5 comments about 100 Hikes in Northwest Oregon (Second Edition).

1. This book is a superb guide to a wide variety of hikes in Northwest Oregon. The first edition was my bible for hikes in this area---it's tattered and torn from all the use! This edition is better than ever--with accurate updates. Every hiker in Oregon should own it!



2. I bought this book prior to a trip to Oregon in hopes of finding some beautiful hikes. This book was a valuable tool in my search. Every hike was accurately described from details on finding the trailhead to distances traveled including the level of difficulty and points of interest along the way.



3. I bought this book two years ago to add to the many guide books in my library. After two years of hiking many weekends in northwestern OR and southwestern WA, it's become clear that this is the book that get's used the most. Most of the trails are suitable for the whole family. We've hiked into the crater of Mount St. Helens, eaten wild huckle berries in Indian Heaven Wilderness, hiked every slope of Mt. Hood, visited water falls in the Columbia river Gorge that we didn't know existed and more.

   Many of the trails are suitable for the occasional dry weekend in the winter months as well. Sullivan provides many low elevation trails which extend the hiking season year round.

   If you live in southwestern Washington or northwestern Oregon, you should own this book.




4. Over the last several years, I've hiked most of the trails described in "100 Hikes in Northwest Oregon." Sullivan's diving directions, trail descriptions and maps have always been perfect and immensely helpful.

   The trail descriptions are both concise and crystal clear. Sullivan does not meticulously describe each detail, which leaves much to discover on your own and allows for a more personal hiking experience. He writes eloquently, and often includes great tidbits of scientific and historical information that add context to your hike. For example, he might briefly describe how a specific area was geologically formed, and point out some evidence that you'll find along trail.

   Sullivan's practical advice is invaluable. If he tells you that a trail passes poison oak, you better wear long pants! If he tells you that a trail is open from July to October, don't show up without snowshoes in March! Clearly, he knows these trails well. Readers should not overlook the preface, where he provides an equipment checklist, low impact camping guidelines, contacts for trail conditions, and other useful information.

   The one downside of this guide is that so many people use it. If a hike is within an hour of Portland, and is featured in this book, you can count on a crowded trailhead on a nice weekend. Plenty of the featured hikes are off the beaten path, and still consistently provide solitude. Just plan on driving for awhile.

   Anybody who hikes in Oregon should consult "100 Hikes in Northwest Oregon," or one of Sullivan's other books. I also frequently use his Oregon Coast and Central Oregon guides, and they too are first rate.

   Just a quick additional note: When you do hike, always leave no trace! If you see trash, pick it up! Always be respectful of our Earth, and all of its creatures.




5. I moved to Oregon 6 years ago without any backpacking experience. Sullivan's were a perfect resource for me as a backpacker in need. This series has all the info you need and nothing you don't. I have particularly enjoyed photos(included with every single hike), 3d maps, well written directions and even background geologic/plant/wildlife info. Very useful and one of the best purchases I've made.
   
   A word of advice: heed EVERYTHING he says. If it says its bug filled in May, or a small car shouldn't drive a certain road, BELIEVE IT! As someone who's taken 30+ backpacking trips based on Sullivan's books, I can tell you that you will not be disappointed by these recommendations. It's like a good friend who gave you his personal recommendations.

No comments about Vandam Seattle, Washington Pop-Up Map.

No comments about Fairs and Festivals.

No comments about Afoot & Afloat North Puget Sound (Afoot & Afloat).

1 comments about A Year in Paradise: A Personal Experience of Living on Mount Rainier in the Early 1900's.

1. I wish I could have lived even a day of the life Floyd Schmoe describes in this colorful and humble account of life on Mt. Rainier. As a relatively new resident to Western Washington, I bought this book as an attempt to acquaint myself with one of the regions best-known and best-loved landmarks. I was not disappointed. In fact, I was intrigued.
   
   In this four-seasons look at the life of a couple who lived year-round on an active volcano during the early 1900's (ie: 1920 and beyond), I was struck by how honestly every detail was described. This certainly is not a scientific book, nor is it an all-inclusive documentation of Mt. Rainer National Park, but it is a realistic one, one you might imagine your Grandfather sitting down to tell you over several weeks at the dinner table.
   
   Schmoe uses all of his resources to describe life on the mountain; he tells it through his own eyes, his wife's eyes, and the eyes of the visitors who crowded into the Inn every summer. He retells suspenseful stories of lost climbers and park staff, close encounters with bears and cougars, firsthand accounts of hiking the mountain, and large-scale bouts of inclement weather.
   
   But it's not all adventure and action. In fact, many of the most memorable parts of A Year in Paradise are those when Schmoe writes of being overcome by the beauty of wildflowers breaking through snow in spring or the determination of Rainier's smaller wildlife to survive over winter. He also writes about the sometimes-laughable domestic situations that can arise when humans try to play house on a real-life mountain.
   
   When all is said and done, you'll feel not only like you've read a book about the great outdoors, but about the inhabitants (humans, animals, and plants alike) that make it worthy of the name Paradise. Oh yes- and some added bonuses are the home photos and nature sketches throughout.

No comments about Hiking the North Cascades.

No comments about City in Time: Washington, D.C. (City in Time).

No comments about Steeples and People: Country Churches and Towns of Northcentral and Northeastern Washington.

1 comments about Exploring the San Juan and Gulf Islands: Cruising Paradise of the Pacific Northwest, 2nd Ed..

1. Boaters around here know the Douglasses as the king and queen of cruisers, and their handbooks are our bibles. They've been everywhere, done everything, and they take *really* good notes. This guide is one result; it includes details on every anchorage, waypoint and description in the area. If you plan to spend any time in Pacific Northwest waters, this book is a must have.

1 comments about Washington, D.C. Off the Beaten Path, 4th: A Guide to Unique Places (Off the Beaten Path Series).

1. As someone who moved to the DC area within the last ten months, I wanted a travel guide that would allow me to learn things about the city in which I now live that goes beyond the usual touristy haunts. This book really fits the bill...it's interesting, quirky, and well-explained, not to mention entertaining! I try to take it with me whenever I do a little sightseeing in the city or decide to hit the National Mall for the afternoon. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to see and enjoy DC.