The Short Hiker : Small Green Circles, 3rd Edition

Rating:
Summary: Good Guide to Hiking in Central PA
Review: I feel William Ames review of Jean Aron's 'The Short Hiker' is unduly harsh. Her writing has a conversational tone to it and is interspersed with gentle humor and asides. While perhaps not what he expected to encounter in a trail guide, it does provide friendly encouragement and advice to novice hikers, newcomers and old timers who wish to hike the special trails of Central PA. I agree that the maps could be clearer and easier to read. It should be noted that the author has worked within the constraints of a limited budget to publish this guide, and thus maps, graphics, etc. have been kept modest. I've always found her trail descriptions accurate and easy to follow. As an added bonus she includes useful information about special plants, seasonal birds and other significant features likely to be encountered while hiking each trail. The introductory remarks concerning preparations for hiking are sound, sensible and of value to both novice and experienced hiker. Some people may dislike Aron's writing style, but others find it reflective and enjoyable, reminiscent of the regional writers of New England. All in all, this is the best book available for introducing residents of central PA to the fascinating hiking possibilities available.

Rating:
Summary: a walk in heaven...
Review: I loved this book. Easy to follow, lots of details. perfect for anyone visiting State College, PA for a Penn State game with some extra time. Excellent job.

Rating:
Summary: a walk in heaven...
Review: I loved this book. Easy to follow, lots of details. perfect for anyone visiting State College, PA for a Penn State game with some extra time. Excellent job.

Rating:
Summary: Amateurish at best, but only local guide available
Review: I was glad to find this book, since I was looking to explore some of the hiking trails in the area. The trails are good, but I'll admit that some of them are hard for an older person like myself to accomplish. Still, I would have been completely unaware of many of the trails without this guide. Like many self-published books, the writing and "look and feel" of the book leave much to be desired, but the basic information is there, should you care to sift through the "prose and poetry" to get to it! My wife, who teaches English at a local university described the writing as "quaint and rambling" and typical for non-authors. I skipped it and tried to follow the routes.

Rating:
Summary: Amateurish at best, but only local guide available
Review: I was glad to find this book, since I was looking to explore some of the hiking trails in the area. The trails are good, but I'll admit that some of them are hard for an older person like myself to accomplish. Still, I would have been completely unaware of many of the trails without this guide. Like many self-published books, the writing and "look and feel" of the book leave much to be desired, but the basic information is there, should you care to sift through the "prose and poetry" to get to it! My wife, who teaches English at a local university described the writing as "quaint and rambling" and typical for non-authors. I skipped it and tried to follow the routes.

Rating:
Summary: Good hikes, bad writing
Review: Jean Aron has done a lot for the hiking community in State College, PA, and her trail guide points out some very nice hikes. I particularly like the fact that many of her hikes can be completed in an evening, after work. They don't require a whole day of weekend or vacation time. What is bad about this book is the writing--it's pretty bad. Jean Aron may be an accomplished hiker, but she should leave the writing to a ghost writer, or at least get a good editor. Her style rambles and includes 'poetic' language and additions that will make you groan. Some of her insights are nice, but mostly it's just bad amateur poetry. The hand-drawn maps and poor page layout are another downside--the maps miss important points, landmakrs and directions on getting there, and they look childish. The page layout is also poorly thought out, and makes it difficult to read. She should pay somebody a few dollars to redraw the maps and design better pages. Also, be careful if you take some of the longer hikes in this book, as they are innacurate. Ms. Aron is getting on in years, and she hasn't visited or researched some of these trails in quite some time. I found myself on a 4 hour boot buster I wasn't planning on! Still, with its faults, this is the best guide to short hikes in the State College Area, and you'll probably find it a good resource.

Rating:
Summary: Good hikes, bad writing
Review: Jean Aron has done a lot for the hiking community in State College, PA, and her trail guide points out some very nice hikes. I particularly like the fact that many of her hikes can be completed in an evening, after work. They don't require a whole day of weekend or vacation time. What is bad about this book is the writing--it's pretty bad. Jean Aron may be an accomplished hiker, but she should leave the writing to a ghost writer, or at least get a good editor. Her style rambles and includes 'poetic' language and additions that will make you groan. Some of her insights are nice, but mostly it's just bad amateur poetry. The hand-drawn maps and poor page layout are another downside--the maps miss important points, landmakrs and directions on getting there, and they look childish. The page layout is also poorly thought out, and makes it difficult to read. She should pay somebody a few dollars to redraw the maps and design better pages. Also, be careful if you take some of the longer hikes in this book, as they are innacurate. Ms. Aron is getting on in years, and she hasn't visited or researched some of these trails in quite some time. I found myself on a 4 hour boot buster I wasn't planning on! Still, with its faults, this is the best guide to short hikes in the State College Area, and you'll probably find it a good resource.

Rating:
Summary: Beginner Hikers' Lucky Find
Review: This book is a dream to us, beginner hikers. I find the descriptions delightful and her tips helpful. It will be a valuable resource when my husband and I travel through the state this summer.

Rating:
Summary: Beginner Hikers' Lucky Find
Review: This book is a dream to us, beginner hikers. I find the descriptions delightful and her tips helpful. It will be a valuable resource when my husband and I travel through the state this summer.