3 comments about Hiking from Here to Wow North Cascades.

1. Craig and Kathy have updated their opinionated prior work "Don't Waste Your Time in the North Cascades" and have done a spectacular job again. I wanted to wait to write this review until I had the opportunity to use the book during a recent extended backpacking trip to the North Cascades, and wasn't disappointed in the quality or accuracy of this guidebook and the opinions expressed by Craig and Kathy Copeland.
   
   I agree with their approach. I flew 3,000 miles to backpack in the Glacier Peak Wilderness with my 23 year old son, and didn't want to have a second-rate experience of slogging through uninspiring stuff to get to the "WOW" stuff. So this book was a big plus.
   
   It all depends on what you want. Yes, the entire wilderness is wonderful. Yes, it can be appreciated regardless of whether the scenery is spectacular. But spectacular makes me shiver with excitement, and while I don't mind working for it (and working hard, too!), I definitely want the WOW. If you want this type of mountain experience, then get this book.
   
   By the way, I also purchased the MP3 on their website about bears which is a must download. Their thoughts on water purifying technology and trekking poles are also invaluable for those unfamiliar with such topics.
   
   So, if you are planning a day trip or backpacking trip to one of the places the Copelands write about, and you want to maximize your experience...then buy their books and enjoy.



2. Going to the North Cascades (America's Alps)? There are hundreds of miles of trails to choose from, and everyone has limited time to spend hiking. The authors take an opinionated approach about which hikes are the best - because they have the best views, get you up and out of the forest, and otherwise have a lot to offer. Most of the hikes are in Washington, in and around North Cascades National Park, but a few are in Canada.
   
   I didn't know this book existed when I went up to the area, and I was surprised at how useful it was. I had a week to go hiking, and all of the hikes that I did from the book were spectacular. The authors make a great balance of telling you what to expect without giving the whole hike away. The book has amazing color photos for each hike, and simple maps, elevation gains, topo map suggestions, etc. Each hike review is separated into opinion and fact, which makes for easy reading.
   
   I wish the authors could write books like this for all the major hiking areas of the country - it would have saved me a lot of not-so-memorable hikes. I look forward to their upcoming Utah hiking book. One thing to note is that most of the hikes are fairly serious endeavors, even the day hikes. If you also enjoy doing easier hikes, you will have to purchase another guidebook, or rely on park information.



3. I recently picked up this book - Wow guide - North Cascades.
   
   In addition to exploring the outdoors I seem to collect guide books and I have to say "Thanks! to the authors. The attention to detail and the writing from an actual experience of personally being there comes through.
   
   This book just happens to cover the area I call my backyard. Having been on most of these trails, I can tell you that little advice like... "at 2.5 mi you might notice a faint trail beginning to countour right (northeast). Ignore it. It goes to....." really makes a difference.
   
   I have been in the outdoor industry for most of my life, either in the field or behind the scenes helping others get out there. So I have an appreciation for accurate and grounded information.

4 comments about Ghost Towns of the Pacific Northwest: Your Guide to Ghost Towns, Mining Camps, and Historic Forts of Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia.

1. We have been photographing Ghost Towns for about 30 years now and we must say that this is probably the best book that we have ever seen... and we have seen them all!



2. This book covered many of the most popular ghost towns in the Northwest corner of the US and Canada. A myriad of good photos and just enough information to entice you to get in the car and go. I would have liked to have a little more information regarding those obscure ghost towns that are not easily accessed or identified.



3. I bought this book as a gift. Since my parent are from that area I thought they'd enjoy it. However after I read the book I found a pretty major mistake. In chapter 3 the writer refers to the Pacific County seat as being "North Bend" when its actually South Bend. One can only hope the writer didn't make any more mistakes.



4. I have had an interest in western ghost towns since the late 1960s and have sought out and photographed many ghost towns over the years. To that end, I have about 30 or 40 ghost town books and I would have to say that this is not one of the best. In my opinion, it is one of the worst. In fact, it's not as good as other books by Philip Varney in the same series. However, as a professional photographer myself, I can say that the photographs by John and Susan Drew are quite good. One problem with this book is that it lacks the depth of most other ghost town books. The information given just skims the surface. It's generally just raw facts such as when the town was founded, etc. Good ghost town books should go into the colorful stories that all these towns have. That's what's so fascinating about ghost towns. Another problem with the book is that it shows too many towns that are not really ghost towns at all but may only have a couple old historic buildings or they may be simply tourist towns. Many of the pictures are not of towns at all but rather dilapidated barns, etc., which can be seen anywhere in the country and are certainly not ghost towns. There is a classification system for ghost towns and not all ghost towns are classic "true" ghost towns, of course, but this book has very few ghost towns that will be of interest to a real ghost town enthusiast. In addition, the text doesn't always clearly specify the status of the towns so a reader may travel far to see a ghost town only to find that it's bustling town with a couple historic buildings, a museum, or it may be just a tourist town. I would like to know the true condition of these towns but Varney is very vague about that. Most of my ghost town hunting has been in the Southwest, California, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, and Montana so it is possible that there simply aren't that many good ghost towns in the Pacific Northwest but other books that I have would suggest otherwise. Unlike some other books in this series, the maps do not use symbols that represent that actual state of the towns. For example, a crossed shovel and pick symbol often represents a "true" ghost town. But this book does not follow that useful and helpful practice, which is odd. It almost appears as if Varney simply got lazy in this effort and didn't bother to seek more remote ghost towns or gather more information about he towns he does cover. Good ghost town books should be enjoyable even to the armchair traveler who will never actually go to these towns. To accomplish that, the unique and interesting stories of the towns should be sought out and shared by the author. Florin's books, although dated, are wonderful examples of how ghost town books should be. Fortunately, if and when I do seek out ghost towns in the Pacific Northwest, I have other books that cover that region much better than this one.
   
   One other point: A very interesting and fascinating feature often included in the best ghost town books are "then and now" pictures that juxtapose images of the past and the present of the towns. For example, it's very interesting to see period photographs of, say, the town's main street along side a recent photograph of the same scene. There are a couple old pictures in this book but recent photographs of the same scenes are not included.
   
   All-in-all, I can't really recommend this book to ghost town enthusiasts but I suppose it's a moderately interesting addition to a ghost town book collection. But if you are seeking true ghost towns and interesting information about them, you can find better books to meet those needs.

4 comments about 100 Hikes in Washington's North Cascades National Park Region (100 Hikes In...).

1. The interesting thing about the 100 Hikes series is how well it integrates with Fred Beckey's books. Ira and Harvey get you to the base of the peak; Fred gets you up it. The series go hand-in-hand. Some of the most valuable information in the whole series comes in the form of the forewards and introductions. While opinionated, the views expressed are those of someone who has spent a lifetime exploring, protecting and enjoying the areas treated by the books. The route descriptions are accurate (more or less), and the small maps are clear and understandable. If you don't have this book, go get it. You would do well, in fact, to get the whole series. NOTE: hikes 10, 14, 33, 70, and 79 are awesome.



2. Sure, Harvey's opinionated, but it's excellent stuff. Nice, quick background on these amazing places, why they are still wild and protected, and just enough detail to get you in and out without giving away all the surprises. The best guide out there.



3. I've just purchased this book and I'm more than *delighted*! The photographs are ultimately enthralling, and the narration is so honest. I work for a non-profit striving to protect more public lands in Washington permenantly as Wilderness, and books like these that reach a large public audience and tell it like it is help us along our path to success... I love to hike and I love to see the areas that I hike in stay put! It's nice to be able to see which areas are protected and which are not before even exploring on one's own. BUY IT!



4. I really wanted to like this book, has maps, directions ,pics, but the book is old, and the writer is complaining too much about how bad it is in 1980! so I got out my hikes with children and gave this the heave ho.
   some new writer needs to make a new one with out all the fussing.

1 comments about Blue Guide Washington, D.C. (Blue Guides).

1. This is _the_ guidebook if you want to delve deeply into the City's history. It is chock full of interesting tidbits and historical information that bring the city alive. This is _not_ the guidebook for you if you are looking for the most updated information on museum hours and the like, if you are planning a quick trip the D.C. and want to hit just the main attractions, or if you need detailed maps (and metro information) for getting around the city. In other words, this book will satisfy your desire to really experience and get to know D.C. but it is not the best book to flip through when you suddenly realize that you are lost and need to figure out where to go. For better maps and more succinct descriptions of sites and restaurants, seek out Access Washington, D.C. by Richard Saul Wurman.

2 comments about Seattle.

1. Most city photo books are for tourists, awards or perhaps libraries. They usually don't give you a sense of the people and emotions of the city just some photos of landmarks. Joel Roger's book is different because he knows Seattle so well and he is a great photojournalist. His book left me happy I live here and reminded me of many sweet and breathtaking moments. It is the perfect book to hand to my house guests when they arrive asking, "What should we do?"



2. Having lived for many years in Seattle and the Northwest, I was eager to read this book. I am pleased to say that this book truly captures the essence of Seattle and is filled with wonderful text and photography.
   Kudos to Mr. Rogers for a lovely and sensitively written book.

1 comments about Backpacking Washington: From Volcanic Peaks to Rainforest Valleys.

1. Fantastic and inspirational backpacking guide to the best of Washington state. I've followed in the authors footsteps on several of these trips and have not been disappointed. Filled with great descriptions, tips and an engaging writing style, makes you want to get out there!

1 comments about On Puget Sound.

1. This is a very nice book, even though I was hoping for something more. The pictures are fantastic, and even though I've lived next to Puget Sound for most of my life, half the images were of things I've never seen. The text makes a good case for people to care about protecting Puget Sound. I hope that many people read it and are inspired to take the bus or use a push mower more often to help protect this fragile ecosystem.
   
   How would I have improved this book? A larger format with larger pictures would have been nice. Its size of 10" x 7" seems targeted at tourists at the Pike Place Market who are looking for a souvenir. That's fine, but I would have enjoyed some of the panoramic shots in a larger format. Also, much of the prose is a bit too purple for my taste. I gather it is intended to be inspirational. Where the text does finally provide some information, I would have appreciated more detail on subjects such as which species are endangered, what is being done to rebuild the salmon runs, and how development in the upper regions of the watersheds affects the health of the Sound.
   
   It's a start, though.

No comments about Day Hike! Olympic Peninsula (Day Hike!).

5 comments about Moon Handbooks Washington (Moon Handbooks).

1. You'll find no fancy illustrations in this book - simply good information.
   
   
   
   The author makes some snarky comments toward a local Christian ministry - which seems pointless - and includes a great deal of information specifically geared toward homosexual travelers. I didn't realize that was a niche market, but evidently it is.
   
   
   
   Regardless, the book is quite thorough, if opinionated. I prefer the "Hidden Washington" books for pointers on places off the tourist track.
   
   
   
   Recommended.



2. Even though published in 2003, this is by far the best advailable WA guide book. I would not think of visiting a state without the appropriate Moon supplemented by the WPA guidebook for that state[published in the thirties]



3. The first Moon book that I purchased several years ago was the book on Oregon. We made significant travel arrangements based on the information in that book and we were never disappointed.
   
   An upcoming trip to Seattle/San Juans is based on the information in the Washington book. The real beauty is that the book leads you to the most likely area to visit, gives references to hotels, etc., then you can complete your research by reviewing up-to-date information about that spot/hotel online. We chose Orcas island for 2 days before heading to Seattle and I do not expect to be disappointed.
   
   The authors are even-handed and complete --- they are not elitists, reviewing only the high-end accomodations. They have a good sample of a broad range of places. They point out lesser known restaurants and scenic spots as well.
   
   I have found their advice in the Oregon, Washington, Coastal California and New England books to be quite excellent.
   
   I have purchased quite a few different travel books in the past, but Moon Handbooks are my travel book of choice.



4. I turn to Moon Handbooks first for nearly every trip, and I haven't been disappointed yet. This is the first time I've bought a Moon Handbook that covers an entire state; the coverage is less in-depth for specific sites of interest like Olympic National Park, yet there is plenty of information for the many places a visitor to Washington State might want to see. Reading this book made me look forward to my trip even more.



5. My son recently moved to Washington State and I wanted a book that would help him get acquainted with his new home state. I enjoyed reading it, and he has found it to be an excellent resource.

2 comments about The Washington Almanac: Facts About Washington ((State Almanac Series)).

1. This is a well organized and comprehensive compendium to Washington State. The author has gathered an impressive array of information, from economic and geographic information to touristic suggestions and interesting factoids from past and present.The author has an upbeat and informative writing style that makes you want to read the book, not just look something up.

   This is a great gift for Washington residents or wannabe residents.




2. my mom recently moved to olympia and this book was a gift for her. she finds it useful and funny