Backpacking California (Paperback)

~ Paul Backhurst (Editor) "Although this title is the third in the Wilderness Press Backpacking series covering a state, Backpacking California is immediately recognizable as a different sort of..." (more)
Key Phrases: quota trailhead, trip description, moderate forest cover, Author Bio, Tuolumne Meadows, Wilderness Press (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

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 Sierra Nevada, the Cascades, and the Warner Mountains, including portions of the Pacific Crest Trail, the High Sierra Trail, and the John Muir Trail. Some are old favorites, others are published here for the first time.

Brief biographies introduce you to the venerable Wilderness Press authors who will be your guides. Their unique and personable styles reflect a labor of love, and their helpful tips reveal extensive backpacking expertise.

Edited by Paul Backhurst, trail descriptions are arranged in a clear and readable format. Each trip includes a trail map showing the trailhead, route, and terminus; campsites; mileage; and an at-a-glance hiking difficulty chart.

Product Details

• Paperback: 510 pages
• Publisher: Wilderness Press (May 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0899972861
• ISBN-13: 978-0899972862
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #681,454 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Selective, but superb, June 19, 2001

By	A. Bennett (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE Premier, Single Reference, CA Backpacking Guide , May 21, 2005

By	Stanford Gibson (West Sacramento, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars below standards of other books in series, September 3, 2007

By	ledcat (Pa.) - See all my reviews

Obviously, I'm not happy with this book. I have 6 books in this series titled backpacking by Wilderness Press. Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, and now California. I believe I use these books for their intended purpose, to evaluate and plan a backpacking trip, not necessarily needing to be from the area. Most of the books in the series, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Idaho follow a standard. These books give elevation gain for each day, shuttle mileage listed easily, and score for scenery, solitude, and difficulty. These books display a trip summary chart which is very nice. Also, their maps list mileages on the map along with frequent elevation along the route, except for Idaho. All these things are missing in the California book, which is what made the above books so good. In addition, over 15 of the hikes in my opinion are not backpacking trips, they are just day hikes. This was what I was trying to get away from in the Falcon guide books. California for some reason just had to be different, maybe it's because of all the different contributors, instead of just one. Either way it's a let down, and the Wilderness Press should stick to the previous standard that made Douglas Lorain's Backpacking books so great.