Customer Reviews

The Pacific Crest Trail: A Hiker's Companion

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"The PCT: A Hiker's Companion" is great for those wanting to find out more of the history, geology, climate, flora and fauna along the PCT. If you're looking for a pure guidebook (trail mileages, stopovers, alternate routes, etc), you're probably better off going with Jeffrey Schaffer (et. al.)'s "The Pacific Crest Trail" industry-standard guidebooks (California and Oregon/Washington).

BUT, for those wanting more in-depth background, this is a great reference. I've hiked several sections of the PCT, and this book gave me great insight into the things I was seeing along the way... from the climate and life in the Mojave Desert to the geology of Devil's Postpile National Monument. It wasn't written in boring textbook fashion... I found it well written and very easy to read.

If you're familiar with other Karen Berger works on the PCT, you'll recognize a few of the stories and photography used in this one, but mind you, I don't mean to say she's only recycling earlier material for this book. There really is a lot of new stuff in here, and it's definitely worth a look.

It's one of my dreams to eventually thru-hike the PCT and I gobble up everything written about this magnificent trail. This book is not so much of a practical guide to the PCT, it's more of a history of the trail. It contains much information on wildflowers, the actual building of the trail, wildlife along the way and other bits of information in this vein. It doesn't contain a detailed description of various sections of the PCT, so it's not especially useful to someone about to start this adventure. If you're simply into the "thinking about it someday" stage, or planning a thru-hike in the next few years, then the book is relevant and interesting. Section hikers, like myself, can derive much useful info from several chapters.

The photos are all in black and white, but are stunning, especially the ones near Mammoth and Yosemite. I would have liked it had Berger given more personal experiences and thoughts about her own thru hike, but she sprinkles bits of wisdom and experience throughout the narrative. If you're about the embark on this classic adventure, this book probably won't assist you on your way. But if you just like to read about the Pacific Crest Trail and delight in thinking you'll undertake this journey someday, then this is right up your alley.

Since the publication of the PCT Atlas in 2009, there has been a fair amount of discussion in the hiking community about how much guidebook is "too much." The official PCT guidebook published in numerous editions by Wilderness Press has maps, elevations and mileage between trail landmarks, along with campsite and resupply suggestions. But it also includes information on geography, flora and fauna, and some feel this adds too much to the book. They prefer the aforementioned Atlas or the Databook. This book by Karen Berger goes off in the other direction. It provides only a rough sketch of the trail over 100-200 miles, lists a few resupply points, and notes significant trail hazards (the 30 plus miles without water on Hat Creek Rim, for example) or significant climbs. The bulk of the book, however, covers the natural history of where the trail is routed, and, in some cases like the Volcan Mountains, where the trail should have been routed. As such, this book is meant to supplement, not supplant the guidebook.

On the other hand, the book does have features similar to a trail guide, and many of these are now out of date. For example, there is no longer a store near Boulder Oaks campground, and the store between Deep Creek and Silverwood Reservoir, where hikers used to weigh their packs, is also closed. There have also been a few trail realignments since this book came out. Finally, I was disappointed with some of the editing. But, on the whole, this is a good book to supplement, not supplant, your reading/preparation for a PCT hike. Even arm chair hikers will appreciate it for what it is, a guide to the natural world surrounding one of the best trails in the country.

I really enjoyed following the trail thru Cal and Oregon and I knew just what to expect due to this book. If you are planning a trip or wanting to go on an imaginary trip to the pacific Crest Trail, I advise that you buy this book. It's a must.

Is a good source of information about the PCT. very neat and easy to read.

I bought this book to help me experience the hike from my armchair while my boyfried was actually doing the hiking.