Description:
After buying hoards of guidebooks to help him ferret out the best places to try out his latest Northwest outdoor pursuit (mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, etc.), author Karl Samson kept wishing for one complete outdoor adventure guide. That's exactly what he's attempted to pull together in Outside Magazine's Adventure Guide to the Pacific Northwest, featuring hundreds of trips, trails, and little-known wild places in Washington and Oregon--from the Cascades to the coast. It would take a committed adventurer years just to get through Samson's listings of his favorites (swimming holes, whale watching sites, day hikes, snowshoeing trails, salt water kayak spots, and such)--a good indication that this book is well stocked. Each chapter covers an area within the region, gets you oriented in "Lay of the Land," covers "Parks and Other Hot Spots," "Campgrounds and Other Accommodations," and "What to Do and Where to Do It." There is decidedly plenty to do, and those looking for in-depth coverage may find the brevity of the listings off-putting. However, Samson does an excellent job of packing a surprisingly readable amount of information into every one of the 478 pages. Sidebar features offer everything from Internet resources to the hibernation habits of marmots. If you're heading to the Northwest, check it out. --Kathryn True
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