Customer Reviews

Peak Experiences, Hiking the Highest Summits of New York, County by County (Trail Guidebooks)

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This is an excellent guide to hiking the highest peaks in the 62 counties of New York State. The author Gary Fallesen started his quest thinking it would take a few months. As he searched for the highest natural peaks county by county he discovered that in many cases the information was not known! He ended up spending hours interviewing,and researching to determine the highest peak often getting mixed information. The result of his work is "Peak Experiences". Time may show that Fallesen missed a higher peak but in the meantime "Peak Experiences" offers an extraordinary body of work to make the trip more pleasurable! The book includes many tips for the traveler. It covers each summit with interesting personal antecdotes of the people Fallesen met and/or the authors thoughts. This folksy sharing makes the journey real and Fallesen's book much more than the typical tour guide! But Fallesen includes the nitty gritty too. In Peak Experiences you will find detailed maps including the best approach to the peak, season recommendations, visitor accomodations, gear guide, trip planning, the view and even a sweat index of the effort entailed! The author also includes a checklist to note your personal high point accomplishment and a place at the end of each section to make notes. The book is nicely sized to tuck in a backpack for constant referral. A must have for hiking New York summits!

Peak Experiences is a traveler friendly county-by-county guidebook specifically designed for anyone wanting to hike the highest summits in the state of New York. Enhanced with a wealth of pictures, maps, and regional information, author Gary Fallesen's comprehensive text touches on approaches, trail markings, the expected views, the origins of peak names, visitor accommodations, nearby activities, and sources of essential trip planning information. If you are bound for a hike in the New York high country, begin with a copy of Gary Fallesen's Peak Experiences!

This is a great collection of hikes and stories that prove once again that 4000 footers are not the only adventures waiting to be had. New Yorkers are so fortunate to have so many wild and unspoiled places to get away from it all. If you like hiking for the sake of hiking (or even if your "counting" peaks) this is a fun book. Meeting people along the trail is always adventurous and filled with suprises. Those shared experiences are an essential part of these stories. It makes me want to grease up my boots, grab Gary's book, and get out there.