Customer Reviews

Along the Pacific Crest Trail

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you love the outdoors, this book will knock your socks off. Bart Smith's photography is unbelievable - truly stunning!! Having thru hiked the Appalachian Trail, I think that Karen Berger has accurately captured the ups and downs of a thru hike. The adventure and the pain. The delight and the struggle. The two combined have created the consumate work on the PCT. What a pleasure to read.

A terrific book about the 2600 mile Pacific Crest Trail. The text is well written and easily read. As one who has contemplated the journey, I was thrilled with the detailed descriptions of the authors' trek. But for me, it is the pictures that make this a winning book. Over 100 stunning shots of everything from lakes, flowers, and trees to mountains, wildlife, and even one unbelievable photo of lightning! I can daydream for an hour over each picture. Composition and lighting are superb. I can't imagine anyone not saying "Wow!" again and again as they page through this book. An excellent book...absolutely spectacular photography!

The photographs of the PCT by Bart Smith will take your breath away. I've section hiked long parts of the PCT and the sheer beauty of certain parts is etched in my mind forever. This book brings back a flood of memories and makes you feel as if you're back on the trail, enjoying all the stunning vistas, meadows and expanses of wildflowers. Though the photos are the backbone of the book, there is also an interesting narrative by Karen Berger, who has written several other thru-hiking books about the PCT. Berger tells about her own hiking experiences on the trail and the text is never intrusive, merely instructive and entertaining. She narrates a story about her time spent near Thousand Mile Lake near Mammoth and alongside is a stunning color photo of the lake.

Anyone with an interest in the Sieraa range, the PCT, hiking or who simply enjoys beautiful photographs, will gravitate to this guide. Rarely have so many sumptuous pictures been grouped together in one volume. If you're not a hiker, this book very likely will persuade you to get in shape and hit the trail. The vast majority of scenic wilderness in the United States can never be seen from a car window. You must lace up your shoes and get out there. I highly recommend this book for its simple beauty and awesome photos. If it persuades one coach potato to explore the endless beauty of California, then it's worth its purchase.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book ! Bart Smith explains that he hiked the PCT intending to photograph it along the way, and soon discovered that Thru-hiking and serious photography are simply incompatible. Bart returned to the trail over a period of 6 years to capture outstanding images of the spectacular backcountry, and then asked Karen Berger to write the accompanying narrative from her own Thru-hike experience. Karen's story blends humor, science, insight, and an obvious love for the trail. I thought her level of detail was perfect, telling the story meaningfully without getting bogged down. If you enjoy mountain hiking and share my facination with the PCT you are certain to love this book.

Outdoor enthusiasts will find wonderful photos of the Pacific Crest Trail. An accurate depiction of what its like to be on a thru hike in this part of our beautiful country.

Although the pictures are excellent and show all the different areas the trail crosses, what I really enjoyed most about this book is the story. It brilliantly mixes a description of the trail, a little history about some places it crosses, the contrast between multiple-use and protected areas, and an inside view of the thru-hiking adventure. This is not a trail guide and it is not supposed to be; it is a story that makes you feel you are actually hiking the trail, specially if you are familiar with the geography, weather and environmental problems of the area.

I got this book from the library, and after reading it, decided to buy it. This is a book you should own if you like to hike. I had never considered the idea of long distance hiking, but I'm starting to think different after reading this book.

Although the included map contains most of the places the book refers to, I would have made it a little bit more detailed representing the different mountain ranges and ecosystems the trail crosses.

Bart's pictures are riveting. They give a glimpse of paradise. Karen's prose gives a feeling for what it is like to walk through these beautiful mountains. Dan's journal entries are direct, fun and a great addition to the book. This trio takes you along on the trail!

The photos are unbelieveably breathtaking - only the first-hand view itself can compare. The photos were taken over several years by a professional outdoor photographer to capture each section of the trail in its best and most beautiful season, but the text was written, in superb style, by a backpacking author along her own great non-stop walk of the 2600+ mile journey. Of course, you don't need to hear that from me... you can read her own comments of it above.

The best part is the fact that she writes it truly from the perspective of a thru-hiker. It isn't about how many miles have been covered or how many more are left, but rather pays attention to the details... colors of the flowers, the feel of a thin, crisp breeze, and the occasional awesome sight of a massive ridge across an epic mountain valley in the high Sierra Nevadas. It documents the trials, tribulations, heat, rattlesnakes, cold, clouds of mosquitoes, and doubt that they (as well as thousands of other thru-hikers) encounter along the way. This is coupled with the thrill and exhiliration of feeling truly alive in one's most basic existence.

Truly a grand compilation, for the avid outdoor enthusiast to the typical couch-potato liking to be inspired. Don't hesitate to cherish it yourself. Worth every penny.

Beautiful photography, engaging narrative, and quality printing. After seeing this book at a friend's house, I had to buy a copy for myself. If you've ever had thoughts of hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, the photos in this book will almost force you to go. Highly recommended.

and it perfectly compliments Berger's and Smith's description of the determination needed to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail. I frequently find myself pulling the book from the shelf as the wonderful photography by Bart Smith provides the perfect escape from the "big city" life in Northern Virginia.

I anxiously await Bart's upcoming book, "The Appalachian Trail: Calling Me Back to the Hills" to see what he can do with the the natural beauty in the East!