Day Hiking North Cascades: 2nd edition

LOCAL AUTHOR

The North Cascades is a huge area covering about one quarter of the state of Washington. This nifty little (5 X 7.4 inches) guide is packed with terrific information that will take hikers of all levels to the perfect day hikes for them. The table of contents is followed by a general map of the area covered with each hike marked and a handy table that includes the distance (round trip in miles), degree of difficulty, expected crowds, whether the trail is open all year, whether the trail is kid-friendly and dog-friendly, if camping is nearby, and more for all one hundred and thirty-six hikes. The introduction tells what permits are required and what regulations are in place, weather, road and trail conditions, wilderness and trail ethics, and other concerns. A short section explains how to use the book. Each of the one hundred thirty-six trails has its own section, two to four pages in length, with the difficulty rating, length, elevation gain, season, a good map of the trail, directions how to reach the trailhead, what one will see along the way, and some beautiful photos of the views. The writing is lively and the information is succinct and useful.