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Mountain Chef
08/31/2021
Written by Annette Bay Pimentel, Illustrated by Rich Lo
Our National Parks are the result of hundreds of hours of work by hundreds of people across decades. Many of the names of those who helped establish them are very well known. The subject of this book is not among those. You have probably never heard of him.
In 1915, Stephen Mather, an industrialist, and conservationist, was trying to convince influential people that it was important to preserve wild areas for the public and establish a system of national parks. He found, however, that the best way to do so wasn’t to tell them about these breathtaking lands, he needed to show them. So Mather set up a luxury camping trip for thirty writers, politicians, geographers, filmmakers, and more, and, because he knew that in order to keep these people happy, he had to feed them well, he hired the best camp cook in the West: Tie Sing.
Tie Sing was born to Chinese parents in a time when it was hard to be Chinese in America. Chinese were not considered citizens, were paid less than others and were humiliated by others. They’d come to America to help build the railroads in many cases, but after the railroads were built, they were no longer welcome.
Luckily for Tie Sing, his skills as a camp cook were second to none. He planned menus to please even the most jaded palate among Mather’s guests. Carrying his supplies and his kitchen on pack mules, he made his way along with the crew. Tie Sing brought along a sourdough starter that he kneaded each day and kept warm by wrapping it in a cloth and keeping it next to his body. He’d clean up after breakfast was served, then race ahead to be sure he was able to serve a filling, delicious supper to everyone at the end of the day. Even though a series of accidents cost him many supplies, he still turned out wonderful meals every day.
Mather’s guests were more than impressed, and they wrote to Congress, they wrote newspaper and magazine articles, they made movies and maps, and they created enough pressure and interest that in 1916, Congress created the National Park Service.
Although Mather’s guests are still well-known, not much is known about Tie Sing. It is believed he was born in Virginia City, Nevada, and was killed in a mountain accident in 1918. Sing Peak in Yosemite Park is named for him. There are no official documents with his name on them, although there are some photographs of him from Mather’s “glamping” trip. This book is a revelation: the story of a man about whom little is known yet who had a huge hand in shaping our nation. It is beautifully illustrated and includes a detailed epilogue with information about members of the trip and photographs, as well as a bibliography. Add it to your collection by clicking here.
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