Books and Maps

Featured review by Mike Mineart

This is an excellent resource for information related to general mountaineering, but also for a broad range of topics from basic backcountry equipment and navigation, to rock and ice climbing, and a number of other associated topics. The most significant aspect of this book that sets it apart from other mountaineering/climbing references is not necessarily the specific material within the book, but how that content comes into being. This book is a great resource for any experienced back country traveler or climber, but is an especially good resource for someone new to the sport or who would just like to better understand the terminology, equipment, and techniques, associated with climbing and mountaineering.

First off, I would like to state that I received my latest copy of this book from Trailspace as a gift for being a past Reviewer of the Month. That said, I already owned an earlier edition of this book that I purchased back in the mid 1990s. My comments in this review will be with the 8th Edition of the book Mountaineering, Freedom of the Hills, published by the Mountaineers Books. Before I get into my comments about the book itself, I think it is important to mention a little about the organization that is responsible for publishing this book, The Mountaineers.

Read more: The Mountaineers Books Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills reviews (5)

Reviewed by Jim51111

In-depth, but engaging book focused on simplifying fly fishing. It is a great balance of skills, stories, and phenomenal photography. A great book for anyone interested in flying fishing or just interested in learning new skills.

Written by Yvon Chouinard, Craig Mathews, and Mauro Mazzo, Simple Fly Fishing: Techniques for Tenkara and Rod & Reel is a fantastic book on the art and lifestyle of fishing in it most basic form. All three of the authors are lifelong fisherman with decades of experiences. More important, however, is that they are all wonderful storytellers. They are able to present technical information in an engaging and entertaining way that guides the reader through the book and prepares them to try out their new skills.

Read more: Patagonia Simple Fly Fishing: Techniques For Tenkara And Rod & Reel review (1)

Reviewed by Sheila Bergin Goss

This dog hiking book is subtitled "Trail-Tested Tips and Expert Advice for Canine Adventures." The book certainly does provide much helpful information for those interested in outdoor adventures with their dogs. It focuses on hiking, but also gives the reader insight into dog behavior and the relationship between dog and human. "The Essential Guide to Hiking with Dogs" varies in its thoroughness as it broaches a plethora of important aspects of dog hiking, but I can recommend it as a helpful guide for beginning dog hikers, or for more experienced dog adventurers looking to assess their current practices.

Introduction: Hot off the presses! I was given the opportunity to reviewThe Essential Guide to Hiking with Dogs just before its publication date of May 1, 2021. I was interested in checking it out, as I am often called upon to give advice to others about hiking (or canoeing) with dogs, and I am always looking for new ideas or techniques to share.                         Falcon Publishing is a supporter of the AHS                Authored by Jen Sotolongo with contributing commenters, this book is published by Falcon Guides, one of their well-known series of books on outdoor activities, travel, and hobbies.

Read more: Falcon Guides The Essential Guide to Hiking with Dogs review (1)

Reviewed by Bill S

If you are contemplating thru-hiking the John Muir Trail (or any section of it), this John Muir Trail Topographic Map Guide does an excellent job of gathering all the needed information for planning, plus having detailed maps of the entire trail and surrounding terrain.

Comparison of size of National Geographic Yosemite map with the John Muir Trail Topographic Map Guide (USGS 1:250,000 map in background) Background: I have to confess up front that, despite having hiked and climbed on all seven continents, including fairly extended expeditions (both time and distance), and having lived in California for a total of roughly 50 years (minus short sojourns in Massachusetts and Mississippi), I have not thru-hiked the entire length of the John Muir Trail, although I have hiked major portions.

Read more: National Geographic John Muir Trail Topographic Map Guide review (1)

Reviewed by BigRed

A classy, cargo pocket-sized, waterproof guide to over 350 miles of the Green and Colorado Rivers through and above Canyonlands National Park, with detailed maps, illustrations, and text on the region’s colorful geology and history. Works well as a stand-alone guide for river trips.

In the winter of 2018, during our year-long residence in Tuscson, my wife and I decided to splurge on a 6-day guided raft/dory trip on the Colorado River from near Moab, Utah, down through Cataract Canyon in Canyonlands National Park to the uppermost reach of Lake Powell. The rafting company, OARS, threw in a copy of this Belknap River guide for the same price as you’d buy it anywhere else, and sent it on ahead to give us something to read or maybe just drool on—good thing it’s waterproof.

Read more: Westwater Books Belknap's Waterproof Canyonlands River Guide review (1)

Featured review by Inga Aksamit

The main takeaway for me was that planning a route was significantly faster and more intuitive than any other mapping app I’ve used. The app does all the things we’ve come to expect from mapping apps, including pinning waypoints, creating routes, and tracking hikes, but offers many features that others don’t, including the national parks maps from National Geographic and cell phone coverage maps. The interface is clean and easy to understand and the maps are sharp without clutter.

Gaia GPS is a map application that allows you to plan routes, navigate on the trail, record waypoints and tracking. With a paid subscription, you can get access to different maps and map layers that can be downloaded for offline use. It can be used with mobile devices (Apple or Android) or the Gaia GPS website. Author at the start of the Glacier Point hike in Yosemite By now, many people are familiar with the basics about GPS apps, but in case this is new to you, your smart phone has powerful navigating capabilities when the built-in GPS function is used with a navigation application such as Gaia GPS.

Read more: Gaia GPS Hiking, Offroad Maps App reviews (3)

Reviewed by Steverod

This is a set of maps for Garmin GPS units that's also usable with Garmin's (free) BaseCamp trip planning software (BaseCamp runs on both Mac and Windows). If you don't have a Garmin GPS, you are NOT interested in this software (I suppose you could use it just for trip planning on your computer, but it would be awfully expensive relative to the competition). These maps offer detail "similar to" a USGS 24K (7.5 minute) map for your GPS. My review summary is: I'm glad I got these maps; they have been very useful and fun for me, because I do advance trip planning on my computer, because I use my hiking GPS for driving as well, and because I really only go hiking/driving to remote trailheads in California.

Read more: Garmin Topo US 24K West review (1)

Featured review by KiwiKlimber

A hardy map that can withstand punishment and inspire exploration. The Purple Lizard Rothrock State Forest map thoroughly covers the forest, as well as areas north and south of the forest boundaries. Best for folks living in or looking to explore Central Pennsylvania, or for people who really like maps, I suppose.

Usage:I own other Purple Lizard maps, but this one gets the most use, as the Rothrock State Forest and surrounding areas are pretty easy to explore via hiking, camping, biking, hunting, and fishing. The double-sided map covers the entirety of the mountainous Rothrock State Forest and its many trails, and also includes: Five nearby natural areas (Bear Meadows, Detweiler Run, Alan Seeger, Rocky Ridge, and Little Juniata) Two state parks (Whipple Dam and Greenwood Furnace) PA State Game Lands, including their specific ID number (very helpful).

Read more: Purple Lizard Maps Rothrock State Forest Trail Map reviews (2)

Featured review by Rick-Pittsburgh

Regardless of whether you are a trail novice or a seasoned trail veteran there is something for everyone in this gear guide that can be adopted into one's practices while on your backcountry journeys. I highly recommend that anyone that has a love for being in the backcountry to take a few moments and seriously consider reading this book.

I recently had the opportunity to read National Geographic's The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide by Andrew Skurka and I have to say I am quite impressed... So impressed that I actually read it twice and I am going for a "3 peat."     When I started reading this guide I was presented with a question: "Am I an Ultimate Hiker or an Ultimate Camper?" I never really looked at my approach to my backcountry endeavors this way. I always considered myself a pack mule(that is putting it mildly)although I do own some UL gear. After fully reading this book I have to say that I find myself reevaluating some of my approaches to my own backcountry forays.

Read more: National Geographic The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide reviews (3)

Featured review by TheRambler

"Trail Tested" is a book aimed at providing a broad spectrum of advice on hiking and backpacking for the novice as well as seasoned hiker wanting to expand their horizons. The author wants to spread his love of the great outdoors to others, and introduce them to the great sport of hiking and backpacking and help ease them into it by providing some sound advice and cost-saving strategies.

Trail Tested: A Thru-Hiker’s insights into Hiking and Backpacking By Justin “Trauma” Lichter Printed in Duluth, Minnesota, 2012 ISBN: 978-1-9848550-0-1 MSRP $19.99 Trail Tested is a book aimed at providing a broad spectrum of advice on hiking and backpacking for the novice as well as seasoned hiker wanting to expand their horizons. The author wants to spread his love of the great outdoors to others, and introduce them to the great sport of hiking and backpacking and help ease them into it by providing some sound advice and cost-saving strategies Trail Tested is not your typical how-to book.

Read more: Justin Lichter Trail Tested: A Thru-Hiker's Insights Into Hiking and Backpacking reviews (2)