Customer Reviews

Backpacking Wisconsin

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

 

 

I do not like this book at all. Maybe it is because I am used to using Falcon Guides, but when I purchase a hiking or backpacking trail guide I expect good trail narratives, not a description of the author's hiking experience. I don't care what time they got into camp or what they had for dinner. In a backpacking book I expect some description of water availability from streams, lakes, etc. In this book the authors only describe whether or not public water is available at campsites. Since I have not found this book to be of much use in planning a backpacking trip to Wisconsin, I am now purchasing the Hiking Wisconsin Falcon Guide.

This is a great book. I am into backpacking but never recieved good info about it in our state (I choose to save it for vacations out west - not anymore). I really like how the authors put the book together with ratings of trails and persoanl experience. Excellenet organization. Unlike the other reviewer I think the personal accounts are much needed as they help describe exactly what it was like when the authors were there. This is exactly what Wisconsin backpackers need. I didn't want to make the mistake of going backpacking in Wisconsin and having it turn into something that was too civilized. This book describes what kinds of things are at the campsites or if campsites exist at all(then one must wilderness camp--my favorite). It acts as a guide as to which places will better suite your particular taste for backpacking so you aren't wasteing your whole summer trying to find good places to go.

This is a pretty darn good book. I live in Milwaukee and am pretty familiar with most of the places described. The info is accurate, and there's enough of it. A lot of good maps, too. The authors have divided the state into 5 backpacking regions and in each region they've listed many of the best backpacking parks and trails. It's satisfying to know that the authors have themselves backpacked most of the areas they describe. A lot of good stuff in this book, including general backpacking "how-to" info in the first part, but... There is one piece of advice that I think is poorly thought out. On page 25, their advice is to not bring a cell phone into the woods and that it is of little potential help. They talk of the subject in somewhat unrealistic terms, and only of getting lost in the woods and completely ignore other potential problems such as a medical emergency. As an experienced backpacker, I can tell you as they do... DON'T go into the woods if you aren't prepared for emergency and what to do if you get lost, but, if things do go bad and you have a cell phone with you (especially one of those really small, lightweight ones with a wide coverage area) you could be darn glad you brought it. Keep it turned off, use it only in emergencies and pray that it sends and receives OK from your location. This is the biggest potential problem with cell phones in an emergency, but coverage is getting better and technology is giving us more reliability. Their advice should have been (as it is in many other backpacking articles)...Bring a cell phone (with a fresh battery) if you want to, but understand that it is NOT guaranteed to work, keep it turned off except ONLY for emergencies and it is NO SUBSTITUTE for knowledge and smart preperation. Having said that (it's a small point that I made a big deal of)... DO buy this book if your'e looking at a backpacking trip in this wonderful state.

Wonderfully illustrated throughout with maps and b/w photos, Backpacking Wisconsin is a comprehensive guide and informative overview to the best Wisconsin has to offer the outdoor enthusiast and hiker. For each recreational excursion surveyed the aspiring backpacker will find complete directions for getting there; information on entrance fees and permits, campsites, and contacts; detailed trail maps with keys to roads, parking, trail shelters, water supplies, and outhouses; ratings for trails, scenery, quiet, solitude, and points of interest; background information on history, geology, and terrain; trail notes describing trees, shrubs, wild flowers, birds, and mammals. Backpacking Wisconsin is an indispensable, success enhancing, outdoor recreation and travel guide. Enthusiastically recommended for hikers, campers, bird watchers, and nature lovers.

First off, I recommend reading other reviews as they have some good perspectives.

The book is set up into regions, which are mostly in the north with one region covering everything else including southern WI. As others mention the authors present a number of options in each region and go into depth in the form of narratives telling what their experiences on ones they have done. I enjoyed this as they kept it short, but these accounts probably provide certain information than other resources would so I don't think it's a bad thing to include. Still, as one reviewer mentioned, more practical information and less narrative might have been nice. But overall it gives you a good sense of places to go for ideas for trips, and what you might actually see there, and I think that's worth reading.

I too agree that their recommendation not to bring a cell phone is not a good piece of advice to follow. Always better to have it than not to have it. And they have some GPS advice suggesting that the devices are not all that helpful or accurate - from what I know the technology has improved since then and like cell phones, it's better to have than not, in most cases.

The book is also full of closeup maps, which are nice to have, but I know some are somewhat out-of-date now, so I wouldn't rely on them at all at this point except as a general tool for getting ideas. And there may be other information about the trails that is no longer accurate. So in short, pick this up as a starting point for ideas, but if you're actually going to do any of the trips in the book, check with whoever maintains the trail for updated information and maps.