No comments about Washington Pocket Map and Guide (Eyewitness Pocket Maps & Guides).

2 comments about Take a Walk: 100 Walks Through Natural Places in the Puget Sound Region.

1. Sue Muller Hacking's Take a Walk is a guide to some established trails in the Puget Sound region. The descriptions are concise, include a map and may include a black and white picture. The book summarises the highlights of the trail, other usage (e.g. bicycles), steepness, connecting trails, park services (e.g. restrooms, picnic areas) and whether there is disabled access. There is then a brief description of the trail (usually a couple of paragraphs) followed by directions to the park.

   This would be a good book for families with young children, because most of the parks seem to be "family friendly" and you will have essential information on facilities. You will also have 100 ideas of places to visit that are a short drive from Everett, Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma or Olympia.

   I was rather disappointed with this book as I was expecting to find a book of short hikes on non-paved trails. I had the distinct impression that I could have put together a similar book by contacting the Parks and Recreation Department and asking them to send me flyers on each park. There is also a dearth of historical information.

   If you are new to Seattle and want a concise guide to the many different parks and trails of the region, then this book might be just what you are looking for. If you are a day hiker looking for some varied, challenging and interesting trails, look elsewhere.




2. I used this book while temporarily living in Olympia, WA, and it was a great guide to experiencing the abundance of natural beauty around the small city. Most guide books on the state of WA only cover more obvious areas like Seattle or the Olympic National Rainforest or Mount Rainier. "Take a Walk" is a great resource for walking trails in areas that are more off the beaten path. Also, the author provides helpful information regarding the description of the trails, difficulty level, handicap access, and directions. I can't vouch for the trails in areas outside of Olympia but, based on my experience, I would highly recommend this book as a useful, descriptive resource.

No comments about Boatless in Seattle: Getting on the Water in Western Washington Without Owning a Boat.

5 comments about Selected Climbs in the Cascades.

1. This guide thoroughly describes several climbs in the cascades of Washington, ranging from simple walk-ups to technical rock climbs. It gives detailed information on the best climbs. I have used it extensively on numerous climbs and find it informative, current, easy to read, and very helpful. The maps and pictures with routes are especially helpful. Almost every major climb in the North Cascades is covered and the history section preceding the description of each climb is very interesting. This is a great book and a must for any mountaineer in Washington, whether they be a beginner or a seasoned climber.



2. This book includes a great selection of climbs in the Cascade Mountains. From classic routes up Mt. Rainier and Mt. Baker to more obscure climbs in North Cascade National Park, it has it all. The descriptions are clear and contain all of the pertinent information to get you to the top! The pictures of the routes and the graphics of the rock pitches are extremely useful. The history behind each climb also adds to the overall enjoyment of the climbing experience. It is a good resource for the beginning climber as well as the advanced. Read it and hit the hills!



3. This book has a great selection of climbs from glaciered peaks like Mt Rainier to remote rock climbs in the North Cascades. The pictures of the routes and the graphics of the rock pitches are excellent. The histories of each climb add to the total enjoyment of doing a route. It is a pleasure to read and a real asset for the climber.



4. This is one of the most well done guidebooks I have ever seen. Some of my friends refer to the first volume of this book as "The Bible of Northwest Climbing." This one is destined for the same accolades.

   The book itself is made of heavy stock paper - something that you can throw around in your car and not worry about too much. The black and white pictures are awesome and the route descriptions are well written. Hardware suggestions appear to be appropriate and the permit information looks good too.

   This book describes 96 new routes and includes crag climbs (something which was not covered in the first edition). Perhaps the best thing about this book is that most of the climbs are somewhat off of the beaten track and not the most well known. Every self-respecting climber in the northwest should own both of these books - they're guaranteed to get you excited and help you pick your next trip.




5. This guidebook presents more detailed descriptions of the most popular routes in the Cascades than are available in Beckey's guides. So it's definitely helpful for newer climbers who really want to have as much detail as possible about the routes they are about to tackle.
   That said, you will eventually want to have the Beckey guides to refer to for routes beyond the small collection represented here, and once you have the Beckey guides you can find out pretty much anything else you need to by researching on-line trip reports. Perhaps it's more convenient to have all the information in a single book though.
   I used this guide quite a bit for my fist few months climbing, but after that it more or less stayed on the shelf and I tend to use Beckey and climbing websites to plan my routes now.
   It's a good book though. Unlike the Smoot guides these are mostly accurate. The only negative is simply the limited selection of routes.

2 comments about House of Spies: Danger in Civil War Washington (White Mane Kids).

1. This book was awsome. I loved it. This book made history alive for me. I thought this was actually going on and I was there with them! I loved it



2. Through out the North and the South your neighbor could have been a supporter for the opposite cause. Washington was filled with supports of the South. The author takes her protagonists back in time to this situation in Washington. The secrecy that surrounds Washington finds them in big trouble. How do they escape not knowing whom they can trust? This is a book of intrigue that keeps your attention. By Ruth Thompson author of "Natchez Above The River" and "The Bluegrass Dream"
   
   Writing as a Small BusinessSins of the Fathers: A Brewster County NovelQualifying Laps: A Brewster County NovelTravelersThe Bluegrass Dream: A Wilderness Adventure of Early SettlersNatchez Above The River: A Family's Survival In The Civil War

2 comments about Washington: Scenes from a Capital City.

1. When I first saw Mr. Cleave's book "Washington, Scenes from a Capital City", I thought...What a beautiful and interesting representation of all the wonderful architecture of our great city and its surrounding area. I found Mr. Cleave's choice of buildings and other structures, and the potpourri of other familiar landmarks, signs and other details to be superb. Many features were quite amusing and brought back nostalgic memories...haunts of my youth. Because of this, Mr. Cleave's book was chosen by me to give to all visiting guests attending my daughter's wedding from abroad; a gift they treasure, I've been told! Mr. Cleave's book has served as a wonderful housewarming and graduation gift for me but, more importantly, I believe it would make a splendid corporate gift for Christmas, and for delegates to conventions/conferences in our wonderful city; someone should investigate this marketing proposal.



2. This is not your typical "coffee table" book showing glossy photos of all the usual monuments and buildings that we already know from a thousand other pictures. This book is more of a work of art in itself, with photos marvelously re-worked into water-color-like portraits of scenes form Washington. The scenes too are different; familiar buildings seen from unfamiliar angles and unfamiliar buildings and views presented in a way that entices the reader to go and look. What this book does is to show Washington to be so much more than what we think we know about it. The city is shown to be as wonderful a work of art as the book itself.

No comments about The Seattle & Vancouver Book, A Complete Guide: Includes the Olympic Peninsula, Victoria & More (Great Destinations).

1 comments about Natural Washington: A Nature-Lover's Guide.

1. Great to see an author looking at the subject of Natural this way. For others interested in working together on a natural website....please contact me at mrhagerott@aol.com And for Amazon, great job getting quality books like this on your shelves.

1 comments about North Puget Sound: Afoot and Afloat (Afoot & Afloat).

1. While this book is written for boaters who land and then might do a dayhike, it is a great guide to the state and county parks in the San Juan Islands, Skagit and Island counties and areas on the water in the Olympic Pennisula. A solid book that delivers information on areas that are not widely known.

1 comments about Cascade Alpine Guide: Stevens Pass to Rainy Pass.

1. The series of books by Beckey on climbing and high routes in the cascades gives the most comprehensive and complete presentation of cascades. Each peak is described with great detail and the photos and pictures are great. This is truly a great guide!