Walking, hiking, trekking Books

Book SynopsisTrade Review"Eisenfeld writes about Shenandoah the way Annie Proulx writes about Wyoming or Edward Abbey about the deserts of the Southwest: pristine, unsentimental, eloquent prose."—Kirkus"Anyone with an interest in national parks or the history of the state of Virginia or travelers to Shenandoah or Skyline Drive will appreciate this book."—Rachel Owens, Library Journal"[Shenandoah is a] richly textured look at the human drama of creating one of the jewels of the national park system."—Rachel Jagareski, Foreword Reviews"Shenandoah: A Story of Conservation and Betrayal . . . beautifully captures the mountain people and the official vendetta that made them refugees from their own land."—James Bovard, Washington Times “Shenandoah is a beautifully written portrait of a history-haunted landscape: wistful, wild, and enchanting, like the best of autumn hikes through Shenandoah National Park.”—Tony Horwitz, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and author of Confederates in the Attic: Dispatches from the Unfinished Civil War“The juxtaposition of delight with the land and the haunting of Shenandoah’s history is beautifully written, giving us the feel of the park and the lure of knowing its past.”—Katrina M. Powell, author of The Anguish of Displacement: The Politics of Literacy in the Letters of Mountain Families in Shenandoah National Park Table of ContentsAuthor’s Note Prologue All Souls’ Day A Cabin in the Woods Bushwhack Hollow Folk Hollow Stranded The Trespass Lost and Found in Shiflet Country A Room at Killahevlin Timber Hollow Tale Acknowledgments Notes Bibliography

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Book SynopsisFrom the coastal bluffs of the Panhandle to the wild Everglades, Backpacking Florida features 40 overnight trail adventures covering a total of 600 miles across the state. Expert outdoorsman Johnny Molloy provides readers with the tools and information they need to unplug and experience Florida’s amazing variety of ecosystems.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisThe 2,181-mile Appalachian Trail runs along the Appalachian mountain range from Georgia to Maine. Every year about 2,000 individuals attempt to “thru-hike” the entire trail. Sociologist Kristi M. Fondren traces the stories of forty-six men and women who, for their own personal reasons, set out to conquer America's most well known, and arguably most social, long-distance hiking trail.Trade Review“Well-written, accessible, and succinct, Kristi Fondren’s Walking on the Wild Side tells the interesting story of the Appalachian Trail. Upon finishing a chapter, the reader is anxious to move onto the next one.” -- Alan Graefe * professor of recreation, park, and tourism management at Penn State University *"Fondren takes readers on the most memorable of journeys. She portrays hikers braving both environmental and social elements, and, with remarkable sensitivity, she reveals that they are not so different than the rest of us. The Appalachian Trail is a microcosm of American society, and a fascinating one at that." -- John P. Bartkowski * University of Texas at San Antonio *"If you dream of hiking the Appalachian Trail this book should be on your bedside table." * Hike Bike Travel *"Though the book's aims are primarily scholarly, its brevity and approachable colloquial style make it accessible for students and lay readers." * Library Journal *"Succinct, clear, and captivating … an excellent contribution to the reading lists of hiking enthusiasts, leisure and recreation managers, and sport studies scholars interested in nature and the environment." * Sport in American History *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Acknowledgments 1 From Georgia to Maine: The GA-ME Is Afoot 2 Hiker Trash: Constructing a Long-Distance Hiker Identity 3 April’s Fools: A Situated Subcultural Identity 4 In Search of Ithaka: Long-Distance Hiking as Spiritual Quest 5 The Appalachian Trail, an ATopia? Social Differentiation and Hierarchies among the Tribe 6 Hike Your Own Hike: What the Hiking Subculture Tells Us about American Society Appendix Research Methodology References Index

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsForewordIntroductionWildernessProtecting the EnvironmentThe Geology of the Escalante RegionThe StrataMan in the Escalante—The Prehistoric PeriodMan in the Escalante—The Historic PeriodEquipmentThe Art of TravelTechnical CanyoneeringAccessHow to Use This GuideI. Box Death Hollow WildernessHells Backbone Road Section1. Death Hollow2. Sand Creek3. Boulder Mail TrailII. The Highway 12 AreaHarry Aleson and George White—The First to Run the EscalanteHighway 12 Road Section4. Big Flat Wash, the Escalante River, and the Bowington Road5. Middle Boulder Creek6. Upper Boulder Creek and Dry HollowOld Sheffield Road Section7. Phipps Wash8. Big Horn Canyon9. The Escalante River and the Sand SlidesIII. Hole-in-the-Rock—The Western EscalanteThe Hole-in-the-Rock ExpeditionHole-in-the-Rock—The Story ContinuesHarris Wash Road Section10. Red Breaks Canyon11. Harris Wash Egypt Road Section12. Egypt 3—The Slot13. Lower Harris Wash14. Fence Canyon, the Escalante River, and Twentyfive Mile WashEarly Weed Bench Road Section15. Twentyfive Mile Wash, the Escalante River, and Scorpion Gulch16. Spooky and Peek-a-Boo Gulches—The Long Loop17. Upper Brimstone Gulch—The Slot18. Scorpion Gulch and the Scorpion Horse TrailDry Fork Coyote Road Section19. Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Gulches—The Standard LoopRed Well Trailhead Road SectionHurricane Wash Trailhead Road Section20. Coyote Gulch21. Stevens Canyon and the Waterpocket Fold22. Stevens and Fold Canyons23. The Pollywog Bench Area24. Fortymile Creek and Willow GulchEverett Ruess25. Fiftymile Creek26. Sixty Point and Twilight Canyon27. Llewellyn and Cottonwood Gulches28. Davis Gulch29. Clear Creek and the Cathedral in the DesertIV. The Burr Trail—The Eastern EscalanteBurr Trail Road Section30. Deer Creek31. Steep Creek and Hot Canyon32. The Gulch and Horse CanyonWolverine Loop Road—The Western Entrance Road Section33. Little Death Hollow and Wolverine CreekLampstand Road Section34. Egg Canyon and Lamanite ArchWolverine Loop Road—The Eastern Entrance Road Section (The Moody Road)35. Silver Falls Creek and Choprock Canyon36. Deer Point—An Ascent37. Moody Creek CanyonsThe Overland Route—General DescriptionThe Overland Route—Highway 12 to Silver Falls CreekThe Overland Route—Silver Falls Creek to Choprock CanyonThe Overland Route—Choprock Canyon to Twentyfive Mile WashThe Overland Route—Twentyfive Mile Wash to Scorpion GulchThe Overland Route—Scorpion Gulch to Fold CanyonThe Overland Route—Fold Canyon to the Fortymile Ridge TrailheadBibliographyAcknowledgments

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Book SynopsisVisitors to the C&O Canal who are interested in exploring natural wonders while tracing the routes of pioneers and engineers-not to mention the path of George Washington, who explored the Potomac route to the West as a young man and later laid out the first canals to make the river navigable-will find this guide indispensable.Table of ContentsPreface to the 2015 EditionAcknowledgmentsMaps, Mileages, and MethodOne. Historical SketchI. The Potomac Frontier to 17841. Early Exploration and Settlement2. The Ohio Company Expands the Frontier3. The French and Indian War4. War for IndependenceII. Opening the Route to the West, 1784–18591. Washington Founds the Patowmack Company2. The Patowmack Company in the Era of "Internal Improvements"3. Building the C&O Canal, 1828–18504. The Canal and the Antebellum RiverIII. The Civil War along the Canal and the River, 1859–18651. Lock Tender and Spy, 1858–18592. Harpers Ferry, Bull Run, and Ball's Bluff, 18613. Antietam and J. E. B. Stuart's Second Ride aroundMcClellan, 18624. Gettysburg and the Great River Crossings, 18635. Jubal Early and Phil Sheridan, 18646. War's End, 1865IV. The Railroad Era and the Decline of the Canal, 1865to the Present1. Reconstruction on the Potomac2. Railroad Wars and Boom Times for the Canal3. The B&O Railroad Takes Over the Canal, 1889–18924. From Coxey's Army to Jim Crow5. Gould and Rockefeller Build a New Route to the West, 1902–19126. The Last Flood Suspends Canal Operations, 1924–19387. The Douglas Walk Leads to a National Park, 1945–1971Two. Trail GuideI. The Falls RegionII. The Piedmont and the Sugar LandsIII. The Blue Ridge and the Great ValleyIV. The Endless MountainsThree. Structures and Industry along the CanalI. The Canal PrismII. Locks1. Levels and Lift Locks2. Lockhouses3. Other StructuresIII. Maintaining the Level1. Feeder Dams and Guard Locks2. Flumes and Waste Weirs3. Stop Gates and SpillwaysIV. Intersections1. Aqueducts2. Culverts3. Bridges and River LocksV. Moving Parts1. Canal Boats2. MulesVI. Water Industry1. Ferries2. Mills3. Cement and Lime Industry4. IronworkingA Note on SourcesSuggested Further ReadingQuick Reference to Canal Landmarks and Access Points

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Book SynopsisExplore the natural beauty of Maryland on foot. Maryland affords a rich variety of natural places for residents and visitors to enjoy, from the Chesapeake shores through expansive Piedmont farmland to the Appalachian Plateau. And whether you're headed to the seashore or the mountains, there are few better ways to experience these landscapes than on foot. With its excellent system of public landsincluding national parks, state parks and forests, and even privately owned tracts open to the publicMaryland offers ample opportunities for hikers to find easy walks, challenging trails, and outstanding views. In Hike Maryland, Bryan MacKay takes you on twenty-five exceptional trips on the footpaths of the Free State. Drawing on his decades of experience as an avid hiker, lifelong Marylander, and expert naturalist, MacKay has assembled a list of the best hikes in the state. His beautifully illustrated guide tells you how to find the trails, describes the flowers and wildlife you'll see alonTable of ContentsPrefaceAcknowledgementsFifty Years of Hiking in Maryland1. Assateague Island National Seashore2. Nassawango Creek Preserve3. Pickering Creek Audubon Center4. Tuckahoe State Park and Adkins Arboretum5. Calvert Cliffs State Park6. American Chestnut Land Trust7. Patuxent River Park8. Rock Creek Park9. North Point State Park10. Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway Trail11. Great Falls Tavern Walk and the Billy Goat Trail 12. Soldiers Delight Natural Environmental Area13. Gunpowder South Trail14. Patapsco Valley State Park15. Hemlock Gorge16. Sugarloaf Mountain17. The Appalachian Trail18. Maryland Heights19. Catoctin Mountain Park20. Green Ridge State Forest21. Monroe Run Trail22. Lostland Run Trail23. Kendall Trail24. Swallow Falls State Park25. Cranesville Swamp PreserveIndex

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Book SynopsisNorth Carolina’s state parks reflect the natural abundance and variety in the Tar Heel State, with preserves located in each of the major regions from mountains to coast. With this guide, Johnny Molloy details the best hikes to enjoy in North Carolina’s expanding state parks system.

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Book SynopsisAndrea Lani explores the complexities of hiking with a family after taking her three reluctant children and grouchy husband on a 489-mile trek from Denver to Durango, determined to reset her life and confront the history of environmental damage.Trade Review“Andrea Lani is an insightful guide as she takes readers on a fateful family hiking trip along the legendary Colorado Trail. In language both witty and lush, she vividly portrays this remarkable terrain while also sharing a personal story of self-examination and persistence. Uphill Both Ways gripped me from its hopeful start to its jubilant finish.”—Aaron Hamburger, author of Nirvana Is Here“Andrea Lani seamlessly weaves history, geology, and ecology in Uphill Both Ways, a moving memoir about nature, family, and learning to live in the moment. . . . Lani’s prose is lovely, even as she is examining the environmental cost of human error, misguided forest management, and ignoring climate change. In the end, Lani accomplishes what she set out to do, and she and her family learn that ‘even sucky things can sometimes be awesome.’”—Kate Hopper, author of Ready for Air and Use Your Words“This lovely book manages to be a geological drama, an environmental history, a trail memoir, and a case for the protection of wild places—all while musing brilliantly on what it means to be a wife, a mother, and a person in the world. If you put Terry Tempest Williams and Cheryl Strayed and Kelly Corrigan in a room together, this is the book they would write. I loved it.”—Catherine Newman, author of Catastrophic Happiness“Andrea Lani has crafted a true story on many levels, and her apt depictions of the journey bring the reader along with her, exposing personal peaks and valleys along with actual ups and downs. The geology of the Rockies she and her family trek across is an engaging saga told with close-up precision and sweeping landscapes, and her candid vignettes of family dynamics add humor and realism. Uphill Both Ways weaves a complex fabric of time and place—an adventure for anyone who treks through its pages.”—Cloe Chunn, author of Fifty Hikes in the Maine Mountains“It was with great anticipation and pleasure that I read Andrea Lani’s new book, Uphill Both Ways. . . . In my opinion, the trail is where the family belongs, and thanks to Lani’s book, more families will become inspired to go to our country’s rich plethora of long distance wilderness trails and enjoy their gifts together. Well done, Andrea and the whole Lani family!”—Cindy Ross, author of Scraping Heaven: A Family’s Journey along the Continental Divide TrailTable of ContentsList of Illustrations Prologue 1. Headwaters 2. Succession 3. Backcountry 4. Disturbance 5. Bedrock 6. False Summit 7. Watershed 8. Peaks and Valleys 9. Range 10. Restoration 11. Tableland 12. Terminus Epilogue Acknowledgments Appendix: Equipment List Recommended Reading

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Book SynopsisWinner of the National Outdoor Book Award in Outdoor Literature It was 1993, Suzanne Roberts had just finished college, and when her friend suggested they hike California’s John Muir Trail, the adventure sounded like the perfect distraction from a difficult home life and thoughts about the future. But she never imagined that the twenty-eight-day hike would change her life. Part memoir, part nature writing, part travelogue, Almost Somewhere is Roberts’s account of that hike. John Muir wrote of the Sierra Nevada as a “vast range of light,” and that was exactly what Roberts was looking for. But traveling with two girlfriends, one experienced and unflappable and the other inexperienced and bulimic, she quickly discovered that she needed a new frame of reference. Her story of a month in the backcountry—confronting bears, snowy passes, broken equipment, injuries, and strange men—is as much about finding a woman’sTrade Review“Roberts dares to combine a hiking adventure with a healthy dose of humor and female bonding in all its complicated and turbulent best. . . . An utterly refreshing outdoors memoir free of the seemingly manufactured drama so many similar titles contain. A delightful and quite literary diversion.”—Colleen Mondor, Booklist“Almost Somewhere is, at all turns, a gratifying read. It is intimate and funny, sharp, and pensive, and its readers—if not inspired to undertake their own adventures—will certainly be sad to leave Roberts at the trail’s end.”—Michelle Schingler, Foreword Reviews“Suzanne Roberts sets off on a remarkable Sierra journey that will test the limits of physical endurance, of friendship, and of faith in self. . . . This is not the usual wilderness story of independence, competition, and violence. Here, thankfully, is the more urgent story of intimacy, community, and compassion. A loving, and lovely, ode to life.”—John T. Price, author of All Is Leaf: Essays and Transformations“In Almost Somewhere we get to travel both the physical John Muir Trail—its history, its flowers and trees and shadowy peaks—and the gritty emotional landscape of the three women who make the journey. Where are we in the world, anyway? Suzanne Roberts helps us know that the only place we can be is here, giving it all we have, day by day.”—Fleda Brown, author of Driving with Dvořák“This is not a backpacking primer, but rather one on young women in search of themselves as they prepare for life after college. We read about insecurities, jealously, lust, self-esteem, tears, bingeing, self-realization, learning to appreciate oneself for oneself, and interpersonal relationships. And come away with the author’s realization that mountains in general, and the John Muir Trail specifically, provide a spectacular backdrop to work through these issues and absorb the associated lessons.”—Kurt Repanshek, National Parks Traveler“[Almost Somewhere] will appeal to readers of travel and nature books, as well as those who enjoy reading about social interactions and group dynamics.”—Kirkus Reviews“Readers who have walked sections of the John Muir Trail will appreciate Roberts’s accurate descriptions of lakes and passes, of trail-worn feet, and of the fleeting moments when you seem to float down the trail.”—Bradley John Monsma, ISLE: Interdisciplinary Studies of Literature and Environment“This book is one I didn’t want to end. I felt as if I were hiking with Roberts. When she finished, I would be finished, and like her, I would be sad to be done.”—Eve Quesnel, Moonshine Ink“Almost Somewhere will not disappoint. It is a wonderful read for outdoor lovers and inspirational for anyone experiencing self-doubt. The message that resonates is, as Roberts says, ‘It’s not just in the having done but in the doing . . . being almost somewhere.’”—Gloria Sinibaldi, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza

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Book SynopsisFor many people, the Pacific Crest Trail is the ultimate long-distance hiking trail. Beginning in the dry valleys of southern California, it follows the crest of the snow-capped Sierras and ends in the ancient forests of Washington’s Cascades. Along the way, national treasures such as Yosemite, Crater Lake, and Mount Rainier make this trail one of the premier hiking destinations in the world. But hiking is about much more than getting from A to B. Berger and Smith draw on their tremendous experience—together they have logged more than 12,000 miles on the PCT—to give tested advice to long-distance hikers on trip planning, gear and safety, seasonal considerations, trailheads and resupplies, permits, and much more.

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Book SynopsisThe Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument covers 1.7 million acres in southern Utah, offering the hiker an experience of deep solitude surrounded by a wealth of geological, biological, and archaeological treasures. Hiking the Escalante opens the door to exploration of this highly scenic area of meandering canyons with relatively few marked trails.It lists fifty hikes by degree of difficulty and includes directions to trailheads, instructions for how to follow particular routes, choices of side canyons along the way, suggestions for loop hikes, and occasional alternative destinations. Along with hike descriptions, the book provides information on the geology, natural history, and human history of the area. This new edition contains seven new hikes, new photographs, and updated information about hike terrain.

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Book SynopsisBorn in Bryson City, North Carolina, Jim Casada has had a long career as a teacher, author, and avid outdoorsman. He grew up in a time and place where families depended on the land and their community to survive. Many of the Smoky Mountain customs and practices that Casada reflects on are gradually disappearing or have vanished from our collective memories.In A Smoky Mountain Boyhood, Casada pairs his gift for storytelling and his training as a historian to produce a highly readable memoir of mountain life in East Tennessee and western North Carolina. His stories evoke a strong sense of place and reflect richly on the traits that make the people of Southern Appalachia a unique American demographic. Casada discusses traditional folkways; hunting, growing, preparing, and eating wide varieties of food available in the mountain region; and the overall fabric of mountain life. Divided into four main sections—High Country Holiday Tales and Traditions; Seasons of the Smokies; Tools, Toys, and Boyhood Treasures; and Precious Memories—each part reflects on a unique and memorable coming-of-age in the Smokies.Containing a strong sense of adventure, nostalgic tone, and well-paced prose, Casada's memoir will be appreciated by those who yearn to rediscover the Smokies of their childhoods as well as those who wish to imaginatively climb these mountains for the first time.

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Book SynopsisWhen David Brill’s now-classic account of his 1979 thru-hike of the 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail was released in 1990, it immediately struck a chord with veterans and aspirants of one of the world’s longest continuously marked footpaths. Over the years, the book has continued to sell through multiple printings.As Far as the Eye Can See: Reflections of an Appalachian Trail Hiker, now in its fifth (thirtieth-anniversary) edition and eighth printing, was recently released by the University of Tennessee Press. The new edition features a new preface on Brill’s 2019 40th-anniversary reunion in Maine with his AT buddies, as well as prefaces to earlier editions and three bonus chapters that bring Brill’s continuing connection with the trail to near the present. In the years following release of As Far as the Eye Can See, first-person accounts of hiking the trail burgeoned into a literary genre, but Brill’s book was among the first to capture the physical and spiritual aspects of the long journey across fourteen states. Brill and his fellow hikers, who are all portrayed in the book, were relatively early devotees on a pilgrimage that, within a few decades, would become a popular rite of passage. Indeed, by the end of 1979, a mere 837 people had reported finishing the entire AT route over the trail’s then 42-year history. The total now easily exceeds 20,000. Brill credits his trail experiences with inspiring his career as a magazine journalist and book author and providing the theme for much of his subsequent writing on nature and adventure travel. The trail also did much to shape his enduring values and beliefs. “Though it took me a while to realize it, the trail had shaped me, had given me a philosophy, had toughened me in some ways, had softened me in others, and taught me lessons I will never forget: lessons on survival, kindness, strength, friendship, courage, perseverance, and the ways of nature,” Brill writes in the book’s final chapter, “Coming Home.” “Those lessons have affected everything I’ve done since.” Readers find that Brill’s experiences and observations on the healing power of nature from forty years ago are equally relevant in today’s world. The book’s first edition received widespread critical acclaim. The San Francisco Book Reader wrote: “Evocatively written gems of observation full of native wisdom brimming over with thoughts and exploits…. You read and read again, this book is that rich.” Many other reviewers have commended the book on its honest portrayal of the trail experience and the literary quality of its prose. In its review, The Roanoke Times effused “Thoreau lives!”

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Book SynopsisGoing It Aloneis the story of Tim Hauserman's conflict between wanting to be alone in the wilderness, and finding himself with deep feelings of fear and loneliness once he's gets there. Sure, he revels in the quiet of a dense forest, the soft lines of the shoreline of a shimmering mountain lake and the stark gray beauty of granite peaks, but he also gets the heebie jeebies in the face of a trail with a steep drop off or the sound of a bear crunching sticks next to his tent.After day hiking for years, he decided he wanted to stay in the wilderness when the sun set and be there again for its rising. So he set out on a series of backpack trips by himself. Solo takes the reader along as Tim hikes on the John Muir Trail through rainstorms and challenging climbs while facing stoves that don't work and lonely nights in the tent. Next, he heads out from his driveway onto a 14 day thru-hike of the Tahoe Rim Trail. Despite writing the guidebook to the TRT, he only truly discovers the trail when he thru-hikes it by himself. Finally, he travels to Minnesota to face bugs, drought, and sometimes non-existent trails on a section of the Superior Hiking Trail that he seems to have all to himself.The story combines self-deprecating humor, Stupid Tim Tricks and delightful descriptions of the natural surroundings. While some might call the wilderness the middle of nowhere, or nothingness, Tim believes it is everything. While his love for nature remains undaunted, he also discovers that he has overly high expectations for his capabilities and that just wishing loneliness away doesn't work. He eventually discovers that his long walks in the woods are less about hiking, than about learning how he wants to live his life.Table of Contents Contents Acknowledgments Introduction: What Was I Thinking? 1. Howling at the Half Moon 2. What the Q? 3. Six Days on the John Muir Trail 4. The Tahoe Rim Trail 5. The Superior Hiking Trail...Solo Hiking, Minnesota Style 6. Finding Peace at Fontanillis Epilogue Works Cited About the Author

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Book SynopsisBeautifully illustrated, this best-of compendium features the most memorable one-day hikes in every region of the United States from Sierra Buttes Lookout in Tahoe National Forest to Grinnell Glacier Trail in Montana's Glacier National Park to Giant Mountain in Adirondack Park and beyond. Organized by region, this guide goes into detail about what makes each hike so remarkable and why it might be worth a detour or even a special journey for someone looking to broaden their horizons. All of the hikes are doable during daylight hours and none require camping. America’s Best Day Hikes comes with all the information anyone would need to experience these unique locations, including details about the hike itself—difficulty, duration, seasonal hazards, and more.—as well as traveling, planning, and packing suggestions. All this paired with Derek Dellinger’s stunning photography makes this incredible volume a must-have for any lover of the outdoors.

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Book SynopsisAustralians have always loved to step out in nature, whether off-track or along a marked route. Bushwalking — an organised long-distance walk in rugged terrain that requires maps and camping equipment, or a family day out – is one of our most popular pastimes. This landmark book, now updated, was the first to delve into its rich and sometimes quirky history.From the earliest days of European settlement, colonists found pleasure in leisurely strolls through the bush, collecting flowers, sketching, bird watching and picnicking. Yet over time, walking for the sake of walking became the dominant motive. Walking clubs proliferated, railways organised mystery hikes attended by thousands, and Paddy Pallin established his equipment business. Bushwalking — serious walking — was invented.Whether you are inclined to put on your walking boots and pack your sleeping bag, or would rather stay in luxury hut, this sure-footed and witty book reveals how the ordinary act of walking can become extraordinary. A blend of nature writing, social history and environmental history— this landmark book, now fully updated from the 2007 edition,delves into its rich and sometimes quirky history of bushwalkingand looks down the track to the future. Bushwalking remains an extremely popular pastime and itspopularity is increasing — now one of Australia’s top-ten mostparticipated sports. Historical photos included throughout. Reveals that more than ever, governments — often in collaborationwith commercial developers – are investing in bushwalking tracksfor multiday walks. Trade Review‘ . . . a splendid social history, one so entertaining and revealing that you wonder why it hasn’t been done before.’–Amanda Lohrey‘Slip this book in your swag – and step into adventure.’ – Tom Griffith

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Book SynopsisNature sports in general and hiking in particular have become, in our urban andpost-industrial societies, a growing phenomenon practiced by millions of citizens.The motivations and interests of this large group are varied, but they have a commonelement: to disconnect from stressful modern life and reconnect with nature.National parks and other protected areas are the preferred destinations, but theypresent an challenging contrast for land management: conservation versus tourist use. Whileonce considered a romantic practice of escape and discovery, hiking is now a consumerproduct and a tourist experience. It promises experiences of disconnection, quiet andhealth; yet, natural spaces are increasingly scarce and more often than not they arecrowded by other recreationalists.This book presents a multidisciplinary perspective on the latest trends and developmentsin hiking. In particular, the authors work from a European perspective withvarious outdoor recreation models represented and different conservation initiativesexplored in the contexts of Spain, Norway, Poland, Germany and Lebanon. Collectively,the authors attend to hiking as a social phenomenon and economic opportunity,which has the potential to sustainably revitalize rural destinations, if managedproperly.

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Book SynopsisContains circular walks in the Cotswold countryside. Each one in this guide offers a chance to view the daily life of the riverbank animals, birds and fish. Another title from the Cotswold publisher, Reardon.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"An essential reference for birders west of the continental divide, particularly for intermediate and advanced observers." * Western Birds: The Quarterly Journal of Western Field Ornithologists *

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Book Synopsis28 circular, graded walks all tried and tested by seasoned walkers. The routes range from extended strolls to exhilarating hikes, so there is something for everyone.

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Book SynopsisINDIEFAB Book of the Year Awards -- 2014 GOLD Winner for Adventure & RecreationSociety of American Travel Writers Eastern Chapter -- Gold AwardSociety of American Travel Writers Foundation -- 2015 Lowell Thomas Travel Award for Best Travel Book A hiker’s dream bucket list is embodied in this lavishly illustrated celebration of more than 50,000 miles of America’s most iconic trails. Celebrating the forty most important trails in America, this volume takes the reader through forty-nine states and eight national parks. Literally tens of millions of tourists and hikers visit these trails each year, some of which wind through the country’s most scenic natural wonders and virtually every major ecosystem in America. Each featured trail has its own section, complete with a map and photo gallery, and the reader explores what makes it one of the most magnificent hiking experiences anywhere in the world. Trail histories accompany detailed hikeTrade Review“Not only a beautiful specimen of a book; but the passion for hiking is oozing from its pages. The writing is beautifully crafted and the images do justice to the words.” -Society of American Travel Writers Eastern Chapter“Big books and long walks—not an obvious match. But America’s Great Hiking Trails might become a trekking essential. It covers the 11 routes in the National Scenic Trails system, from the iconic Appalachian to the lesser-known (and swampy) Florida Trail. With history, highlights, maps, and a wealth of photos of each byway, the book is a source of inspiration as well as a planning tool.” -The Wall Street Journal“2015 Lowell Thomas Travel Award for Best Travel Book: Broad and deep reporting by Karen Berger combined with the skilled photography of Bart Smith make this not only a beautiful book to hold and skim, but also an extremely informative book for hikers. To produce this, Berger walked more than 10,000 miles and Smith trekked all 18,000 miles on the 11 trails. Every chapter is marked by excellence.”-- Society of American Travel Writers Foundation“What makes a hiking trail ‘great?’ What makes it iconic? Author Karen Berger explores America's great hiking trails in this photo-rich coffee-table book. America's Great Hiking Trails should help readers plan the hike that works best for them. Individual chapters describe the essence of what makes each national scenic trail unique…the Appalachian Trail, which starts in Maine and ends in Georgia, is on many hikers’ bucket lists even though it is rarely more than a two- or three-hour drive from major cities; it is hardly the most dramatic of the national trails, nor is it the toughest. And yet the allure endures. Why? Berger suggests that the Appalachian Trail is more than the sum of its parts. Its lasting appeal lies with its contradictions, between ‘humans and wilderness, towns and trails, solitude and community. The book features excellent writing, with gorgeous photography by Bart Smith.” –Chicago Tribune“The best holiday gift of the year for thru-hikers. Covering forty of the most important trails in America (including the long ones), this gorgeously illustrated book will have you salivating to hit the AT, stat.” –Backpacker Magazine “Best Outdoor Book of the Year. Beautifully illustrated and meticulously detailed, this is every hiker’s dream book. It follows 11 of America’s historic long-distance trails including the Continental Divide Trail running through Montana to New Mexico. A wonderful coffee table book, Berger and Smith detail specific needs for hikers, while inspiring them with breathtaking photography and flawless storytelling. This is a perfect bucket list for hikers of all ages.” –Vail Daily “When this whopper of a coffee table book showed up at our doorstep, I was amazed at its heft. We own a lot of hiking books, including many others written by Karen Berger or photographed by Bart Smith. But America’s Great Hiking Trails is different. It’s not a ‘go here, do this’ type of book. Instead, it dares you to dream. The saga of the National Trails System unfolds over its 336 pages, beginning with the genesis of the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail, the oldest and most well-known of America’s long distance trails. You’ll discover how each of the 11 trails came to be, what they mean to hikers and volunteers, and where they can lead you. Each chapter is capped off with a round-up of the best destinations along the trail…not just for hikers, but for anyone who daydreams of a cabin in the woods and a quiet walk under the pines.” –FloridaHikes.com “The most anticipated hiking book of 2014. The subtitle says it all: eleven official, American long distance trails. Well-known hiking author Karen Berger has done a magnificent job in conveying the excitement that each of these trails generates. And peerless hiking photographer Bart Smith provides images to match the grandeur of our eleven ‘national scenic trails,’ congressionally-designated routes that showcase our scenery, history, and adventure. Part of the significance of America’s Great Hiking Trails is that—a half century out— it shows us what we have accomplished and it makes us wonder what additional steps are needed to create a truly comprehensive system.” –Ron Strickland“Year’s Best Books for Travelers. Sure, you’re content to hike your local trails week after week, but there’s always someone in the group who aspires to go bigger. America’s Great Hiking Trails compiles more than 50,000 miles of trails in one beautifully photographed tome. Eight national parks in 49 states, gorgeous photos, and lots of details about each featured trail make this book a nature lover’s bible. At a pace of four miles per hour you won’t have to gift again until 2071.” -Yahoo Travel “Ever wonder what it’s like to be one of those thru-hikers we’ve seen tackling the Appalachian Trail alone or sometimes even with a dog for companionship? In the foreword to this 325-page fact-filled invitation to eleven of America’s great national scenic hiking trails, Vermont environmentalist Bill McKibben writes that this will guide you to ‘Beautiful places...few people will come back from these long hikes unchanged. If there’s a possibility you will never hike or visit any of these long-distance trails, you can still marvel at the outstanding beauty they portray as seen in the hundreds of natural scenery and wildlife photographs. Photographer Bart Smith invites you to imagine you are on the very walkways he has pictured for you to see—paths through forests and woods, along rocky cliffs, through fields of flowers, crossing waterways, using footbridges or ladders over barriers, and through desert crossings and mountain passes.” –Vermont Country Sampler“The stunning photographs take the reader on a visual adventure conducted by Bart Smith, the first person to hike all eleven national scenic trails from end to end. America’s Great Hiking Trails is perfect for anyone interested in outdoor recreation and conservation.” –Pathways “America's Great Hiking Trails is a hardcover Mac Daddy of hiking books, loaded with 336 pages of drop dead gorgeous photographs and a glimpse into eleven of the country's most iconic hiking trails. Author Karen Berger is a well-seasoned hiker and she invites us to explore, discover and delight in trails that will take you through practically any terrain the country can offer. Photographer Bart Smith was the first person to hike all eleven of these scenic trails and he has the photographs that will make your jaw drop. Together they have created a gem that will inspire you to embark on a journey of discovery. After reading this book I dare you to tell me that at some point you didn't imagine yourself hiking at least a small section of one of these scenic trails.” –Snug Harbour Bay

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Book SynopsisMiles of new trails are included, as is updated information on recent trail reroutes.Trade Review"[MacKay's] strong ecological background and compelling style open a window onto the changes and evolutions in our metropolitan wildlands." - Valley Times "Baltimore Trails replaces the venerable Baltimore Trail Book. MacKay's book is a total rewrite that incorporates his expertise in nature and ecology." - Recreation News"Table of ContentsList of MapsList of Mountain Bike TrailsList of Trail NotesPreface to the Second EditionPreface to the First EditionBefore Heading OutPreparations for Hiking TripsEthical Behavior on the TrailMARYLAND STATE PARKSPatapsco Valley State ParkGrist Mill Trail / River Road CircuitGlen Artney AreaHilton AreaAvalon AreaOrange Grove AreaWoodstoack Seminary TrailsSoldiers Delight Natural Environment AreaEast Side Trails, Serpentine TrailGunpowder Falls State ParkBig Gunpowder TrailLost Pond TrailBig Gunpowder Wildlands / Sweathouse Branch TrailNorthern Central Railroad TrailGunpowder North / Gunpowder South CircuitPanther Branch TrailMingo Forks / Bunker Hill CircuitLittle Gunpowder TrailSweet Air AreaNorth Point State ParkNorth Point State Park TrailsBALTIMORE COUNTY PARKSTrolley Trail / Benjamin Banneker TrailOregon Ridge ParkCromwell Valley ParkBALTIMORE CITY PARKSLeakin ParkGwynns Falls TrailLeakin Park CircuitJones Falls TrailCylburn ArboretumLake Roland and Robert E. Lee Memorial ParkHerring Run ParkBALTIMORE CITY WATERSHED LANDSLiberty, Loch Raven, and PrettyboyLiberty WatershedLoch Raven WatershedPrettyboy WatershedIndex

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Book SynopsisThis unique guide will prove a fascinating and illuminating companion for both sophisticated visitors to the Eternal City and armchair travelers seeking a novel perspective into Rome's rich history.Trade ReviewLatin is a less and less common attainment even among educated travellers, so Tyler Lansford has come to the rescue... If this book is not slipped into many a Rome-bound suitcase, there is no justice in the world. I can think of few more enjoyable companions on a prowl through the city. -- Jane Stevenson Times Literary Supplement 2010 The Latin Inscriptions of Rome is a delight, one to which I shall turn and to which I shall send my students when in Rome, and which I recommend to everyone interested in gaining a wealth of detailed information about 'the epigraphic habit' and its importance to our understanding not just of ancient Rome, but of every era of the Eternal City's incredible history. -- James C. Anderson Classical Outlook 2010 Tyler Lansford... has put together the most original and stimulating guide to the Eternal City of the hundreds published in recent years. -- Masolino D'Amico La Stampa 2010Table of ContentsPrefaceIntroductionArms of Selected PopesGeneral Abbreviations and SymbolsLatin and Greek AbbreviationsGeneral Map1. The Capitoline Hill2. The Forum & Environs3. The Subura & Environs4. The Esquiline Hill5. From the Forum Boarium to San Paolo fuori le Mura6. From San Clemente to the Via Appia7. The Lateran & Environs8. The Quirinal Hill9. From San Marco to Piazza di Spagna10. From Piazza del Popolo to Piazza Colonna11. The Pantheon & Environs12. From Corso del Rinascimento to Via Giulia13. From Via del Pellegrino to Santa Cecilia14. From Ponte Sisto to the Acqua Paola15. The Borgo & the VaticanGlossaryMetrical SchemesIndex of First LinesIndex of Sites

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Book SynopsisQuietly transformative, Reservoir Year encourages readers to find their own ways to unplug and slow down, reconnecting with nature, reviving old passions and sparking some new ones along the path.Trade ReviewShengold’s beautifully calibrated rhythm of language conveys all the rhythm of walking—the quiet, graceful stride along with lively, animated steps, the contemplative solitary strolls and those shared with companions. But she offers us as well the rhythm of the infinitesimal and the grand; of the expected and the unexpected; of the abstract and the real. Shengold suggests what it is to be an attentive human being, which is why accompanying her on these reservoir walks is as restorative as the walks themselves. Reservoir Year is both a lyrical form of devotion as well as halcyon cry to wake up and notice the life around us. A most timely and superb book! Shengold’s memoir explores a reservoir of feelings. Accompanied by her elegant, unpretentious prose, the reader comes upon surprises: a bear, an eagle feather, a crimson forest. Filled to the brim with subtle revelations, of sun-washed illuminations but also the poignant history; a drowned town lies below the shimmering surface. Expect to be moved, and then overcome by the tenderness and variety of Shengold’s emotional literary palette. This is nature writing of the highest and most delightful order. To walk with Shengold along the banks of the Ashokan Reservoir, is to see the Catskills—its ever-changing sky, its magnificent wildlife, and even its ghosts—through the lens of a writer of rare and exquisite sensibility. For a walking companion with a witty, curious and unorthodox mind who is also a stunningly good writer, read Nina Shengold's Reservoir Year. I loved loved loved every word and then I cried at the end.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewGet Your Kids Hiking provides tips on gear and motivation to help families with kids of all ages get outside to hike. -- Terry Gardner, Los Angeles TimesLove the book Get Your Kids Hiking and your kids will love you for reading it... -- Jenell Walton, ABC TV The ListThis handy guide gives tips on getting the whole family outdoors and on the nature trail... -- Amy Phelps , MOV Parent MagazineGet Your Kids Hiking is written in a casual style... It is chock full of practical advice for parents with kids of all ages and abilities -- Brent Coleman, The Cincinnati EnquirerGet Your Kids Hiking by Jeff Alt is the perfect book if you want to get your kids out on the trail. Alt and his wife are seasoned hikers, having hiked the Appalachian Trail and the John Muir Trail in Yosemite National Park in California. Now their kids come along, so they've thought through what it means to travel with little ones. Different chapters are dedicated to each age group, from little bitties to teens, and they provide ideas for everything from gear to grub. As someone who loves to hike but is more on the novice side, I'll be using this as reference guide. -- Jane Schneider, Memphis Parent Magazine...I loved Jeff Alt's forthcoming book, Get Your Kids Hiking: How to Start Them Young and Keep it Fun! In the book, the Cincinnati based author offers tips and tricks on age-appropriate ways to include your child in all aspects of a hike, checklists of what to pack for any type of hike and advice for hiking with a special needs child. In short, he presents the Appalachian Trail of books about family travel outdoors... -- Matt Villano, The Wandering Pod and former travel blog writer for Parents Magazine...Excellent tips from an experienced hiker on how to...[hike with] even the tiniest babies...Written for the novice and seasoned hiker in mind. -- Foreword ReviewsHaving kids can inspire a parent. They inspired Jeff Alt to write a book about how to interest and motivate youngsters to try hiking, and how to equip them for it... -- John McCoy, The Charleston GazetteJeff Alt, hiking expert, has written what may be the most comprehensive, readable and inspiring book ever focused on getting kids hiking. This will be...invaluable for families -- and for outdoor programs and environmental educators as well. And Get Your Kids Hikingis the perfect size and weight for your day pack! -- Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder and The Nature Principle....Get Your Kids Hiking...offers an easy to use guide for any adult wanting to take children into the outdoors. The chapters are easy to read and to reference. There are great tips on how to make the trail fun and safe for all ages. More than ever, it is important to expose our children to the benefits of the wilderness and Jeff Alt's guidance in this book will allow you to confidently take kids into the backcountry. -- Jennifer Pharr Davis, author of Becoming Odyssa: Adventures on the Appalachian Trail and Called Again: Love and Triumph on the Appalachian Trail.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review...This book follows Alt and his wife Beth across the 218-mile John Muir Trail...Encountering bears, lightning storms, rugged scenery, and fascinating people...Non-hikers will enjoy the author's vivid descriptions of natural beauty and encounters in the wild... (Review from the original paperback, A Hike for Mike) -- LA Metro Book ReviewThey encountered bears, saw fresh mountain lion tracks...lightening, rain, wind, and snow...Even without a cause [they] have come up with a good book... (Review from the original paperback, A Hike for Mike) -- Jim Morris, Dayton Daily News...Beth Alt's husband, Jeff was right: Hiking in California's Sierra Nevada mountain range was just what she needed while grieving the death of her brother...immersed with everything the trail had to offer: the tall pines that stretched to the sky, the still lakes..., snow-forested mountains, the black bear lurking toward her. The black bear lurking toward her?...uplifting and humorous... (Review from the original paperback, A Hike for Mike) -- Joe Burris, The Baltimore Sun...A GREAT DIARY of their trip, in which marathon runner Beth, a camping and hiking novice, encounters bears, lightning and freeze-dried food...sheds light on a common condition affecting millions of Americans... (Review from the original paperback, A Hike for Mike) -- Anne Stein, The Chicago Tribune

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisA complete guide to the Appalachian Trail shelters that provide a gathering place and a sense of community along America's most famous footpath.Whether you have spent a night or six months on the Appalachian Trail, every hiker eventually experiences one of the trail's iconic lean-tos or huts. More than 250 such backcountry structures exist on the 2,200-mile route, and they have welcomed hikers since the trail's inception in 1937. The Appalachian Trail organizes and assembles every single shelter for the first time in this informative and unique resource packed with trail and shelter photos, information, and detailed maps.Photographer and writer Sarah Jones Decker thru-hiked the AT in 2008 and re-hiked it again in 2018 and 2019 for this massive documentary project. Decker worked with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy--and in collaboration with the trail community of hikers, historians, photographers, writers, and clubs--to produce this first-of-its-kind resource. Trade Review“As a result of over 200 section hikes and countless hours of collaboration with the ATC, hikers, historians, photographers, writers, and maintaining clubs in the Trail community—Sarah has produced a first-of-its-kind resource packed with Trail and shelter photos, history, information, and detailed maps.” — A.T. Journeys Magazine, the membership magazine of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy“I had the good fortune to chat with Sarah Jones Decker about her book of Appalachian Trail shelters on my podcast recently. Sarah is a photographer and took on a project to not only visit but also document and photograph each of the over 275 shelters along the trail. She kindly sent me a copy of her book, and I found it to be endlessly fascinating. I was drawn back to the time I spent in and around many of these shelters, having thru-hiked the trail in 2014 and 2019. The shelters are intrinsic to the trail and provide much of the social interaction for thru- section-, and day-hikers. Sarah captures those moments beautifully. I highly recommend this book.” —Steve “Mighty Blue” Adams, Author, Podcaster, Speaker: MightyBlueontheAT.com“There have been scores, even hundreds, of guidebooks, memoirs, coffee-table books, and even illustrated children’s books published about the trail. So kudos to anyone who comes up with a new idea that’s not just original, but necessary, which is exactly what AT thru-hiker (class of ’08), photographer, writer, mother, and farmer Sarah Jones Decker has done with her deeply appealing, highly informative new photographic survey of shelters. Infused with the spirit of the trail on every page, the book serves as everything from a kind of magic carpet for AT veterans missing the trail to a genuinely useful introduction for newcomers to North America’s most famous long trail. It’s just one of those books I want to spend a lot of time with. Even if you haven’t yet hiked on the AT, I highly recommend the book. Cumulatively, the photos, essays, graphics, and maps come together for a surprisingly comprehensive portrait of what it’s like to be on the trail. Future hikers who study the book will have all kinds of fun and funky details with which to regale their fellows.” —Clay "Pony" Bonnyman for The Trek“Packed cover to cover with detailed history, images, stories, and maps, the stout book is a dang fine companion for a morning’s first cup of coffee or a cold drink at the end of the day—both perfect times to day dream of your next adventure.” — Field Mag“This is THE book on ‘The Shelters of the Earth,’ and will be in hikers hands and backpacks and under the cots of the AT shelters, lean-tos, and huts this summer. I treasure the arrangement of pics and text, and the smiling nine-month old hiking buddy, Josephine, on page 14. I expect copies will be in her grandchildren’s backpacks and on shelter shelves in 2070. With taped-on covers!” —Patricia Sacks, DV/AMC Shelter Chairman and Director of Libraries, Cedar Crest + Muhlenberg Colleges

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