Customer Reviews

An Outdoor Guide to The Big South Fork

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The 2000 Edition of this book is certainly NOT UPDATED. The cover claims: "A thoroughly updated, comprehensive guide to the Big South Fork..." This is misleading. One wonders who reviewed this edition and why the information is so misleading and why changes due to a huge 1998 snow storm are not discussed or reflected in the trail maps and descriptions. I would like my money returned!

Since Manning's First Edition in 1994, the Big South Fork area suffered a 100-year snow storm which devastated the forest knocking millions of trees down, closing hundreds of miles of trail. This storm occurred in February 1998. I have recently tried to follow two separate horse trails in Manning's book and found one barely passable - had to dismount my horse and very carefully squeeze under fallen trees not once, but several times. The other trail described simply does not exist due to trees downed. The directions for this trail are so poor that once you have traveled several miles into the gorge, there is no way you could find the route described in the book even if it did exist. The acknowledgements in the new addition indicate the same people reviewed this edition's content as did in 1994. Several of these people have been gone from Big South Fork since 1996,'97, and 98.

One gets the impression that a new cover has been put on the 1994 edition and a few sentences changed. The book advises visitors to check with a ranger on trail conditions, but totally omits any discussion of the effects of this huge storm event on the environment, and does not warn visitors of its possible consequences in planning a trip that depends on trails being open. Also, in Manning's 2000 Edition, trails do not match the trails system shown on the official Trails Illustrated Map by National Geographic for Big South Fork published in 1998. This edition does not benefit the trailrider!

Mr. Manning provides a lot of background info on the geology, biology and history of this area of Tennessee & Kentucky - info that greatly enhances the visit! While I'm one to use guidebooks, I always ask for more current info from the Park staff when visiting a new Park. He gave very practical advise regarding hiking & biking in the Park - as well as info on paddling the river!! He did give an overview of the trails - but, in his "100 Trails of the Big South Fork" he strongly suggests that one always check with local Rangers for trail conditions in the Park. So, enjoy your trip!!!

Also, there's a review of this book that blasts Mr. Manning for not mentioning the snow storm and its effects. I don't think she understands the publishing process. Books go to press only every few years - and the updated draft is sent in many months before they are actually printed. It's impossible for a guidebook to be current at any particular time.