Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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47 of 54 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hiking Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, March 2, 2003
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.
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Clarification: A Review of 'Best Easy Day Hikes Seqoia and Kings Canyon', August 16, 2006
I normally would not review a book that already has eight extended commentaries which cover every positive and negative aspect of the author's text, but there is apparently some confusion among either reviewers, Amazon editors, or both as to which book is actually under review. Laurel Scheidt is the author of two books on hiking in Sequoia and Kings Canyon. The first is a comprehensive hiking guide to the parks and the second is a guide to short day hikes in the region. For whatever reason, all the reviews posted for the latter, 'Best Easy Day Hikes: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks' are actually of the larger comprehensive work. I'm not sure why this occured, but the result is a misleading impression of what 'Best Easy Dayhikes' is all about. (Hopefully my review of 'Dayhikes' will not also be posted under the 'Hiking Sequoia' title as well.) This little book does not talk about the ascent of Mt. Whitney (thank goodness), is not a comprehensive guide to the parks, and the controversy about maps and backpacking routes is simply not applicable to this book at all.
Best Easy Day Hikes lists several hikes in Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and the nearby Jennie Lakes Wilderness that are under 6 miles, relatively level (they have less than 2000 feet of elevation gain--there are very few truly "level" hikes in these parks) and are readily accessible to families with children and those who, like myself, are no longer as fit as they once were. Mileage, elevation data, directions to the trailhead, and short sketch maps are for the most part adequate.
Scheidt includes several classic walks in the park: The Congress Trail, General Grant Tree Loop, Mist Falls, and Cresent Meadow. These are all "must do" hikes if you only have a day or so in the parks as happens all too often with our hectic schedules. Other trails listed are a little less well traveled so hikers can find some semblance of solitude in this sometimes hectic portion of the Sierras. The trip to Weaver Lake falls into this category.
This book merits 3 stars for doing what it sets out to do reasonably well. It lists a number of nice short hikes in various parts of the park. I would like to see a little more natural and local history to give it a higher rating. I would also note that this book is hardly exhaustive of all the truly easy and scenic day hikes in the region. As several reviewers (of the other book) including the author have noted, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and in mine the author has left out too many nice hikes (the Manzanita and Azalea loop in Grant Grove and Buena Vista Peak above Redwood Canyon) to give the book a 5 star rating. Still, unless or until Steve Sorenson's guides are updated, this is the best guide to day hikes in the parks currently in print.
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Helpful Guide to an Incredible Park, September 19, 2004
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.
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by Mike White
