Customer Reviews

Desolation Wilderness and the South Lake Tahoe Basin

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

 

 

This is a nice book with a serious flaw. To understand this flaw, think about why one might buy a hiking book. Reason 1: to find out what trails exist in a given region, and how to find those trails (ie, the directions to the trailhead for each trail). Reason 2: to get detailed information about specific trails.

For me, the most important information about a specific trail is the distance in miles to one or more points on the trail and the elevations at various points along the trail. If we are deciding which trail to walk, we need to know how difficult the trail is. Difficulty is a function of BOTH distance and elevation change.

Remarkably, this book provides no information about elevations at any point on any trail described, not even the elevation at the trailhead or at the furthest destination reached on the trail. This is unusual among hiking books, and it is a SERIOUS OMISSION.

The book includes small reproductions of portions of topographic maps at the back, but the elevation numbers on the maps are rare (mainly summits) and it would take a long time to decipher the contours for each trail. I pay money for a book assuming someone has already done that for me, and summarized the information in the description of each trail.

Why not follow the example of the Yosemite National Park Service and other hiking books, and include a "trail profile" image for each hike? This image shows distance on the horizontal axis and elevation on the vertical axis, with text labels to indicate specific landmarks or trail junctions along the way. If there are side trails or alternate routes, choose one route for the main profile and add separate profiles below that for the segments of the trail that differ. Or at least state the elevations for the final destination of each side trail.

Aside from this serious flaw, it seems like a good book. The trail descriptions appear to be clear, and the organization and layout are good. The photographs of lakes set in granite bowls are superb.

This book is so accurate and descriptive it made hiking the Tahoe Desolation Wilderness a pleasure. The authors describe the trails in detail, steep, vertical, not for beginners etc. The map included in the back is an assest, the detailed book a must for anyone heading into the wilderness of Tahoe.

This is the best book to get for hiking around Lake Tahoe - it is written clearly with step by step descriptions of each hike, the flora and fauna of the area and the difficulty level for each hike. Definitely a must when visiting the Tahoe basin area.