Humboldt’s Own Backcountry Press Receives California Book Award Gold Medal for Publishing Excellence

Press release from Backcountry Press:

Backcountry Press has been awarded a 2026 California Book Award Gold Medal for Contribution to Publishing by the Commonwealth Club of California for its publication of San Francisco Bay Area: An Environmental History by historian David D. Schmidt. The California Book Awards, established in 1931, are among the state’s longest-running and most respected literary honors, recognizing exceptional achievement by California authors and publishers.

The award-winning book explores the environmental history of the San Francisco Bay Area, tracing the interconnected story of landscapes, waterways, ecosystems, and human communities across one of the most influential regions in North America. Through historical scholarship and ecological insight, Schmidt reveals how the Bay Area’s natural systems continue to shape its culture, identity, and future.

“For a small independent publisher dedicated to natural history, ecology, and place-based storytelling, this recognition is profoundly meaningful,” said Allison Poklemba, co-owner of Backcountry Press. “Books rooted in place help people build relationships with the landscapes around them. David’s work captures the complexity, beauty, and history of the Bay Area in a way that invites readers to see these environments with fresh eyes and greater care.”

This year’s California Book Award recipients included acclaimed authors and publishers such as Percival Everett for James (Fiction Gold Medal), Nicola Twilley for Frostbite: How Refrigeration Changed Our Food, Our Planet, and Ourselves (Nonfiction Gold Medal), Daniel Lewis for Twelve Trees: The Deep Roots of Our Future (Nonfiction Silver Medal), and Angel City Press for Terminal Island: Lost Communities on America’s Edge (Contribution to Publishing Gold Medal).

Founded in Northern California, Backcountry Press publishes books, field guides, and educational resources focused on natural history, ecology, conservation, and the landscapes of the American West. The press seeks to connect readers with the natural world through accessible science, compelling storytelling, and regional expertise.
The honor marks the second California Book Award Gold Medal received by Backcountry Press. In 2023, The Klamath Mountains: A Natural History, edited by Michael Kauffmann and Justin Garwood, received the California Book Award Gold Medal for Contribution to Publishing.

“Every landscape has a story, and the San Francisco Bay Area has one of the richest and most influential environmental stories in North America,” said author David D. Schmidt. “My hope is that readers come away with a deeper appreciation for how the Bay region’s natural systems and human communities have shaped one another over time. I’m grateful to the California Book Awards and to Backcountry Press for helping bring this fascinating story to a wider audience.”

Backcountry Press extended its gratitude to author David D. Schmidt, along with the booksellers, librarians, educators, and readers who help bring independent publishing projects to life.

About Backcountry Press
Backcountry Press is an independent publisher of books, field guides, classes, and educational resources focused on natural history, ecology, and the western landscape. Since 2012, the press has published award-winning works that help readers deepen their connection to the natural world through science, storytelling, and exploration.