Customer Reviews

Catskill Mountain Guide (Appalachian Mountain Club)

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

 

 

I have all of the current, in print Catskill guidebooks, and this one is the best by far. It's authoritative and well written...and by a single author. the competing book, by ADK, was originally written by about 30 contributors--and there's no map, so you have to buy the Conference maps. There's no BS in this book, either--no pretentious, over authoritative hype...just clean straight forward trail information by someone who is probably the single most knowledgeable Catskill hiker ALIVE. Get it...you'll love it.

Anyone who has ever found himself out on a trail that suddenly seems to disappear knows the value of a good map and a good trail guide. Peter Kick's new Catskill Mountains Guide definitely falls into the latter category, and it even includes a pullout, color map! Detailed trail descriptions are interspersed with fascinating bits of history, trail ratings, campsite suggestions, and a voice that truly knows the landscape it describes. Plus, it's small enough to fit in a pack or even a pocket. As a hiker well on his way to attaining the Catskill 35, I wouldn't set out without it!

This is really not to bad of a book. The map is helpful especially when driving to locate trailheads!!. I've been up two of the trails and they were fairly correct on the distance and time required. I think the author could have been more specific in his directions as to how to use the book (ie whether the distances and times are one way or round trip). He seems like he is speaking to someone who has been in the region and not to someone like me who is used to the type of hiking on the west coast. I also needed the map to figure out what he was talking about most of the time. I wouldn't complain if there were a few pictures.

In summation... a solid effort but I've read better.

Finally, here's a guidebook from the best--the Appalachian Mountain Club. This is the ONLY Catskill hiking book that has a map included. It's also a GPS rendered map..the most accurate map of the Catskills EVER made!! You save big bucks when you buy this book, since you don't have to buy the NYNJTC maps as you're forced to do when you buy other Catskill guides. Also, Kick knows what he's talking about. He lives in the Catskills, and that makes a big difference.
--A fan.

This guide is very detailed and very useful. It comes with a map of all of the trails in the Catskills. (Topographical) I would definately reccomend it. I didnt really use the detailed descriptions in the text too often but they came in handy a few times. The map is really the best part. Hike!

I never got to do the extensive hike I wanted to, but I felt like this book helped me understand all the places to go. Even has off the path camping lists that I have referred to a few times.

Very good variety of hikes from easy to rough! Used for some hikes already, and if very accurate. Replaced my older guide from about 1987.

Catskills are a great place to hike. Not that far from New York City, yet not crowded at all.

This is an excellent guide with a great selection of trails and a handy topographical map with all the details necessary for planning and guiding you through the area.

We visit Castkill Mountain more than ones and this guide have everything you need to planning your hikes in this region. The map, the sharp description of the trails and the recommendation are very useful for experts as for the beginners. Today we have other type of paper for the maps like Tyvek............ may be next edition?

Adrian

This book is devoid of BS and purple prose and some people will need more hand holding, for sure. this is a trail guide written for the more "advanced" hiking crowd--those who need TLC may be better off with a purfumey regional guide that tells you where all the good capuccino joints are. This is the best guide out there--and tho it has a little tweaking to do, it will be the cult classic for the next 20 years. Trust me. :)