Excursion Guides Books - Page 6

Long-Distance Hiking: Lessons from the Appalachian Trail

Roland Mueser

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Terrific Statistical Information 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

Roland Mueser has written a terrific book that contains the results of interviewing dozens of hikers. He chose to tackle the subjects of why thru-hike?, footwear, food, equipment, and much more. He also did some scientific testing of his own when it comes to fighting insects. Mueser did a 4-mile run in the woods with DEET and re-did the run without insect repellant so he could tally the bug bites and report his fingings.

Mueser has put together the results of over 100 surveys so that he could bring you some great information that pertains to the long distance hiker.

Great book for the aspiring A.T. thru hiker. 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

If you only read one book before hiking the Appalachian Trail, this is the book. The book is very informative and really helping me prepare for my thru hike.

Editorial Review:

Blending sage advice with personal experiences and anecdotes, this unconventional book is an unusually thoughtful account of long-distance trekking on the Appalachian Trail. Mueser draws upon interviews and questionnaire data gathered from over 100 long distance hikers hoofing it through the Applachian Mountains.

60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: San Antonio and Austin: Includes the Hill Country (60 Hikes within 60 Miles)

Tom Taylor, Johnny Molloy

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Hiking in Austin 4 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

This is a good basic book for finding the public hiking trails that are on the beaten path. It is very useful to find what is publically available. It isn't for finding those paths that are hard to find.

I do recommend it.

More Austin than San Antonio 4 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

Excellent book, very descriptive but there are more Austin trails than SA trails. Some of the trails in this book have become our faves and we would never have found them without the book.

Editorial Review:

This practical guide takes readers to the best trails found in the Texas Hill Country, all within easy reach of San Antonio and Austin. Destinations include secluded, low-traffic areas for quiet hikes as well more popular and heavily used paths. The former LBJ Ranch, the Guadalupe River, the Highland Lakes Chain, and the Lost Pines area are a few of the spectacular treks featured.

Afoot & Afield San Diego County: A Comprehensive Hiking Guide (Afoot and Afield)

Jerry Schad

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

The 'New Revised Standard Version' of San Diego's Hiking Bible 4 out of 5 stars.
25 of 26 people found this review helpful.

Jerry Schad is a remarkably prolific outdoor author. He has written extensively on hiking in southern California including the wildlands within Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. But San Diego is where Schad's heart truly lies and it shows in every edition of 'Afoot and Afield San Diego.' I have owned each one since the first in 1986 and this book just keeps getting better and better. The 4th edition (2007) features over 250 hikes and is sure to keep outdoor enthusiasts busy.

Most of the 30 or so hikes new to this edition are in the chapters dealing with Beaches and Bays and the Coastal Strip/Foothills sections. In the last 20 years San Diego County has made remarkable progress at putting aside open space for recreation and this version of Afoot and Afield chronicles many new preserves that have appeared over the last decade. New hikes include the Hosp Grove, a walk among Eucalyptus Trees just south of Oceanside, the addition of three new routes in Mission Trails Regional Park (along with the banishment of one path up Cowles Mountain), and multiple new trails in the Alpine/Jamal area.

While urbanized areas have seen many changes, the mountain and desert portions of the book are similar to previous editions. In Rancho Cuyamaca State Park, only one new hike was added, a pleasant jaunt along Cuyamaca Reservoir. Sadly, although the book has not changed much, the surrounding mountain landscape has. The 2003 Cedar fires destroyed much of the park and Schad's assessment that it will recover in a decade or two seems highly unlikely. As an aside, I was disappointed that Schad repeated the park claim and attributed the fire to "a century of fire suppression." That was, of course, part of the problem. But rampant mismanagement by the state park also shares the blame. Thinning, controlled burns, and spraying for bark beetles would have done much to mitigate the 2003 catastrophe. Happily, Palomar Mountain State Park has learned from the disaster that overtook Rancho Cuyamaca and is returning to active management of its resources, beginning with clearing away brush and downed wood. Because of this careful management, the many beautiful trails and cross country routes Schad describes on Palomar will be safeguarded for generations to come.

In conclusion, this is a very good guidebook. It retains most of the best features of earlier guides and all of the best hikes. I miss the little icons that appeared in previous editions, but the heading for each hike provides all the information you need in a concise, readable format. The trail sketch maps are also for the most part adequate, but you will want to supplement these with more detailed recreational maps where available. Still, this is the most comprehensive guide to San Diego County, a four season outdoor wonderland. If you want to explore the region, you would do well to get this book.

Editorial Review:

The Los Angeles Times has hailed Southern California' hiking guru Jerry Schad's Afoot & Afield San Diego County as "the bible of San Diego hiking." Encompassing the county from Sunset Cliff Park and the Bayside Trail at Point Loma to Fonts Point in the Borrego Badlands, this hiking guide is the "must-have" to explore San Diego's diverse outdoors. The book covers all the worthwhile hiking destinations throughout the county - including the coast, foothills, mountains, and desert - in trips ranging from the short family excursions to multi-day backpacks. This long-awaited fourth edition of San Diego County's most recognized and comprehensive hiking guide has been fully updated and expanded to cover 250 hikes.

• Completely redesigned with 250 trips and all new maps.
• Expanded coverage of coastal areas and the edge of the fast-growing suburbs.

Moon California Hiking (Moon Handbooks)

Tom Stienstra, Ann Marie Brown

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Truth in Advertising: A New Edition of California's Hiking Bible. 5 out of 5 stars.
12 of 14 people found this review helpful.

Every two years or so, hikers in California are blessed with a new edition of Ann Marie Brown and Tom Stienstra's California Hiking, by far the most complete hiking guide to the state. Keeping track of all the trails and updating when necessary is no simple task. Indeed, one of the authors proudly advertises hiking, camping, and otherwise exploring the out of doors almost half the year in an effort to keep this book up to date and to "avoid .. getting a real job." The 2008 edition is the largest in several years and includes over 40 new hikes.

What has stayed the same. California Hiking still divides the state into sixteen geographical regions and lists hikes in each area. Maps of each region are provided with directions to the trail heads, and regions are organized from North (Redwood Empire) to South (San Diego County and Southern Deserts). An introduction explains how to use the guide and lists favorite hikes of the authors in multiple categories, from best wildflowers and waterfalls, to best "difficult" hikes (the authors use a slightly different aphorism) ie., hikes you might not want to take your spouse on. Each hike includes a brief description, along with directions to the trailhead. Individual trail maps cannot be included in a guide as comprehensive as this one, but the authors provide information on where to obtain available maps, along with important details like entrance fees, permits, and local government agencies.

What is new. More trails! From one end of the state to the other, the authors have added new hikes: some twenty in the San Franciso area alone. I am personally looking forward to walking the recently opened Mill Creek trail, found just south of Monterey and Carmel. Old growth redwoods are one of my passions, and any new trails of this sort are welcome. Among the new hikes in Southern California, Gray's Peak and Black Mountain Lookout both offer spectacular overlooks. Also new is Runyon Canyon in Hollywood Hills and several new trails in the Sacramento area. A few trails have been dropped from this edition. The Cedars Creek Interpretive trail, for example, has fallen into disrepair and is no longer listed in California Hiking. But for the most part, the changes are in favor of more, not less, and this edition is worth purchasing for the new hikes alone.

Other changes include updating mileages and difficulty ratings. Those of us who are absolutely exhausted after climbing to the top of Yosemite Falls will be relieved to find that this trail is now rated a "4" on the difficulty scale (which runs from 1 to 5). The authors have also made extensive mileage updates to reflect new trail alignments. Deep Creek Hot Springs is now listed as 4 miles from a new trail head, and the Ewoldson trail, probably the single most beautiful hike in the Monterey area, is now listed at 5.3 miles to include a spur trail to a stunning overlook.

Over the years I have met a number of hikers who use this book as their hiking bible for the state. More than a few of them (myself included) dream of walking every trail listed. That would require a Herculean effort, of course, but it says a lot that the authors of this book have done so multiple times and given the rest of us what is surely the most comprehensive state hiking guide currently available in the United States. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Editorial Review:

Best-selling outdoors authors Tom Stienstra and Ann Marie Brown know the best hiking trails in the Golden State, from breathtaking coastal walks north of Los Angeles to challenging backcountry treks in the Sierra Nevada. Drawing from the knowledge and experience of both authors, Moon California Hiking leads beginner and expert hikers alike to the best trails the state has to offer. The eighth edition of this classic guidebook includes 21 new hikes and unique lists of “Bests” like Best Hikes to Waterfalls and Best Hikes to See Wildlife. Complete with helpful icons which rate the difficulty and quality of each hike, detailed regional maps, and hiking tips, Moon California Hiking provides hikers with first-rate expert advice and all the necessary tools to head outdoors.

Hiking Trails of North Georgia

Tim Homan

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Homan hits a homer 4 out of 5 stars.
32 of 32 people found this review helpful.

Tim Homan defined hiking in north Georgia. His trail descriptions and mileage are accepted as the most accurate. The directions to the trailheads are right on the money.

The first time I met Tim he was walking a trail with a wheel, measuring the distance. That was almost 15 years ago. In fact, Tim wrote the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest brochure trail descriptions. That brings me to the only problem with this book. Its title should be "Hiking Trails of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest" since he rarely strays outside of its management area. If you have hiked all the trails in the book you would have hiked less than half the trails in North Georgia.

Still, there are at least three hundred miles of hiking trails in this book, and you can chose your favorites based on the quick guide in the margin of the book. My personal recommendations from the book would be DeSoto Falls for a family day-hike, Appalachian Trail from Neel's Gap to Hogpen Gap for a challenging day-hike and Duncan Ridge for the most challenging multi-day hike.

The maps are improving with each edition, and Tim is now aided by the excellent help of the Georgia Conservancy. I guess the best testimonial for this book is that each time a new edition comes out I am forced to buy it because my copy of the previous edition is so dog-earred from over use.

Editorial Review:

Suitable for the novice and the experienced hiker alike, this comprehensive guide to north Georgia mountains is now better than ever. With the participation of the Georgia Conservancy, this book has been significantly revised, adding more than 50 new trails. Now arranged geographically and even more user-friendly, THE HIKING TRAILS OF NORTH GEORGIA features 144 hikes and offers information regarding environmental ethics, common terms and symbols, and mountain biking.

100 Hikes in Northwest Oregon & Southwest Washington, 3rd Edition (100 Hikes)

William L. Sullivan

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Take along this 13-oz. book chock-full of information! 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

This updated NW Oregon hiking guide is an ideal daypack essential for visitors and residents alike. Bill is a peripatetic author whose slide shows I attend as often as I can, and this third edition was the subject of one of those. He's a friendly and most genial speaker/writer/ hiker whose words and pictures literally 'pop' from the page and propels the casual reader to 'take a hike'. The 2nd edition was good, but this edition's colorful photos of landscapes and wildflowers, plus traveler-friendly easy-to-follow directions and (new!) campgrounds/cabins listings puts it into the 'must-have' category. As a frequent hiker on Friends of the Columbia Gorge outings, I rely on his impeccably accurate descriptions of each hike. I also recommend Timberline Press Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest plus Moon Handbooks Columbia River Gorge for things to do before and after your explorations!

Editorial Review:

This detailed guide covers the trails within a two-hour drive of the Portland / Vancouver area. Discover a new wildflower trail on the Washington side of the Columbia Gorge, hike to a native longhouse at a bird refuge, or rent a fire lookout with a view of Mt. Hood! The book features 56 best hikes for families with children, but there's a variety of tougher trails too, and lots of backpacking options. For adventurers, there's even a list of 108 more hikes. Includes 16 pages of color photos, a wildflower identification guide, as well as info on campgrounds, rentable fire lookouts, and cabins.

The Complete Book of Knots

Geoffrey Budworth

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 16 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Five stars easy 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I've owned half a dozen knot books, and this is the best of them. The problem with so many knot books is they show you step three as step one, and make you feel like an idiot because you can't even start. This one doesn't do that. It has by far the easiest instructions for a monkey's fist of any book I've seen.
I don't get the critical reviews. The author is a certified knot superstar and certainly knows his junk. He's seen the other books, and wrote this one. I think most of the criticisms fall into the "over-analyzing" category, or people who just aren't comfortable with two-thumbs-upping anything. Listen--this is a fantastic book. You want to learn knots? It'll teach you.

Decent Illustrations, Interesting Histories 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The book wasn't quite as complete as I had hoped, but the illustrations are good, and the short histories on the knots were interesting. For the price, it was a fine book. Some knots have different names and it seems that there were several repeated knots in the pages of the book. I'm sure this was because of the way the book was organized, but I would rather have had more knots than repeated ones.

Editorial Review:

A beautifully illustrated guide to knots for home and the outdoors.

Camping and Woodcraft: A Handbook for Vacation Campers and for Travelers in the Wilderness

Horace Kephart

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

The book 2 out of 5 stars.
2 of 4 people found this review helpful.

The book is really old- getting close to a century- but some of the practical advice is sound. Some of course is bereft of anything but historical value. If you want a practical guide, you can find better.

The original outdoors-man handbook 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This is a must for any library of outdoor books. It may lack a lot of modern day political correctness but, it was how it was done back then. A great look into outdoor history, this was THE handbook for outdoor wilderness skills and recreation. Any student of wilderness skills MUST have a copy.

A Classic 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

You won't find reviews of the latest or lightest gear here. The wisdom though is timeless. For years it has continually provided me a "new" way of doing something in the outdoors, by looking back on how it had been done successfully. Unless your great-grandfather was a camper and left you his memoirs, this belongs on your shelf for ready reference.

Camping and Woodcraft, Horace Kephart 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Not just one of the classics, one of the best of the classics. If you're serious about the outdoors, this should be on your bookshelf.

outdoors reference 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This is probably the most exhaustive and authoritative book on outdoor craft that I have read. Very dry and detail oriented so you have to be interested in the science for it to work. It is not extreme lke the 60/70's survivalist dogma but presented matter of fact and unpretentiously by someone who lived it. With this book you could eke out a living off the land just about anywhere. There are many books that are a better casual read. But it will be hard to beat this book for its pure reference capacity. A classic that makes a great gift to anyone who is outdoors person, wants to know more, about how and why or just curious.

Orienteering

Steve Boga

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Down to Earth, clear explanations and practical advice 5 out of 5 stars.
17 of 38 people found this review helpful.

Good from begginer to medium/advanced, this book covers the basics of navigation as well as advanced techniques, such as handrailing. There are equipment and training chapters as well, in all a comprehensive book on a great sport.

Never Get Lost Again 5 out of 5 stars.
16 of 16 people found this review helpful.

This book is a MUST for anyone who dreams of wandering off the beaten path. It teaches the skills and techniques to ensure safe travel through the woods.
It also offers racing tips to improve your time and speed.

A good book to have if you like orienteering. I recommend it to my class and my cross-country team, too.

Editorial Review:

Orienteering's unique mix of fun, fitness, mental challenge, and immersion in natural beauty make this the perfect sport for kids and adults alike. Orienteering reveals more than how to read a map and compass, it explains all the skills needed to compete in this exciting outdoor sport. With information on beginners' programs, orienteering course levels, equipment needs, and conditioning advice, as well as skills quizzes, exercises, strategy tips, this comprehensive guide is essential for orienteers of any age and skill level.

Rail-Trails New England: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island & Vermont (Rails-To-Trails Conservancy Guidebooks)

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

There are now more than 13,00 miles of open rail-trails across the country. 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

There are now more than 13,00 miles of open rail-trails across the country. The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is an organization of more than 100,000 members and a leading advocate for trail and greenway 'recycling' of obsolete railroad corridors and rights of way. The official guidebook of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, "Rail-Trails: New England" is a thoroughly 'user friendly' guide to railroad related trails in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Profusely illustrated with maps, as well as black-and-white photographs, "Rail-Trails: New England" is the perfect planning guide for biking or hiking along pathways created from unused railroad corridors that have been converted to recreational use by the public. some rail-trails are paved and run through scenic parts of New England townships, others are unpaved paths through scenic countrysides. Enhanced with detailed maps for every rail-trail (plus driving directions to trailheads), "Rail-Trails: New England" also features icons indicating each trail's use, along with succinct descriptions written by truly knowledgeable and articulate rail-trail experts. If you are planning to avail yourself of the recreational and exercise opportunities of rail-trails anywhere in the New England region, then begin with a careful browse through the pages of "Rail-Trails: New England"!

Editorial Review:

With 60 rural, suburban, and urban trails threading through 622 miles, Rail-Trails New England covers Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Many rail-trails are paved and run through the most scenic parts of town, such as the 12-mile Island Line Trail in Burlington, Vt., skirting the city's waterfront before jutting three miles out onto a lake. Some delve into the particular history of an area, like the Massachusetts' Phoenix Rail-Trail, where the first naval battle of the American Revolution was fought offshore in 1775. Others offer an escape from city life, such as the East Bay Bicycle Path, Rhode Island's first rail-trail, which runs 14 miles from Providence to Bristol and provides stunning views of Narragansett Bay. This two-color book includes succinct descriptions of each trail from start to finish, plus at-a-glance summary information indicating permitted uses, surface type, length, and directions to trailheads for each trail.