Amazon.com
Classic Hikes is a greatest hits of previous Mountaineers guidebooks for Washington, collecting in a single volume 100 hikes from the guides to the Alpine Lakes, North Cascades, Glacier Peak, Mount Rainier, and South Cascades and Olympics regions. The intelligence behind the selection comes from Ira Spring and Harvey Manning, who between them have more than 100 years of hiking experience in Washington. Owners of other Mountaineers guides will notice that the production values of this volume are even higher than usual; color maps and photos adorn high-quality (recycled) paper. At-a-glance information for easy browsing includes the following: mileage, suggested duration in hours or days, high point, elevation gain, seasonality, topo map codes, and additional contact information. The text synopses are colorful and politically opinionated (woe to the dirt biker who crosses paths with these two!). Their sense of tradition is also readily apparent: "To start with the ice cream and work through the meatballs and potatoes to the soup is not esthetic. Coming to the Enchantments by way of Aasgard is in very bad taste."
While avid hikers will have plenty to argue about concerning the sins of omission, it's hard to argue with the inclusion of Mount Rainier's Wonderland Trail, Whatcom Pass in the North Cascades, Image Lake in the Glacier Peak Wilderness, the Enchantments in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, and the Olympics' High Divide. These represent some of the most spectacular hikes in North America. The downside is that you're not likely to find solitude in such places, no matter how remote. But there are 95 more trails to choose from, many of similar scenic beauty and slightly less fame.
Book Description
Based on their more than 100 years of combined experience in Washington's backcountry, Spring and Manning have selected their favorite trails for this compendium of classic hikes. Full-color photographs throughout supplement the authors' first-hand descriptions of the trails they have hiked many times over. Featuring spectacular views, flower-filled alpine meadows, lakes and streams, ancient forests, animals and birds, and solitude, these trails will give hikers a taste of Washington's best. Infused with a strong conservation message, this guide not only introduces hikers to Washington's gems but encourages them to become active participants in an effort to preserve and, in some cases, reclaim the remaining wilderness.
Customer Reviews:
By far the best hiking book I have ever read.......2007-02-04
"Ira and Harvey," as my hiking partner and I fondly refer to the authors, are probably the best hiking writers / photographers I've ever encountered. Yes, the book is opinionated; there is no doubt about that. However, that is what makes it special. If you want a book with 1000 hikes and a short listing of facts, this book isn't for you. However, the authors have pulled together their favorite 100 hikes and feel free to tell you exactly why they think they're great. Ira (Spring) was a famous photographer in his day, and I enjoy drooling over his photos of the sites I'll see on the way to hike. We usually preface our hikes from this book by reading the hike description aloud and laughing over Manning's excesses.
My edition is one older than this listing, and in it, as another reviewer remarks, the authors do rail against motorized vehicles. Anyone who's been asphyxiated by a 4-wheeler and coughed for minutes after its departure can appreciate and agree with their rants.
In the edition I have, there is no negative mention of dogs or horses. In fact, Harvey references hikes with his dog fondly. I have noticed in later editions of Mountaineers books anti-dog writing which bothers me - a lot. However, I have never seen that in this book.
If you can only own one hiking book for Washington, this is the one. It's entertaining, informative, recommends fantastic hikes, and has great photos.
Experienced WA hiker does not recommend this book.................2004-06-09
...and recommend in its stead : Hiking Washington's Geology, ISBN: 0898865484.
I live in WA state, and have owned "100 Classic Hikes in WA" for 5 years; I repeatedly "try" to reference for new hiking ideas, but every time end up closing the book in disgust. Here is why:
1. The prose is terrible (excessively 'flowery' and overblown);
2. Non-stop negative "preaching" against the forest service, motorized vehicles, horses & dogs on the trail.
3. Hike descriptions, when not oriented on preaching, are not very descriptive of the specific features as seen on the hike.
Because of this, the valuable information, such as difficulty of hike, accesibility of trailhead, & attraction of hike (view, flowers, etc) is very hard to extract from the hike descriptions.
I consider myself an experienced outdoors-person, and hit the trails almost every weekend during good weather. Sometimes I hike with friends, sometimes I take my dog, sometimes I bring the trailer & ride with my horse, and sometimes I take a mountain bike. My point is: these men found innumerable ways to slam almost every activity I do in the mountains: according to their never-ending negativity, the only good trail is one in which only a walking human is allowed.
My recommendation to the authors is to spend less time 'educating' the public with your incredibly biased opinions and more time on the purpose of the book: educating people on the best places to go in WA for a great hike.
"Hiking WA's Geology" is a much better book, even if you are not interested in geology for the following reasons:
1. Hike descriptions are written by authors experienced in technical writing, i.e. you recieve the most amount of pertinent information in as few words as possible.
2. Many of the trails are 'off the regularly beaten path'
3. Descriptions give detailed information along each section of the hike, so the hiker knows not only the 'what & why' of what he is seeing, but also any technical challenges that might arise (paraphrased e.g.: 3 miles down the trail, the trail becomes difficult to follow, watch for campsite #22, walk to the left, find the trailhead again).
Opinionated guide but great in all respects.......2003-10-02
I have read countless hiking books but never have I encountered a preface like this book. Authors Spring and Manning spend many pages going into a diatribe about how the Forest Service has ruined many Washington trails and how ATV's and encroachment has destroyed much of the pristine beauty of the state. I agree with their comments wholeheartedly, but wonder if such "strident" opinions (to some people) are really suitable in a hiking guide. For me, the political opinions were not a distraction, but I want to mention them in case you are expecting simply a typical guidebook with no ancillary commentary.
Now, to the book itself. Washington is a magnificent and beautiful state to hike. Even without the magnificent hikes in and around the Seattle, there are plenty of other trails to explore and enjoy. This book does it all! It is an exceptionally well-designed book for hikers across the spectrum. Whether you're a neophyte or have climbed Denali, this book contains all the essential information you need to tackle the hikes listed. The photos are all in color and are breathtaking! You really get a sense of what each hike will look like before you undertake it. Every hike also has a brief map to accompany the text description. The maps are easy to follow and instructive. There are also black and white photos of each trail, with two color sections.
Equally pleasing is that the authors take the time to describe each hike in extensive detail, though they are never wordy. They list the elevation gains, give succinct but necessary directions to each trailhead and provide ample analysis of the strengths/weaknesses of each trek. The book is small and light enough to carry in your backpack, if you feel the need to consult it while on the trail.
I have over 50 hiking books in my library and it would be hard to imagine a more complete, more photographically stunning or better written guide. From desert to mountains, Washington has it all. I enthusiastically recommend this gem with the small warning about the authors injecting personal opinions about the Forest Service.
Classic = Old.......2002-07-20
My criticism of this guide applies to all of the so-called "classic" hikes series. It is difficult for me to write, because Harvey Manning was once one of the best guidebook writers on the planet, and Ira Spring's photos are awesome.
But that was then, and this is now. The books are poorly edited, inaccurately updated, sloppy attempts to sell a few more great color pictures and once-good-but-now-preachy Manning writing.
Anyone who has been on any one of the trails of this guide should be able to find at least one significant innacuracy in the description, largely because I'll bet the authors haven't hiked on some ot the trails since they wrote the first edition, almost a half-century ago.
Sadly, some of the photos in this book are in error, too - such as the photo of the "marsh marigold" on page 234, which is actually a Western anemone; or the photo of the "avalanche lily" on page 198, actually a glacier lily. Worse still is the picture on page 35, which shows campers tending a fire in an area where fires have been banned for the past 20 years.
In sum, the classic series does little to enhance the fine reputations of these two guidebook authors.
More from the masters of diatribe.......2002-05-28
Authors Spring and Manning would have done much better serving their readers with more about hikes in Washington and less with their ad nauseum opinions on the Forest Service.
Book Description
Mile-by-mile descriptions, maps, and elevation profiles for more than 100 hikes eliminate the guesswork, but not the challenge, of hiking in this mountain paradise.
Book Description
The best and most authoritative hiking guide to Washington's dramatic North Cascades, now with 16 pages of color photos.
Complete trail descriptions with maps and photos Hikes for a variety of energy and skill levels Elevation gain, estimated hiking times, and best seasons to go
Each trip profile includes driving directions and detailed trail descriptions, with data on elevation, distance, hiking times, and seasonal considerations. Includes sketch maps and photos.
Customer Reviews:
really wanted to like it.......2007-06-13
I really wanted to like this book, has maps, directions ,pics, but the book is old, and the writer is complaining too much about how bad it is in 1980! so I got out my hikes with children and gave this the heave ho.
some new writer needs to make a new one with out all the fussing.
I can't wait to explore!.......2002-03-30
I've just purchased this book and I'm more than *delighted*! The photographs are ultimately enthralling, and the narration is so honest. I work for a non-profit striving to protect more public lands in Washington permenantly as Wilderness, and books like these that reach a large public audience and tell it like it is help us along our path to success... I love to hike and I love to see the areas that I hike in stay put! It's nice to be able to see which areas are protected and which are not before even exploring on one's own. BUY IT!
the essential guide.......2000-03-25
Sure, Harvey's opinionated, but it's excellent stuff. Nice, quick background on these amazing places, why they are still wild and protected, and just enough detail to get you in and out without giving away all the surprises. The best guide out there.
100 Hikes books are essential equipment in the PacNW.......2000-02-08
The interesting thing about the 100 Hikes series is how well it integrates with Fred Beckey's books. Ira and Harvey get you to the base of the peak; Fred gets you up it. The series go hand-in-hand. Some of the most valuable information in the whole series comes in the form of the forewards and introductions. While opinionated, the views expressed are those of someone who has spent a lifetime exploring, protecting and enjoying the areas treated by the books. The route descriptions are accurate (more or less), and the small maps are clear and understandable. If you don't have this book, go get it. You would do well, in fact, to get the whole series. NOTE: hikes 10, 14, 33, 70, and 79 are awesome.
Average customer rating:
- Hikers helper-separates the chaff from the wheat
- Excellent guide and timesaver for the northern Sierra
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100 Hikes in Northern California: Covers the Coast Range and the North Coast, the Bay Area, and the Klamath, Cascade, and Sierra Nevada Mountains
John R. Soares ,
John Soares , and
Marc J. Soares
Manufacturer: Mountaineers Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0898863856 |
Customer Reviews:
Hikers helper-separates the chaff from the wheat.......1998-10-17
Details the flora and landscape of the hike; degree of difficulty of hike in a straight forward, useful manner. I have used the book for several day hikes in the Lake Tahoe and Bay Area and the book has helped make the hikes enjoyable and fun. Heed the degree of difficulty listing, they are accurate.
BUY IT and ENJOY!!!!!!!!
Excellent guide and timesaver for the northern Sierra.......1997-10-31
I had a short time to spend in the backcountry and needed some succinct guidance for choosing the best trail for my time and experience levels. The 100 Hikes guide filled the bill - got me from Reno to the Sand Ridge Trail. The trail guide and map was way ahead of the material I picked up at the Forest Service Ranger station and I had a great two nights on trails that were just right for the equipment I had with me. Well written, guide from guys who've obviously been there on the ground. I'd even buy the book someday if the library copy is checked out next time I'm heading for northern California. Dick Williams 10-30-97
Amazon.com
Opinionated, indeed! But with so many breathtaking hikes in Washington State's North Cascades, it's a pleasure to find a guidebook that attempts to separate the magnificent from the merely splendid. With craggy, glacier-clad peaks, magnificent ancient forest, and towering volcanoes, this remote region offers outdoors enthusiasts a seemingly endless variety of hiking and backpacking options. Many hikers consider the North Cascades--also known as the American Alps--the jewels of North America's mountain ranges. Don't Waste Your Time in the North Cascades rates the best trails for experiencing such a diverse wilderness--and also mentions which trails to veer away from at all costs. Occasionally the book's tone can be grumbling, but the authors are trying to do hikers a service; when it comes to crowded trails and uninspired treks, a little grumbling is OK if it serves as ample warning.
Customer Reviews:
Right on the Money.......2007-08-11
I have used many, many guide books for hiking in various regions. I loved this book about the north cascades better than any I have used. The authors rating system was right on the money. We did four of the hikes listed as premier and they delivered everything promised. If I was going to spend more time in the north cascades, I would use this book exclusively. I particularly found this author's reviews of the hikes we did to be much more useful than the other guides published and available through Amazon. This author is honest in every way. I wanted to send a thank you note, given our marvelous experience, but I figured that this review was worth even more.
Temporary North Cascadian.......2007-05-17
With limited time to explore the North Cascades I needed some guidance. I own this book, as well as what I suspect is the most popular hiking book for this area - 100 Hikes in the North Cascades. Though that book does provide color pictures, better maps, and some other features missing from Don't Waste Your Time, it just can't compare. If I only had that book, I would be left scratching my head on a sunny summer day, wondering where to head to. Instead, I strike out with confidence knowing that each "Premier" or "Outstanding" hike will leave me with stunning images etched into my memory for a lifetime.
Don't Waste Your Time In The North Cascades has been priceless in my opinion. I've set a goal to do all the "Premier" dayhikes and haven't been disappointed yet. What's more, the introduction to each hike is written so well that anytime I started getting cabin fever during the winter I'd pull out this book and read some hike reviews. It always left me excited for the coming good weather and marvelous hikes. The lack of good maps hasn't been a problem, as their written instructions have always gotten me to the viewpoint without getting lost. I love the fact that the book has a shoulder season section, and am using that section a lot right now as I wait for the high viewpoints to melt out. This book really combines the best of three guidebooks into one, with it's dayhiking, backpacking, and shoulder season sections.
Overall, I feel like this book along with adopting a dog are the best investments I've made since moving to the North Cascades.
Fantastic guidebook.......2006-07-01
The Don't Waste Your time series of guide books is incredible. After an awesome trip to the North Cascades, I trusted Kathy & Craig with my next vacation, and chose to go to the Canadian Rockies.
With the help of this book, I had little trouble getting to as many fantastic places as I could in my time up in the North Cascades. You could choose another book, but why waste the time when these guys have done all the grunt work for you! Besides, the books are fun to read and give you an awesome idea of what to expect.
Trust me, any hike rated 5 boots is going to amaze you...
Only gripe on the book is the lack of color pictures in this edition. Otherwise it'd be 5 stars.
I wish more trail guides followed this model.......2005-11-04
Your reaction to this book will depend upon what you're looking for in a trail guide.
The descriptions are definitely opinionated and the prose can sometimes be overwrought; but the Copelands are up-front about their biases and how they're making their judgments. When time is limited, I find it incredibly valuable to have a set of opinions about which hikes to think about doing.
It's definitely not your standard "just the facts" trail guide, but I wouldn't want it any other way. There are too many trail guides that only list driving directions and a factual trail description, with no way to discern what makes a hike special.
One shortcoming to note: there are not even rudimentary maps, just references to the appropriate topo. Personally I feel that the honest opinions on which hikes are truly stellar--and why--more than make up for this lack.
Great Book!.......2005-09-07
I loved this book. It has all the nitty-gritty instructions for finding the trail heads and what to expect enroute. It is opionated and that is very helpful in deciding on an itinerary. Day-hikes and backpacking trips are separately listed and individually rated. Just an excellent source of information.
Book Description
This guidebook describes more than 200 waterfalls in New England, along with instructions on how to reach them.
This guidebook to waterfalls across New England offers rewarding outings for families and individuals alike. More than 200 waterfalls are described according to location, trail length and difficulty, waterfall type, height, water source, and when to visit. Each description includes driving directions and comprehensive hiking instructions to reach the falls. Also included are the history, legend, and lore surrounding the waterfalls.
Waterfalls throughout New England are described, with specific emphasis on:
• The Berkshires of Massachusetts
• The White Mountains of New Hampshire
• The Green Mountains of Vermont
• Baxter State Park in Maine
Excursions range from quick roadside walks to 16-mile overnight trips. The authors also provide information on where to find swimming holes, and tips on waterfall photography. 60 black & white photographs, 15 maps, index.
Customer Reviews:
Useful book.......2003-12-02
I like waterfalls. I don't know why. I just do. So I liked this book as I found a bunch of them I had no idea exsisted. A great guide to this part of the country.
A good start to waterfall nirvana.......2003-11-08
I used this guide extensively on a recent trip to New England. While it has a good deal of information in it, the guide could be greatly improved by changing a few things.
The organization of the book could be improved by using a sequential numbering scheme to identify waterfalls that are close to one another rather than the current scheme of numbering them alphabetically. Because of the current method, it necessitates a lot of flipping between huge ranges of pages to decide which waterfall to visit in even a very small area.
The guide includes photos for a large number of waterfalls, but it doesn't include photos for all of them. I found several highly ranked waterfalls that were missing photos, but some waterfalls which were ranked much lower did include photos. The best solution would be to include photos for all the waterfalls included in the book.
I appreciate the effort given by the authors to include driving directions because I wouldn't have been able to find most of the waterfalls without them. Unfortunately I found that there were times when the directions are confusing & there are also errors in some of the directions. In addition, directions are written less clearly than they could possibly be.
One final suggestion would be to include the best time to view each waterfall and which direction does each waterfall face. Some of them have eastern exposure so they would be best in the early morning. Others have western exposure and would be best in the late afternoon. A choice few are situated perfectly enough to have southern exposure and they are good all day long. For the photographers in the crowd it would be great to find this final bit of info in the guide.
Overall the book makes a good start to what could be the ultimate New England Waterfall guide.
Don't leave this book behind when you hunt waterfalls!.......2003-08-05
Quite simply, this is the quintessential reference to waterfalls in New England. The guide provides a rating, description, detailed driving directions, and advice on the hike (if applicable) to 200 different waterfalls in Conneticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and the 1 waterfall in Rhode Island.
Having used the book to visit a few waterfalls, I can attest that the directions are fairly accurate, and that I went to waterfalls I simply could not have found any other way. The state maps at the beginning of each section make it easy to plan trips that visit lots of waterfalls, or to "check" to see if you're going to pass one on your road trip.
I look forward to using this reference for years to come. I thought the ratings were fair, the information accurate, and it was all presented in a useful and readable format.
Customer Reviews:
Classic from the old man of the mountains.......2004-09-29
When my grandfather died and we were going through his books I came across this gem. Beckey has first ascents on more than half of all the peaks in the Cascades. He owns the mountains. This is his poem to his love. I had long valued Fred Beckey's extensive guide books to the Cascades, but had never read any of mountain narratives. What a treat this was! I also highly recommend his book on McKinley.
I've read scores of mountaineering books, but this one I rank as one of the very best. Beckey tromps across the mountains of Washington state as a young man in the early days of mountaineering with joie de vivre. In one exuberant push he and a companion set out to hike and bag whatever peaks in between from what is now I-90 to Highway 2. A week later they emerged on the highway and hitched back to Seattle.
I hope you find as much pleasure in this overlooked classic as I have.
Average customer rating:
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Hiking the North Cascades
Fred T. Darvill
Manufacturer: Stackpole Books
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Similar Items:
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100 Classic Hikes in Washington: North Cascades, Olympics, Mount Rainer & South Cascades, Alpine Lakes, Glacier Peak (100 Best Hikes)
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Hiking the North Cascades
ASIN: 0811727912 |
Book Description
& 20 b/w photos & 30 drawings & 5 x 8. Natural history and scenic attractions of the "Wilderness Alps".& Expert information on preparations, safety, and hiking regulations & Detailed area maps for each section of North Cascades Park The North Cascades National Park, a 684,000-acre region between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia, offers an extraordinary opportunity for wilderness exploration. Drawing on more than forty years of hiking and research in these mountains, author Fred Darvill, Jr., presents a comprehensive listing of the 100 best hiking trails in the park, including walking times, elevations, altitude, difficulty, and map references for each hike. He also describes in detail the plants, animals, and landforms. Special attention is given to the history and ecology of the park and how hikers can help in its preservation. Dr. Fred Darvill, Jr. was instrumental in creating North Cascades National Park and is a tireless activist for its protection. He lives in Mount Vernon, Washington.
Customer Reviews:
Best Short Hikes in Washington's North Cascades and San Juan Islands (Best Short Hikes) .......2007-09-19
We've used this for a few years, but packed it away somewhere. Couldn't wait for it to show up so got a second copy. We use it every time we hike. Highly recommend it. First book you look at when you want to get your boots on the trail.
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