Book Description
One of the most extraordinary survival stories ever told -- Aron Ralston's searing account of his six days trapped in one of the most remote spots in America, and how one inspired act of bravery brought him home.
It started out as a simple hike in the Utah canyonlands on a warm Saturday afternoon. For Aron Ralston, a twenty-seven-year-old mountaineer and outdoorsman, a walk into the remote Blue John Canyon was a chance to get a break from a winter of solo climbing Colorado's highest and toughest peaks. He'd earned this weekend vacation, and though he met two charming women along the way, by early afternoon he finally found himself in his element: alone, with just the beauty of the natural world all around him.
It was 2:41 P.M. Eight miles from his truck, in a deep and narrow slot canyon, Aron was climbing down off a wedged boulder when the rock suddenly, and terrifyingly, came loose. Before he could get out of the way, the falling stone pinned his right hand and wrist against the canyon wall.
And so began six days of hell for Aron Ralston. With scant water and little food, no jacket for the painfully cold nights, and the terrible knowledge that he'd told no one where he was headed, he found himself facing a lingering death -- trapped by an 800-pound boulder 100 feet down in the bottom of a canyon. As he eliminated his escape options one by one through the days, Aron faced the full horror of his predicament: By the time any possible search and rescue effort would begin, he'd most probably have died of dehydration, if a flash flood didn't drown him before that.
What does one do in the face of almost certain death? Using the video camera from his pack, Aron began recording his grateful good-byes to his family and friends all over the country, thinking back over a life filled with adventure, and documenting a last will and testament with the hope that someone would find it. (For their part, his family and friends had instigated a major search for Aron, the amazing details of which are also documented here for the first time.) The knowledge of their love kept Aron Ralston alive, until a divine inspiration on Thursday morning solved the riddle of the boulder. Aron then committed the most extreme act imaginable to save himself.
Between a Rock and a Hard Place -- a brilliantly written, funny, honest, inspiring, and downright astonishing report from the line where death meets life -- will surely take its place in the annals of classic adventure stories.
Download Description
"One of the most extraordinary survival stories ever told -- Aron Ralston's searing account of his six days trapped in one of the most remote spots in America, and how one inspired act of bravery brought him home. It started out as a simple hike in the Utah canyonlands on a warm Saturday afternoon. For Aron Ralston, a twenty-seven-year-old mountaineer and outdoorsman, a walk into the remote Blue John Canyon was a chance to get a break from a winter of solo climbing Colorado's highest and toughest peaks. He'd earned this weekend vacation, and though he met two charming women along the way, by early afternoon he finally found himself in his element: alone, with just the beauty of the natural world all around him. It was 2:41 P.M. Eight miles from his truck, in a deep and narrow slot canyon, Aron was climbing down off a wedged boulder when the rock suddenly, and terrifyingly, came loose. Before he could get out of the way, the falling stone pinned his right hand and wrist against the canyon wall. And so began six days of hell for Aron Ralston. With scant water and little food, no jacket for the painfully cold nights, and the terrible knowledge that he'd told no one where he was headed, he found himself facing a lingering death -- trapped by an 800-pound boulder 100 feet down in the bottom of a canyon. As he eliminated his escape options one by one through the days, Aron faced the full horror of his predicament: By the time any possible search and rescue effort would begin, he'd most probably have died of dehydration, if a flash flood didn't drown him before that. What does one do in the face of almost certain death? Using the video camera from his pack, Aron began recording his grateful good-byes to his family and friends all over the country, thinking back over a life filled with adventure, and documenting a last will and testament with the hope that someone would find it. (For their part, his family and friends had instigated a major search for Aron, the amazing details of which are also documented here for the first time.) The knowledge of their love kept Aron Ralston alive, until a divine inspiration on Thursday morning solved the riddle of the boulder. Aron then committed the most extreme act imaginable to save himself. Between a Rock and a Hard Place -- a brilliantly written, funny, honest, inspiring, and downright astonishing report from the line where death meets life -- will surely take its place in the annals of classic adventure stories. "
Customer Reviews:
Great Adventure.......2007-10-12
I really like this book, and the story is amazing, moving, and inspiring. I think some people are "reviewing" him as a person, instead of the book. I do think he was a bit irresponsible, but he was also young and an adventurer, without much fear. That's the way he lived. He admits most of that. The story is still great, and i think well-written. I did get bored with some stories of the past adventures, but i think if you're into reading about such things, you will like it. I read over those parts a little quicker, but on a whole, i loved the book, and thought he did a great job, and made some good, moving points.
Digressions Reveal Character.......2007-10-10
While many reviewers are frustrated with the many digressions throughout Aron's work, his discourse on past adventures and history reveal an unsettling mass of information about Aron's character: Aron lacks remorse and takes pride in his recklessness as an adventurer, without respect and humility for the wilderness around him.
Adventurers should have a healthy level of respect for mother nature. The situations in which we willingly place ourselves can be termed by outsiders to be reckless; however, for most adventurers, that is not the case. We go into the situations knowing full well the risks and uncertainty and make prudent decisions.
Aron exhibits none of these characteristics and as he reflects on his past adventures through the book, he notes how this disposition greatly increases the risk to him and those around him. In one story in particular, Aron points out that his disregard for volatile situations nearly cost the lives of those with him and subsequently cost him the relationships he had with them. And most dissappointing about it is that he shows no remorse for that choice.
The book was interesting to read, but I can't tell you how many times it raised my blood pressure. What Aron did by cutting off his arm was astonishing; more astonishing is the fact that it doesn't seem to have matured him in the least.
I have mixed feelings on this one.......2007-09-15
Aron is either very brave or irresponsible, possibly a little of both.
I give this man points for bravery and his thirst for the outdoors, but I found myself shaking my head and rolling my eyes about the things he did.
The book starts out with him stuck in the rock quite early in the book, but after the 2nd or 3rd chapter, he alternates every other chapter to his Present Stuck situation and his stories of hiking around the great outdoors.
I found myself needing to get to the end of the book so i can read about him hacking his right arm off, so the book had me wanting to keep reading. For that it was a good read.
Lessons of Aron: Don't "SHOO" off a bear, don't bring your friends skiing into a Potential Avalanche zone, and never go hiking with out telling friends and family where you are or leaving a map or note at your bike or truck so they can find you.
Oh, I almost forgot, you can drink your own urine for up to 3 days in the wild apparently...haha
I recommend this book, but barely.
Somewhat Boring .......2007-08-31
Throughout the writing, Aron Ralston constantly strays from the actual plot. The book has constant flashbacks to his past adventures become monotonous after the first few chapters. The main storyline of is entrapment was very interesting. The fact that he was able to survive for so long in the Moab desert is nothing short of a miracle. All in all I enjoyed the book, despite some boring chapters that strayed from the point.
Wasted Opportunity.......2007-07-12
The story seems compelling: an unfortunate hiker has his arm pinned by a boulder and must cut off his own arm to rescue himself. It is a terrible thing for anybody to lose part of a limb (indeed, ask any of the many Iraq War casualties), and we like to look for some positive outcome from such a loss. I read this book because I was curious what changes such an experience would cause in one's approach to life. I was left disappointed and angry.
Aron Ralston survived what should have been a life-changing experience, yet came away from it the same arrogant, self-centered boy as before. The reader hopes and prays that the tiresome egotism of the early chapters is simply a literary device, designed to set the stage for Ralston's transformation. Instead, the egotism remains the constant in his life, both before and after his accident.
Although Ralston claims to have had a revelation while pinned behind a boulder -- finally understanding it is not what you have done, but how you have lived -- this revelation is discarded the moment he survives. Once healthy again, Ralston returns to stupid, dangerous activities (e.g., solo winter ascents) with no consideration for those he loves. He has learned nothing. He was given the opportunity to make a major change in his life. He ignored the chance to mature and act responsibly, and returned to reckless behavior that only puts his family and friends at risk of heart ache.
Ralston begins his story by documenting his many stupid mistakes that almost cost him his life. He makes winter ascents of Colorado peaks without spare outer gloves. He pushes himself to the point of hallucinating, putting himself and his partner at risk. He goes solo canyoneering and mountain biking without a first aid kit. He ignores advice of a park ranger and goes hiking in inappropropriate snow conditions, and almost is attacked by a bear. He puts himself and friends at risk skiing in areas with a high risk of avalanche. Despite his supposed training in search and rescue, his ignores the first rule (always let somebody know where you are going and when you should be back). Yet, Ralston seems baffled when his mother doesn't want to hear the details of his latest in a long series of scrapes with death. Perhaps she cares about him. Perhaps she wonders why he insists on always doing things the dangerous way. Perhaps she wonders how he can do these things to her.
There are many ways to immerse one self in the great outdoors, and there are many ways to test one self. Many a young person has thought that placing themselves in life-threatening situations is the ultimate test. Luckily, most of us outgrow this stage. We start to recognize the value of life. We start to recognize the devastation that our deaths would have on our family and friends. We mature.
There are many, many skilled mountaineers in Colorado. Many have the requisite skills to complete solo winter ascents, but most forego the activity because it is stupid. There are too many variables, and the odds of dying are too high. Ralston fancies himself a Super Man because he is dumb enough to go on winter solo ascents. Despite repeated narrow escapes, it never occurs to Ralston that he is being cavalier with his life, the lives of his friends, and the emotions of his family and friends.
The baffling thing about Ralston's history is that he never matured. He had plenty of occasions for reflection, and he had friends endeavoring to change his perspective. Yet, he continued on his own little self-centered journey. He wanted to be bigger than life, no matter what the cost.
Indeed, the bizarre thoroughness of his photo-documentation of his struggle attests to his dreams of grandeur. If he lived, he was going to be famous. If he died, he was going to be a legend. Ralston would have us believe that he was fighting for his life on the hike out, yet he never even considered leaving behind his video camera and digital still camera.
At some point in Ralston's effort to show that he was the prime mover in the many good times with his friends, he recounts making fun of 1980s music. I found this ironic, in that Ralston is the embodiment of the 1980s Me Generation. It is all about Aron, without any consideration for anybody else.
Do not buy this book. To do so is to encourage a reprehensible approach to life. To do so is to reward a selfish little child. To do so is to buy into a false hero. To do so is to support the extreme of self-centeredness. To do so is to cast a foreseeable event (based on poor preparation and a belief of invincibility) as an unavoidable accident. Do not buy this book.
Mr. Ralston was given an opportunity to see the light and to mature, but squandered that chance in exchange for celebrity. If he continues with his solo winter climbing, I fear that he will eventually pay the ultimate price for his contorted self-image and lack of judgment.
Book Description
Contains detailed descriptions of the jeep roads and hiking trails in Utah's largest national park, including instructions on how to find the park's indian ruins, cowboy cabins, and other points of interest. This book is profusely illustrated with 240 color and black & white photographs and 59 detailed trail maps. It also contains a primer on the park's geology.
Customer Reviews:
indispensable!.......2007-05-24
The official NPS maps and guide-books are very lame, mostly because of the fear that ancient ruins and art could be vandalized. This book is therefore indispensable to a truly fulfilling visit to Canyonlands. The maps and directions are perfect--just enough detail to be clear and to keep you from getting lost, but they don't deprive you of feeling like you're actually doing some exploring and route-finding.
Canyonlands Bible.......2007-05-19
This is really the only good guide book I have found on Canyonlands National Park. It describes in great detail many trails that arn't even mentioned in the Falcon Guide. It also has a great color section, and its maps are much better than the other books. For some reason the Nat. Park Visitor Centers don't sell this book (maybe it has too much info about things they want to keep secret?), so you better get it before you start your trip!
This book is fantastic!.......2005-04-22
Canyonlands is a wild and wonderful place to explore. I would have been lost without this book. I was able to decide ahead of time what areas of the park I wanted to spend the most time in by reading the detailed descriptions of jeep roads and trails. The beautiful color photographs helped me make decisions as well. I found the maps to be extremely helpful and the estimated travel times to be very accurate. David Day knows his stuff!
Something new in Hiking Books.......2004-09-08
This is a Great book for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. By including a focus on the jeep roads of the Canyonlands area David Day has provided the hiker with information necessary for access to its fantastic hiking trails. The format is similar to his other hiking books. The maps and trail descriptions and commentary are not only helpful but very interesting. The photography is great. I particularly enjoyed the section of color photos I like his trail overview which includes a rating of his enjoyment of the trail.
I've made a couple of the hikes he writes up and with the help of his book I will be doing more.
Book Description
This comprehensive guide presents, in words and photographs, the very best hiking opportunities Utah has to offer. Some of the trails wind through deep redrock canyons, while others climb lofty snow-covered peaks. Visit a 700-year-old Anasazi cliff dwelling on the Colorado Plateau or discover a pristine alpine lake in the Uinta Mountains. About half of the hikes can be completed in one day, but many take more time-they range in length from 4.5 miles to 33.5 miles. Over 250 color and black & white photographs and 80 detailed trail maps are included to help you choose the adventure that is right for you!
Customer Reviews:
Utah's Favorite Hiking Trails.......2006-07-04
This book is a fabulous review of Utah's excellent hiking opportunities. It is informative and stimulating!
Bad Maps.......2005-08-30
I've used this book extensively for climbing Utah trails. Though the book contains rich content, I would have expected it to include more information about alternative routes. For example, it only includes information on one (the longest) route up Mt. Nebo.
Secondly, the maps are inaccurate. I'm a seasoned climber and found the maps for Nebo and Kings Peak to not be accurate and not drawn to scale. We ended up getting lost on Kings as a result of using his maps.
Overall, the book is pretty good and perhaps the best available on the market. However, the map accuracy leaves a lot to be desired.
This book has it all..........2002-10-10
great descriptions of the hike, recommendations on best seasons, really good maps, wonderful colour photographs, comprehensive driving directions and easy USGS quad map referenes - could it even be better than the incredible California Hiking? I bought Canyoneering the San Rafael Swell as well, and am sending it back because this book covers what I need in a much easier to read style - and is less likely to get me killed en route while rock climbing without a belay. Highly recommended.
WHO KNEW!.......2002-01-27
Who knew there were so many great hikes local to the Wasatch Front? And it gets better than that, this book has a hike for every season and every day of the year. From easy to difficult, senic to exercisic, you'll never get bored in Utah again. This book offers some of the tradional hikes Utah is know for plus many hidden treasures. At first I was a bit overwhelmed and didn't know where to start. There were so many interesting sites I wanted to do them all. Having done quite a few now I can't wait to do more. And you'll never get tired of the views, you can do your favorites hikes again and again, try one in summer and in winter. The book als has great descriptions of the plants and animals native to the area. So take it along and lean about your suroundings in a quite medow or under a shade tree. A must for the hiking enthusiest!
A wealth of valuable information.......1999-10-17
Anyone intending to do any amount of hiking in Utah, whether it be for a day or an overnight trip, will find David Days' "Utah's Favorite Hiking Trails" an invaluable source of information! The layout and design of the book aids in pre-trip planning. Included are detailed trail maps for each hike, an extensive index, a rating of each hike by the author and a clear and definitive description of the route of the trail. Along with the maps and numerous black and white pictures, the author includes two multi-page groups of color photographs of the areas listed in the Guide. My wife and I found these to be very motivational and inspiring and are looking forward to our return trip to Utah to visit many of the areas Mr. Day lists in his book. I have seen and used many trail guides over the years and find "Utah's Favorite Hiking Trails" to be among the best and would highly recommend it to anyone planning a trip to Utah.
Average customer rating:
- Good but not great
- Very Good Hiking Guide
- 50 BEST SHORT HIKES IN UTAH'S NATIONAL PARKS
- 50 Best Short Hikes in Utah's National Parks
|
50 Best Short Hikes in Utah's National Parks: Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands (50 Best Short Hikes)
Ron Adkison
Manufacturer: Wilderness Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| Excursion Guides
| Hiking & Camping
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
Utah
| United States
| Excursion Guides
| Hiking & Camping
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
Mountain
| West
| Regions
| United States
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Utah
| States
| United States
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
Bryce Canyon & Zion National Parks
| Utah
| States
| United States
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Outdoors & Nature Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Look Inside Sports Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Look Inside Travel Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Utah's National Parks: Hiking, Camping, and Vacationing in Utah's Canyon Country : Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands
-
Hiking Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks, 2nd (Regional Hiking Series)
-
Lonely Planet Zion & Bryce Canyon: National Parks (Lonely Planet Travel Guides)
-
Frommer's Zion & Bryce Canyon National Parks (Park Guides)
-
Scenic Driving Utah, 2nd (Scenic Driving Series)
Accessories:
-
Rayovac SPHLTLED 3-in-1 LED Head-Lite
ASIN: 0899972608 |
Customer Reviews:
Good but not great.......2007-05-07
I bought this book because I was looking for short hikes for our family with elementary-aged children in all the titled Utah Nat'l parks. It does do a good job of describing the hikes in very great detail, how to get to the trail head, etc. Each hike is rated according to it's difficulty and child-friendliness and length of time to complete. This is all very good and helpful. However, I discovered after the fact that most of this same information is available on the National Park Service website and the brochure available for free at the visitor center, including some that aren't in the book.
Very Good Hiking Guide.......2007-03-13
I purchased this book prior to a trip to Zion and Bryce National Parks. I've read a number of hiking guides before and found this one particularly helpful. The author gives excellent details both on the difficulty of the hike and what you can expect to see. After hiking most of the trails in both parks, I can vouch for the accuracy of the guide and found the information very useful.
The sole drawback is the lack of color photos which would add far more impact to these descriptions. This is a common failing of this type of book but it a shortcoming even so.
50 BEST SHORT HIKES IN UTAH'S NATIONAL PARKS.......2007-03-05
There is so much information you'll need for day hiking in Utah's National Parks.It tells you what the best seasons are for the hikes,distances,elevation gains,difficulty ratings and average hiking times.It's a fun,well organized,easy to read book with lots of nice pictures and maps.It's a great book and for a great price!!!One of the best!!!
50 Best Short Hikes in Utah's National Parks.......2005-09-24
Great book!! Had excellant descriptions, difficult ratings and pertinent info. A must for hiking in Utah's National Parks
Average customer rating:
- Good History, Poor Logistics
- Hike the Utah Peeks!
|
Hiking Utah's Summits
Tom Wharton
Manufacturer: Falcon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Excursion Guides
| Hiking & Camping
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
Utah
| United States
| Excursion Guides
| Hiking & Camping
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
Mountain
| West
| Regions
| United States
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Utah
| States
| United States
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
North America
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
Mountain Climbing
| Mountaineering
| Sports
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Sports
| Subjects
| Books
Utah
| State & Local
| United States
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Outdoors & Nature Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Look Inside Sports Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Look Inside Travel Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
High In Utah
-
Utah Thirteeners
-
Hiking the Wasatch
ASIN: 1560445882 |
Book Description
The descriptions include not only information on the difficulty of each hike and how to reach the summit, but also how each peak was named, its geology, and its human history.
Customer Reviews:
Good History, Poor Logistics.......2002-08-21
I've just moved to Utah and on the drive into the state I purchased this book at a visitors center. I couldn't think of a better way to explore my new state than while hiking to the highest summit of each of it's counties. Huff and Wharton do an excellent job of weaving stories into an informative guidebook. There area history section has greatly added to the value of the book, and has helped me learn plenty about the state of Utah. My biggest complaint is that the distances stated in the book are often grossly erroneous. For example, the Bridger Peak distances are off by ~50%. You'd think distances would be double checked before going to print, but these apparently were not.
Hike the Utah Peeks!.......2000-06-10
A great book that is well written and easy to follow. Ms. Huff's articles are a definite bonus! She normally gives a general history of the area in which the peek resides. She goes "above and beyond" by interviewing inhabitants of the area/county and gets his/her view of the area's historical significance. In some articles, she even discusses how each peek or mountain range was formed geologically. The maps are ideal as are the accurate distances to different landmarks. This book is a must for any reader/hiker/outdoor enthusiast who wants hike Utah's highest peeks by county!
Average customer rating:
- Good, but trying to cover too many areas
- book for foreigners
- Hikes for evey level of experience
- Wow- Beg, steal or borrow another guidebook
- Ron Atkinson's Hiking Guide to Utah's Canyon Country
|
Utah's National Parks: Hiking, Camping, and Vacationing in Utah's Canyon Country : Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands
Ron Adkison
Manufacturer: Wilderness Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Utah
| United States
| Excursion Guides
| Hiking & Camping
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
Parks & Campgrounds
| Food & Lodging
| Reference & Tips
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
Mountain
| West
| Regions
| United States
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Utah
| States
| United States
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
Bryce Canyon & Zion National Parks
| Utah
| States
| United States
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Adventure
| Specialty Travel
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
North America
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Sports
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Outdoors & Nature Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Look Inside Sports Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Look Inside Travel Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
50 Best Short Hikes in Utah's National Parks: Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands (50 Best Short Hikes)
-
Utah Atlas & Gazetteer
-
Hiking Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks, 2nd (Regional Hiking Series)
-
Frommer's Utah (Frommer's Complete)
-
Lonely Planet Zion & Bryce Canyon: National Parks (Lonely Planet Travel Guides)
ASIN: 089997242X |
Amazon.com
If you are planning a tour of Utah's national parks, this guide should prove handy if not essential. It includes easy strolls and multiday backbreakers for Bryce, Capital Reef, Arches, Canyonlands, and Zion. In all, it describes 123 hikes in a user-friendly format. Easy-to-read info blips provide data for hike distances, elevations, difficulty ratings, hazards, and in-seasons. Each hike also includes an ample route description and a few tips thrown in for good measure.
Book Description
Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands offer remote and unspoiled wilderness and perhaps the finest backcountry recreation in the nation. Detailed descriptions of 125 hikes, ranging from brief strolls to demanding, cross-country backpack treks. All are shown on topographic route maps.
Customer Reviews:
Good, but trying to cover too many areas.......2007-01-30
This was a decent guide book, but it really tried to cover too many parks at once. It seems like it covers more family type day hikes and not a lot of backcountry and backpacking trails. We used it to plan hikes in Zion National park and Canyonlands - Needles District. The book recommended a hike in Canyonlands National park that did turn out to be awesome (Chesler Park/Elephant Canyon to Druid Arch).
We also used it to plan a hike to the Subway in Zion. In this case, I wish it had given more detail, as we ended up a little over our heads on this hike. The water was a LOT higher than we expected based on the pics we had seen and information we had. Apparently, the water levels tend to be higher in April due to snow runoff. If the book had given more information, we probably would have never attempted the hike at that time of year to begin with. Oh well, I guess you live and learn, right?
In conclusion, I would recommend this to anyone who is planning to visit one or more of the parks for a short period and wants to hit the hightlights. If you want a more in depth hiking trip to one of the parks, I would recommend getting a more detailed guide book specific to that park.
book for foreigners.......2006-02-28
This book is very usefull for a foreigner travelling throughout USA especially as it's almost impossible to find such a book (in France) that focuses on one US state.
The book contains detailed informations concerning Utah's National Parks. Hikers should appreciate it.
I recommand it with pleasure.
Hikes for evey level of experience.......2002-05-28
We have just returned from hiking & camping in Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches And Canyonlands (Island in the Sky area), and found this book to be one of the best of any guide book we have used (over 30 years of hiking). The hike descriptions were so interesting I read them again after doing the hike! The description of how one gets to the trailhead in in a separate section titled "driving to the trailheads", which may cause problems for individuals who don't read scan through the chapters first before deciding on a hike. We found the descriptions of the trees and plantlife on each trail very useful and I would not hesitate to buy another of Ron Atkinson's guide books, they are obviously very well researched.
Wow- Beg, steal or borrow another guidebook.......2001-05-22
Just back from a 9 day backpacking trip in Utah, using both this book and Adkison's book on Escalante. It left me with poor trail descriptions, (scarily) poor or wholly incorrect maps, and an "interesting" (read: madman-style insane) style of giving directions to trailheads. I am by no means new to the outdoors, nor to getting to remote trailheads, routefinding, etc; I can say with a degree of confidence that this is the poorest guidebook I have ever purchased. The second star is given for his "reccomended" hikes, which were, on the whole, generally right on.
Ron Atkinson's Hiking Guide to Utah's Canyon Country.......2000-05-16
Many people think that the best way to experience the unique landscapes of canyon lands parks is to drive through them. But you will have no sense of these places unless you get out of your car and take a walk. You don't have to be a backpacker to experience these places on foot. This is a great book for learning about the opportunities for short, medium and long hikes and for finding the hike that is best for you and your physical condition in Utah's great canyon country parks.
Book Description
The Glen Canyon region of southern Utah is a desert paradise of mesas, buttes, slickrock canyons, and boundless solitude. Much of the region is roadless, and the best way to explore this wilderness is to hike it. In Hiking Grand Staircase-Escalante and the Glen Canyon Region, you will find 59 detailed hike descriptions covering hundreds of miles of trails and canyoneering routes in this vast region. Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Grand Gulch, Dark Canyon, Natural Bridges National Monument, and Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness are all included. This book provides detailed maps and tips on desert safety, coping with heat and dehydration, backcountry travel, driving remote desert roads, trailhead access and services. Whether you're a casual day hiker or a seasoned trekker, use Hiking Grand Staircase-Escalante and the Glen Canyon Region to lead you on a journey through the incredible beauty of this landscape.
Customer Reviews:
Maps need improvement, but book is fine.......2007-10-14
We used Hiking Grand Staircase-Escalante and the Glen Canyon Region for several hikes this summer and, despite some shortcomings, I would recommend it.
The trail descriptions are pretty realistic and give a good idea of what to expect on the hike. Based on these descriptions we picked our hikes and were never disappointed. The book describes the general character of the terrain, what you can expect to see, how difficult the hike is likely to be, etc., followed by a decent trail description.
Where the book needs improvement are the maps. The maps are OK to get a general idea, but NOT A SUBSTITUTE for proper planning of your trip. First they are a bit simplified (which is OK), second they are sometimes wrong (which can get you into trouble). The map for the Boulder Mail Trail, for example, has an incorrect scale bar which makes the hike appear much shorter than it really is (the text gives the correct information).
However, using this book as the sole information for your hike is not the smartest thing to begin with. In combination with the deLorme (or Benchmark) Utah Atlas and Gazetteer and a series of large scale topographic maps (USGS, Trails Illustrated) we never had any issues finding the trailhead or loosing the trail. So, consider this and similar books as a source of ideas, but do your homework, get the right maps etc. and you'll be fine.
Needs better maps.......2005-06-27
On trying to follow the guide to one of the hikes, the Yellow Rock/Box of Paria River, we were fortunate to meet a BLM ranger as we were about to set out. It became clear that we weren't where we thought we were, and had we continued on, would have entered a confusing and unmarked maze of canyons instead of the entrance to the Box. This is the fault of this book - the maps are poorly labeled and confusing, and the directions (which usually start out by referring you back to some other hike, a poor strategy for a guide book) were, in this instance, just plain wrong, giving incorrect mileage to the point where we should have been. The two locator maps at the front of the book are especially bad, the first oriented perpendicular to the other covering the east part of the region, the second one showing the western part. They should be combined into one map across both pages, show the monument and park boundaries and have some kind of legend, along with better labels.
What we ended up using as a reference for the rest of the trip, on which we did four hikes, was, in fact, a place mat from a breakfast place in Escalante, which turned out to be much better organized, concise and accurate. On the front is an easy-to-understand map, clearly labeled, and on the back are brief descriptions of the principal backroads and the hikes along each one. This handy little sheet is actually easily found in most businesses in the area, for free.
Of course, a restaurant placemat doesn't give the level of detail contained in Mr. Adkison's book, which has several useful features, including good categorical summaries for each hike such as elevation gain and loss (including a line graph depicting this), difficulty ratings, hiking time, etc. It was inaccurate in one of those categories for the Yellow Rock hike, stating that no permit was required; the ranger corrected us on this count as well.
If this book were reorganized in the same manner as the place mat, with the good map of the back roads - there are several key ones: The Burr Trail, Hell's Backbone, and Cottonwood Canyon - and then listed the hikes attainable from each one, then it would be a lot more useful.
Average customer rating:
- How many mistakes can occur in one book?!?!?
|
Hiking Canyonlands and Arches National Parks, 2nd (Hiking Guide Series)
Bill Schneider
Manufacturer: Falcon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Excursion Guides
| Hiking & Camping
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
Parks & Campgrounds
| Food & Lodging
| Reference & Tips
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Utah
| States
| United States
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Sports
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Hiking Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks, 2nd (Regional Hiking Series)
-
Canyonlands National Park Favorite Jeep Roads & Hiking Trails
-
Hiking Grand Staircase-Escalante and the Glen Canyon Region
-
Utah's National Parks: Hiking, Camping, and Vacationing in Utah's Canyon Country : Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands
-
50 Best Short Hikes in Utah's National Parks: Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands (50 Best Short Hikes)
Accessories:
-
Rayovac SPHLTLED 3-in-1 LED Head-Lite
ASIN: 0762725400 |
Book Description
A comprehensive guide to the trails and backcountry roads of Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, Utah.
Customer Reviews:
How many mistakes can occur in one book?!?!?.......2006-05-06
I am appalled at how many errors this book has that I found! The listing for Devil's Canyon's Primitive Trail has an absoultely ridiculous milage marker that makes no sense at all. The trail length for Tower Arch trail says it's 2.4 miles when the trail is actually 3.4 miles long. I got to where I would just go talk to the rangers at both Arches and Canyonlands National Parks about the trails rather than even open that book because it was completely unreliable. I am really surprised that it's a Falcon book because I thought they had better standards! Don't waste your money!!!
Book Description
In this new edition, you can enjoy 100 rides that cover the entire state of Utah.
Customer Reviews:
Great Guide Book!.......2000-06-15
I can't stop singing the praises of this book. I've been biking Utah for a while, and this book exposed me to some trails that I hadn't seen. If you're in Utah and want to find some great trails, or if you're coming to Utah to ride, GET THIS BOOK!
Book Description
- Includes trails throughout the state, including the Wasatch front, the national parks, the Moab region, and the Escalante area
- Spans a range of difficulty, from quick day hikes to technical challenges
- Designed for easy reference
- Part of the popular 100 Hikes in™ series
Steve Mann, an outdoor writer and photographer, serves as managing editor for GearReview.com and has participated in archaeological research throughout the southwest desert country. Rhett Olson, an avid outdoorsman, has written for Outfitter magazine and GearReview.com. Both are native Utahans.
Customer Reviews:
Book is often inaccurate and vague.......2007-05-24
This book has some great hikes. You may use it to find the hikes, but do NOT rely on it's described hiking distances or directions. On one hike they describe a 1.5 mile section of trail that in reality was about 4 miles. Use your topo maps & GPS before the hikes to be sure of the distances. On another hike, their description of a return route was very vague & didn't mention several landmarks which would've made the route easier to find. Some of the slot hikes don't mention certain obstacles, though these could've happened after the book came out. This book may be too out of date to be useful...
Get there and back with confidence.......2007-04-09
Keep a copy in your car-- I do. Trail guides are easy to understand with all of the information needed to find trailheads with confidence. I have owned this book for years and have used it a number of times to plan trips to a specific destination or to break up long drives with a quick hike when I am on my way to/from some other activity. Get the book, fill the car with gas, and see how many of the hikes you can complete this year!
Excellent Hikers' Guide.......2003-07-01
I bought "100 Hikes in Utah" for my daughter and her fiance because I thought it would be perfect for them. They have discovered the beauty of nature in Utah, especially in the southern part with the cliffs and rock formations.
This is a very well-written guide to the 100 places Steve and Rhett have explored. They know what they're doing, and their experience and love of the outdoors is evident throughout the book.
I like how each chapter is set up with information right at the beginning of the article on every site, telling the reader about the distance round trip, hiking time, difficulty range, best season to go, etc. The articles give great detail about the journey, with tips such as camp sites, water sources, and scenery throughout. There are many wonderful pictures throughout the book. I only wish they had been in color since it's clear the views are spectacular. (Check out the hair-raising photo on page 98!)
I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in hiking the beautiful landscape of Utah. Be sure to take this book along with you.
Serious omission in an otherwise excellent book.......2001-06-22
This otherwise excellent guide is seriously compromised by a major omission. For hiking in the west it is really important to know the maximum and minimum elevations of a trail. This book lists the elevation gain, but amazingly and foolishly does not tell you at what altitude the hike begins and ends. This is such a serious (and needless) blunder that I would not recommend the book.
Anxious to go use this book!.......2001-05-21
I've looked though this book and was really impressed by the detailed information and variety of hikes. I just ordered it from Amazon and am very anxious to use it this summer with my family and rugged little Scout troop who are gaining a great appreciation for this beautiful land.
Books:
- Beyond Brawn: The Insider's Encyclopedia on How to Build Muscle & Might
- Big Horses Good Dogs And Straight Fences: Musings of Everyday Ranch Life
- Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory & Technique
- Caddie Woodlawn
- Casting a Spell: The Bamboo Fly Rod and the American Pursuit of Perfection
- City Walks Deck: Chicago: 50 Adventures On Foot (City Walks)
- Coaching Youth Softball: A Baffled Parent's Guide
- Coaching Youth Softball: A Baffled Parent's Guide
- Conquering Arthritis: What Doctors Don't Tell You Because They Don't Know: 9 Secrets I Learned the Hard Way
- Denali National Park Guide to Hiking, Photography & Camping
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Proposals That Work: A Guide for Planning Dissertations and Grant Proposals
- Interpersonal Psychotherapy of Depression: A Brief, Focused, Specific Strategy
- E.A.R.L.: The Autobiography of DMX
- Deal Terms - The Finer Points of Venture Capital Deal Structures, Valuations, Term Sheets, Stock Opt
- Financial Accounting: An Introduction to Concepts, Methods, and Uses
- History: Fiction or Science
- Hereditary Hearing Loss and its Syndromes
- Regulatory Risk and the Cost of Capital: Determinants and Implications for Rate Regulation
- Economic Revitalization: Cases and Strategies for City and Suburb
- Gonzalez and Daughter Trucking Co.: A Road Novel with Literary License
Touching the Void: The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival
Eiger Dreams: Ventures Among Men and Mountains
Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster
The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest
Surviving the Extremes: A Doctor's Journey to the Limits of Human Endurance
