Customer Reviews

Canyoneering Arizona: Hiking and Exploring the Streambeds, Gorges and Slots of Arizona (Hiking & Biking)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As an avid Arizona hiker I am flat out pumped to get my hands on this awesome book. I kid you not, you will sleep with this book until you memorize every line of information offered. Arizona's canyon country is revealed. Finally a book that acknowledges Arizona has so much more to offer than the Grand Canyon. Adrenalin power punching slot canyons, narrows, waterfalls, creeks, streambeds, and gorges galore fill this book cover to cover! Trek information is included on each adventure. Canyon adventures for beginners to experts make this book a valuable tool for all. Trip description, length, time needed, difficulty, maps and directions complete the package! If you plan on hiking Arizona you need this book!

When you pick up this book, don't worry that it'll be just another dry guidebook. The author shares his love of Arizona in his attention to detail, enthusiastic descriptions, history and geology synopses, and sprinkled opinions on wilderness preservation. All the practical advice is there: how to get to a hike, time estimates, and equipment recommendations; but on top of that, you get the sense of why it's worthwhile to explore these places and treasure them. And the photos are great!

This guidebook is a pleasure to read and look at. Not only are there great photos of incredible places, but the descriptions of the routes are a joy to read...they really peak your interest. The author obviously has a love for his subject. The book is very easy to use and navigate through. The maps are detailed but consise. One of the best guidebooks I've seen!

This is a great guide for those that want to increase the experience of normal day hiking. That being said, I would not classify this as a canyoneering book. In fact, it is misleading that canyoneering is in the title at all. None of the hikes in this book require any type of technical gear (Harness, ropes, etc..). Bottom line... Buy this book if you want a guide for difficult day hikes, Stay away from this book if you are looking for a technical canyoneering guide.

Fishing and exploring Tonto Creek - I was planning a major canyoneering trip early Summer 2001.

I met a couple who had just finished Tonto Creek and had a copy of the book in there packs! They had hidden there bikes in the desert shrubs and planned on doing a little biking and hitchhiking 30 miles where they left there vehicle at the start of there journey. I was interested in the trip and how it went and the dangers and all the inside info!!! so I gave them a ride in my 4x4 30 miles to there car near Bear Flats .

They gave me a copy of the book as a thank you!! The middle age guy and gal were from Telluride, Colorado!! They told me they ran out of food on the trip - yikes! They know the gal in the photo on the cover of the book too!

WOW!! I have since have done two journeys in the book in and out. The book was a good reference and an indication what I was getting into and the dangers and difficulty. The author has written enough detail for the trips and then lets you discover the canyon first hand when you hike it!

Oh let me give you a tip!! Buy a canyoneering helmet for your head! I personally slipped on a rock and hit my head. No serious damage - I quickly bought a helmet and use it. I witnessed dry blood on rocks in a canyon (my private guide told me the person hit there head on a rock and my guide gave first aid to the victim )

Good Luck!!

P.S. I have not yet done Tonto Creek 22 mile trip!

If you're looking for insight into seriously cool exploration opportunities in Arizona, if you really dig the backcountry and a cool down to earth cat of an author with a zesty attitude for the outdoors this book will pacify you're need for new ideas in backpacking and challenge you with the great territory covered.

I've completed many of the hikes in this book and in many cases have found the descriptions skimpy at best, and in many cases just plain inaccurate. The maps are weak and, like the descriptions in the book, look as if they were put together in 5 minutes. It looks like the author simply couldn't be bothered to spend the time to put together a quality product.

The good part of the book, is that some nice locations are described that you might not learn about otherwise. Unfortunately there are a number of rather lousy hikes not worth doing mixed in (i.e. Bill Williams River - nice, if you like raw sewage maybe) & the author provides no way to differentiate between the two.

Worth [the money]?? .... maybe, but it could have been so much better.

AFTER HIKING FOR DECADES IN ARIZONA, I'VE COME ACROSS MY FAVORITE GUIDE BOOK BY FAR! THIS BOOK IS MEGA INFORMATIVE, WELL WRITTEN, INSIGHTFUL, AND FUN TO READ...WILLIAMS WILL GUIDE YOU IN TO THE BEST OF ARIZONA'S BACKCOUNTRY...THIS IS MANDATORY READING FOR THE SERIOUS ARIZONA HIKER, LET ALONE ANYONE INTERESTED IN EXPLORING AWESOME CANYON TERRAIN. I'M HOPING WILLIAMS WILL JUST QUIT EXPLORING AND BEING A FUNHOG LONG ENOUGH TO WRITE ANOTHER GUIDEBOOK AS GOOD AS THIS ONE IS!