Joseph D. Dumoulin writes passionately, and with clear objectivity, about the Adirondack region in “Rocks, Roots, and Muck.”

The Rouses Point native graduated from Plattsburgh State University College with a Bachelor’s degree, earned a Master’s degree in engineering physics, and worked in intelligence and space operations in the U.S. Air Force. He served 24 years, retiring at the rank of Lt. Colonel. After retiring, he moved to the town of Jay and taught science to middle and high school students at Chazy Central Rural School, where he also coached the highly successful girls varsity soccer team. On paper, he’s a pretty impressive guy; in person, he’s even better. Full disclosure, I taught with the author at Chazy and regard him very highly on many different levels.

In “Rocks,” Dumoulin tells stories of breathtaking hikes, challenging cross country ski and snow shoe explorations and memorable camping trips with his two children, their children, and Hannelore, his beloved wife of 50 years. The chapters also speak of first memories, the personality of trees, the rich diversity of Adirondack animals and humans, and the climate changes in our region. In one story, he tells of a harrowing downhill skiing incident when, unable to turn quickly enough to avoid a child in his path, he decides instead to grab the bewildered boy and both end up unhurt in a pile of snow. Needless to say, the child’s mother was extremely unhappy! Another story involves carving walking sticks from fallen limbs. “Trees have their own personalities,” he says, so each walking stick should match the personality of the user which somehow makes a lot of sense.

Throughout his outdoor adventures, Dumoulin observes and logs weather data that confirms our region now experiences longer summers and shorter winters with more, and longer periods of humidity. He details the scientific reasons for our climate’s change but says, in his interpretation of the research, the situation is not as dire as the more extreme scientific models show. He explains the physics and chemistry of the Greenhouse Effect, using the analogy of a blanket that covers an entire room and traps in the heat. Although the weather has become extreme, he optimistically states that there is still time to fix it.

Dumoulin has traveled all over the world because of his work with the Air Force and his love of traveling, but the underlying theme that threads throughout his book is his love of the Adirondacks, his friends and his family. The preface of “Rocks, Roots, and Muck” is worth quoting because it beautifully summarizes his work: “I have written about my love of its mountains, forests, waters and animals. I have explained my love of its climate, and why we are causing it to change for the worse. I have written about my love of country, warts and all. And throughout, I have described my deep love of my family. I have written a love story.”

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Editor’s note: This review is part of the biweekly “Read in the Blue Line” book review column by members of the Adirondack Center for Writing, typically printed on Wednesdays. This review was inadvertently not printed in its usual spot this week.