Chapter 10 The Heat of Noon: Rock and Tree and Cloud Summary and Analysis

The July desert heat intensifies to 110 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade. Abbey hurries from place to place when he must be in the sun, but he and most other animals seek out the shade until the sunset. The heat in the trailer drives Abbey outside to the shade of his ramada, where the dryness of the air and a slight breeze make the high temperatures almost comfortable.

Abbey writes about the need for wilderness. He believes that everybody needs wilderness areas, if not to enjoy directly, then to know that they exist and are available should the desire manifest. If the United States government becomes too repressive and tyrannical, the wilderness areas would provide effective cover for revolutionary forces, as do the wilderness...