Day Hikes on the California Central Coast

Rating:
Summary: Key words: coast and day hike
Review: This review speaks only for the book's format and NOT for the accuracy of its information.
Good Points
·Very complete. Stretches from Monterey to Carpenteria and covers many coastal hikes missing in other guides
·Easily understood writing style that gives the high points for each trail
·Two-dimensional map illustration for each trail. Appears to be accurate and to scale
·Current (based on ground-checking three listed trails and comparison to other guides for the area)
Weak Points
·Format. Each trail has exactly two pages for narrative and map. I have the feeling that this restricts what the author could have added to the trail narrative
·No topo info or trail profile. Anyone who has no trouble reading topo maps will find the illustrations in this guide limiting. Although the author includes the elevation gain for each trail, this is insufficient for the reader to determine just how tough any trail may be
·Very limited scope inland. "Coast" is in the title and "coast" is what is meant. You won't find much info for trails in Monterey county that have trailheads on the coast but extend inland
·No rating scheme. The author makes no attempt to rate any single hike more scenic or more difficult than any other hike
·No naturalist guide. This book is strictly for trail info
·No GPS waypoint info. Many of us now have handheld GPS receivers and want waypoints for trailheads, trail intersections, and scenic points as a minimum requirement
Summary: Sticking to its title, this book is a complete listing of coastal day hikes from Monterey to Carpenteria. Topo and GPS users or naturalist hikers will need additional resources beyond this book

Rating:
Summary: Key words: coast and day hike
Review: This review speaks only for the book's format and NOT for the accuracy of its information.
Good Points
· Very complete. Stretches from Monterey to Carpenteria and covers many coastal hikes missing in other guides
· Easily understood writing style that gives the high points for each trail
· Two-dimensional map illustration for each trail. Appears to be accurate and to scale
· Current (based on ground-checking three listed trails and comparison to other guides for the area)
Weak Points
· Format. Each trail has exactly two pages for narrative and map. I have the feeling that this restricts what the author could have added to the trail narrative
· No topo info or trail profile. Anyone who has no trouble reading topo maps will find the illustrations in this guide limiting. Although the author includes the elevation gain for each trail, this is insufficient for the reader to determine just how tough any trail may be
· Very limited scope inland. "Coast" is in the title and "coast" is what is meant. You won't find much info for trails in Monterey county that have trailheads on the coast but extend inland
· No rating scheme. The author makes no attempt to rate any single hike more scenic or more difficult than any other hike
· No naturalist guide. This book is strictly for trail info
· No GPS waypoint info. Many of us now have handheld GPS receivers and want waypoints for trailheads, trail intersections, and scenic points as a minimum requirement
Summary: Sticking to its title, this book is a complete listing of coastal day hikes from Monterey to Carpenteria. Topo and GPS users or naturalist hikers will need additional resources beyond this book