Customer Reviews

Longstreet Highroad Guide to the Virginia Mountains (Longstreet Highroad Guides)

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

 

 

This book is not only great to use, it's terrific and fun to read. It is so complete and includes great maps that are easy to understand and use. We like having the bota nical names of plants as well as common names presented. The writers know their stuff. We highly recommend this book. It's well worth the price.

I like this guide as an introduction to the many scenic mountains of Virginia. The material is well organized and concise with very good directions to reach the described locations. A unique feature of this book is the considerable attention, as well as a considerable portion of the book, devoted to the flora and fauna of various regions. Depending upon your specific interests, this may be enlightening or of passing interest.

The maps are not very detailed and the few photographs are of little value but these are not the focus of the book and can be attained elsewhere.

Overall, a good resource if you plan to spend time in the mountains of Virginia, especially for day hikes.

The writers enthusiastically and appreciatively take the reader on a Lewis & Clark expedition through the Virginia mountains and plateaus. Coupled with that, the book serves as an advertising brochure for state parks, events, trails and trailheads (you need them), camping equipment, the nearest town, telephone numbers, driving directions and other helpful suggestions. Of added interest is the real-life historical connections of many of the areas covered.

Personally, as a novice biker, I would have liked the index to have mentioned some of the biking trails--although in the body of the book, biking is given a passing mention on appropriate trails.

Unless one is interested in Latin, the additional erudite name for things (flora and fauna) are of little interest to the average reader.

As one plods or races through the book, one is slowed by interesting facts that the average Joe doesn't know: The hemlock tree--a hardwood I often use in my work--is under assault by an insect? The northern "flying" squirrel is threatened? Many of the U.S. freshwater mussels (similar to clams and oysters) are in Virginia--due to the Tennessee River--and they are endangered? And so the discoveries continue.

Appendix C is a valuable list of Virginia mountain events that would interest many tourists. And if you want to be suitably outfitted for hiking, see Appendix D.

This is a very detailed book, but the writing is almost conversational. Because it's not a novel, you can skip portions and still learn a lot.