Backpacking California

By: Paul Backhurst

Book Overview

Aimed at serious outdoor lovers, the described routes assume some familiarity with backpacking. The trips range from one night to two weeks, and cover the Coast Ranges from Mexico to Oregon, the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0899972861
• ISBN13: 9780899972862
• Release Date: May 2001
• Publisher: Wilderness Press
• Length: 510 Pages
• Weight: 2.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Best Backpacking Trips

I've been a fan of Wilderness Press since the early 70's. This book presents some of the best trips in California, several of which I can personally vouch for.

THE Premier, Single Reference, CA Backpacking Guide

After several years of planning trips with topos, multiple books, websites and word of mouth recommendations I discovered this book. It turned out that every trip I had done, heavily considered, or that was on my "to do" list was included. Any book that tries to cover a topic as broad as "Backpacking California" is going have limitations - but the authors pick the absolute best of the coast, Desolation, south Cascades, Tahoe, Yosemite, Kings/Sequoia, Ansel Adams, Inyo and more. There is also good variety of distances and almost a third of the trips are loops. The maps are very good and trail statistics are helpful. My only complaint is the absence of elevation profiles (a total gain/loss number is offered) so the "Sierra South"/"Sierra North" books make good companions to this one. However, if you are going to own just one backpacking guide for your first 5 years of backpacking in CA or are just visiting and want to pick from the best, this is the book to have.

Great book!!!

I've always been a fan of Wilderness Press books and this one won't disappoint! I used this book to help plan a trip to Lost Coast (Oct '02), but had to change plans at last minute when I got to Calif. We did the Lassen Loop also described in the book and it was great. Highly recommend this book.

Maps, trailheads, elevation and campsite information

Backpacking California is a "user friendly" compenium of tips from experts gather over thirty years of backpacking experience under one cover, with seventeen authors providing keys to over sixty backpacking routes in California. Maps, trailheads, elevation and campsite information pack a guide which will prove essential for any planning a backpacking journey.

Selective, but superb

This book is a detailed survey of a good number of excellent hikes in California. While there are other books which contain many, many more locations, this book stands out because of its level of detail and vastly superior maps. Each trail description is headed up by important information, like number of days, type of route (one way, out and back, loop), elevation gain/loss (very nice), etc. The trail descriptions are written with a bent towards useful information rather than mere description. This is the only place for example, where I have seen warnings about old industrial sites with possible water pollution issues for the Lost Coast trail. It would be nice if these types of books would include an index by number of days required, so that weekend trips could be easily located. Highly recommended book for anyone interested in overnight backpacking trips in California.