Hiking Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

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Summary: Hiking Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Review: I am the author of the book above. I would suggest to anyone who has read Candace Scott's review below to take a look at the guide for themselves before letting her have influence over their decision.

I put a lot of hard work into this guide, and the truth is that editors have the final say as to the wording and content of the book. Limits are also put on the length of the book according to how large the publisher's budget is. If you are on contract, such as I was, the publisher expects you to follow their format; listing mileages, keeping non-hiking information to a minimum, limiting each hike to 1,200 words, etc. There were a few hikes I wasn't able to include due to the 90,000 word limit.

Candace mentions that there are topo maps in the guide, which is incorrect. There are trail maps along with elevation graphs (which show the elevation gain and loss). Topo maps are listed for each hike if the hiker should want to purchase them. Hazards are mentioned in the "Make it a Safe Trip" section of the book. Drinking water is mentioned there as well and in Appendix C, "Hiker's Checklist".

Everyone has a right to their own opinion. If she didn't care for the Falcon Guide format, or enjoyed some of the areas more than is reflected in this guide, that's fine and I have no problem with that. I have my own opinions also, and may not have been as enthused in some of the areas due to deteriorating trail conditions (mainly because of horse travel on the same trail). And finally, constantly reiterating the beauty of Sequoia and Kings Canyon can become redundant and tend to lose its effect. Sometimes it is best to experience the scenery in person, and we all know the Sierra Nevada is a beautiful Mountain Range to say the least.

I also disagree that there is an absence of good hiking guides to the area. I own several from different authors and feel that all of them have their merits and they all contain a wealth of information.

I can honestly say that I have put much effort into including information not found in other guides into this book. I checked and rechecked mileages, took note of native plants along each trail and identified peaks viewed on each hike. I did my best to make this the most accurate and complete guide to the best trails in Sequoia and Kings Canyon. So, if you don't want to risk it by ordering the guide online, take a look at it in your local book or sporting goods store, and decide for yourself. Meanwhile, I will try to get my publisher to request a "Look Inside the Book" feature here on Amazon.

Rating:
Summary: A True Treasure of the Sierras
Review: I have read this book from cover to cover and found it to be very thorough and informative. It is a magnificent tool for the novice and seasoned hiker. The descriptions and photography are just enough to whet your appetite for what lies ahead on the trail. You know exactly what to expect before setting off on each journey into the beautiful Sierras. Be sure to leave room in your pack for a digital camera and this gem of a guide. You will be glad you did.

Rating:
Summary: A True Treasure of the Sierras
Review: I have read this book from cover to cover and found it to be very thorough and informative. It is a magnificent tool for the novice and seasoned hiker. The descriptions and photography are just enough to whet your appetite for what lies ahead on the trail. You know exactly what to expect before setting off on each journey into the beautiful Sierras. Be sure to leave room in your pack for a digital camera and this gem of a guide. You will be glad you did.

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Summary: Inept hiker thinks this is an outdoor bible of info.
Review: I saw this book being written in it's infancy stage and knew I would become addicted to hiking even though I was a beginner the book was clear and concise and gave me the confidence that I sorely needed.
I look forward to more books

Rating:
Summary: Sometimes "Just the facts, ma¿am" is enough
Review: I was impressed by the generous fund of information in this book, and even more so when the author explained that she was operating under space and style constraints. If you look at the publishing record, there are many guidebooks that take in all or part of this region (contrary to what Candace Scott states in her review), and the maps and descriptive material in this volume outshine the vast bulk of its competition. This is an essential volume for anyone interested in exploring the mid-Sierra range and, just as the author says, those interested in poetical aspects over practical know-how are always able to consult John Muir, Clarence King and Ansel Adams.

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Summary: A Helpful Guide to an Incredible Park
Review: This is an excellent guide to a fantastic and underrated backcountry resource (or short day hikes/tourist trails if you prefer). Trail selection and details are very good and the trail maps and elevation profiles are extraordinary. Unlike most guides there is no hesitation to repeat a map a couple of pages apart if it will be helpful to the reader. The primary drawback of the book is that it lacks big picture planning tools like a map that puts the different sections of the book in perspective. A downloaded trail map from the national park service web site supplements it nicely. Additionally there seems to be more detailed coverage of Sequoia than King's canyon. Overall, however, it was a very helpful guide in planning a fantastic backcountry experience.

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Summary: Flat descriptions of each trail
Review: Unfortunately, there are no outstanding guide books to hiking in Sequoia or Kings Canyon National Parks. This book has excellent topgraphical maps which show the elevation gain in each hike, but that isn't enough to salvage the rest of the contents. The main problem is that the author's descriptions of each hike are curiously flat and uninformative. I've done many of the hikes in this book and could only wonder why the descriptions were usually devoid of vivid language or extolling the scenery of each trek.

The description of the premiere hike in the book, Mt. Whitney, was especially lifeless, filled with overly technical details about what you will find at 0.9 miles, 1.2 miles, etc. What would be more beneficial (and useful) would be simply to give an overview of the hike, point out the beauty and hazards and add something about toting enough fluids.

One plus is that there are accurate descriptions to each trailhead. But again, the actual text descriptions of each hike leave an awful lot to be desired.