of some roads and walk out...