Customer Reviews

Camping California's National Forests

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

 

 

Yes, I knew the book was out of date as it was written in 1991 but I could not have known how much information about California's National Forests is just not in this book nor how poorly presented the information would be. The narrative is nice (that's the one star I gave) but the maps and even the charts are awful. Both lack detail. For example, the map of Tahoe National Forest doesn't show any rivers - not one, when the American and the Yuba (and others) are very important and mentioned throughout the narrative. Almost every map includes only: major highways, cities (not towns) and lakes. Major foot trails may be partially represented but not identified on the map. Most towns and roads used as locators or for directions aren't shown. The charts don't include information on bathrooms, pets or stores for restocking groceries or ice - nor does the narrative. Types or lengths of trailers allowed/acceptable aren't in the chart but are sometimes mentioned in the narrative. It takes a lot for me to "pan" a book but this one deserves it.

Yes, I knew the book was out of date as it was written in 1991 but I could not have known how much information about California's National Forests is just not in this book nor how poorly presented the information would be. The narrative is nice (that's the one star I gave) but the maps and even the charts are awful. Both lack detail. For example, the map of Tahoe National Forest doesn't show any rivers - not one, when the American and the Yuba (and others) are very important and mentioned throughout the narrative. Almost every map includes only: major highways, cities (not towns) and lakes. Major foot trails may be partially represented but not identified on the map. Most towns and roads used as locators or for directions aren't shown. The charts don't include information on bathrooms, pets or stores for restocking groceries or ice - nor does the narrative. Types or lengths of trailers allowed/acceptable aren't in the chart but are sometimes mentioned in the narrative. It takes a lot for me to "pan" a book but this one deserves it.

This book is becoming long in the tooth, but the quantity of detail regarding "places" in the forests is excellent. Included are the touristy, the developed, and the dispersed/remote stops. The maps are sparse, apparantly intended only to provide a sense of location in the large scheme, but directions and relative location are addressed quite thoroughly in the copy. The book demands a close reading, but the reward is a nice complement of options for enjoying this vast California resource.