Hiking Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (Regional Hiking Series) [Paperback]

Laurel Scheidt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2002 | Series: Regional Hiking Series

Discover towering groves of giant sequoia trees, crystalline trout rivers, jagged peaks and alpine meadows, and Mount Whitney in 100 of the best hikes in the parks, situated in California's rugged Sierra Nevada. Contains easy day hikes to challenging backpacking trips.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Lace up your boots and sample some of the finest trails in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, situated in California's rugged Sierra Nevada. From towering groves of giant sequoia trees and crystalline trout rivers through the jagged peaks and alpine meadows all the way up to Mount Whitney, the highest mountain in the lower 48, Sequoia and Kings Canyon have routes to please hikers of every stripe. Let veteran hiker and nature lover Laurel Scheidt lead you through eighty-six trails that vary in difficulty from easy strolls for the whole family to challenging treks for the more experienced hiker.Use this guide for up-to-date trail information, accurate directions to popular as well as less-traveled trails, difficulty ratings for each hike, detailed trail maps, and zero-impact camping tips. Whether you are a day-tripper or long-distance hiker, old hand or novice, you'll find trails suited to every ability and interest throughout Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park. (6 X 9, 296 pages, b&w photos, maps, graphs, charts)

About the Author

Laurel Scheidt is a veteran hiker and the author of Best Easy Day Hikes Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. She lives in Modesto, California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: FalconGuides; 1st edition (March 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762711221
• ISBN-13: 978-0762711222
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #464,840 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hiking Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, March 2, 2003

By 

Laurel Scheidt (Modesto, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hiking Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (Regional Hiking Series) (Paperback)

I am the author of the book above. I would suggest to anyone who has read Candace Scott's review below to take a look at the guide for themselves before letting her have influence over their decision.

I put a lot of hard work into this guide, and the truth is that editors have the final say as to the wording and content of the book. Limits are also put on the length of the book according to how large the publisher's budget is. If you are on contract, such as I was, the publisher expects you to follow their format; listing mileages, keeping non-hiking information to a minimum, limiting each hike to 1,200 words, etc. There were a few hikes I wasn't able to include due to the 90,000 word limit.

Candace mentions that there are topo maps in the guide, which is incorrect. There are trail maps along with elevation graphs (which show the elevation gain and loss). Topo maps are listed for each hike if the hiker should want to purchase them. Hazards are mentioned in the "Make it a Safe Trip" section of the book. Drinking water is mentioned there as well and in Appendix C, "Hiker's Checklist".

Everyone has a right to their own opinion. If she didn't care for the Falcon Guide format, or enjoyed some of the areas more than is reflected in this guide, that's fine and I have no problem with that. I have my own opinions also, and may not have been as enthused in some of the areas due to deteriorating trail conditions (mainly because of horse travel on the same trail). And finally, constantly reiterating the beauty of Sequoia and Kings Canyon can become redundant and tend to lose its effect. Sometimes it is best to experience the scenery in person, and we all know the Sierra Nevada is a beautiful Mountain Range to say the least.

I also disagree that there is an absence of good hiking guides to the area. I own several from different authors and feel that all of them have their merits and they all contain a wealth of information.

I can honestly say that I have put much effort into including information not found in other guides into this book. I checked and rechecked mileages, took note of native plants along each trail and identified peaks viewed on each hike. I did my best to make this the most accurate and complete guide to the best trails in Sequoia and Kings Canyon. So, if you don't want to risk it by ordering the guide online, take a look at it in your local book or sporting goods store, and decide for yourself. Meanwhile, I will try to get my publisher to request a "Look Inside the Book" feature here on Amazon.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Helpful Guide to an Incredible Park, September 19, 2004

By 

Stanford Gibson (Davis, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hiking Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (Regional Hiking Series) (Paperback)

This is an excellent guide to a fantastic and underrated backcountry resource (or short day hikes/tourist trails if you prefer). Trail selection and details are very good and the trail maps and elevation profiles are extraordinary. Unlike most guides there is no hesitation to repeat a map a couple of pages apart if it will be helpful to the reader. The primary drawback of the book is that it lacks big picture planning tools like a map that puts the different sections of the book in perspective. A downloaded trail map from the national park service web site supplements it nicely. Additionally there seems to be more detailed coverage of Sequoia than King's canyon. Overall, however, it was a very helpful guide in planning a fantastic backcountry experience.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars perfect hiking guide, December 3, 2005

By 

New Dawn (Sebastopol, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hiking Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (Regional Hiking Series) (Paperback)

Just spent a week in Kings Canyon-Sequoia. Took some wonderful hikes and would have been lost without this guide. Its true that the author does not wax poetic about the wonders along each trail but she tells you enough so you can make the decision about whether to take the hike or not. All the technical details and instructions where perfect for the hikes I took. Well worth the money and the only hiking guide I will carry when I visit this area again.