Sierra North: Backcountry Trips in Californias Sierra Nevada [Paperback]

Kathy Morey (Author), Mike White (Author), Stacy Corless (Author), Thomas Winnett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 20, 2005

Now in its 9th edition, the completely updated and revised Sierra North showcases new trips and old favorites in regions such as Desolation Wilderness, Emigrant Wilderness, the proposed Castle Peak Wilderness, and the world-famous Yosemite National Park.

Product Details

• Paperback: 344 pages
• Publisher: Wilderness Press; Ninth Edition edition (June 20, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0899973965
• ISBN-13: 978-0899973968
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #195,350 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A California Backpacker's Classic - bigger and better., October 13, 2005

By 

Timecheck "backpack45.com - Camino Chronicle... (Oakland, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sierra North: Backcountry Trips in Californias Sierra Nevada (Paperback)

I finally replaced my 1988 5th edition with the current 9th edition by Kathy Morey, Mike White and the usual Wilderness Press accomplices.

It is physically larger and heavier, but I have finally realized that it is ok to cut out just the trip I am doing and take it with me, so weight is not an issue.

There are a couple of big improvements. The most significant one for me is the organization by major highway. i. e. Interstate 80 trips, Highway 89 trips, Highway 50 trips, etc. Makes it much easier to select possible trips for a short amout of time off. The other improvement is the use of text on grey background to indicate such things as chapter tabs, Notes that are a supplement to the trail text and so forth. It makes the book more interesting to the eye.

The maps in my 5th edition were in a pocket at the back of the book. Now they are a full page in imbedded in the text with the associated trail description. They still have the trail elevation profiles that are still an important part of my trip planning. The bigger book size allows more and larger black and white photos.

On the trail descriptions themselves, I have recently hiked all the PCT segments, and reading after the fact, find the descriptions accurate. On all the Wilderness Press guides, I sometimes find myself puffing up a steep grade and thinking "why didn't they tell me about this?". Assume that the descriptions are done by an experienced, acclimated hiker and don't assume the first day or two will be easy

A friend just told me about a new hiking area where he had found a great view, so I looked up Thunder Mountain in Sierra North, and found out all about it.

They have GPS waypoints on the trailheads. I find that where I need them is on these obsure trail junctions - maybe something for the 10th edition.

Definitely a good book for your hiking shelf.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Should be called "Sierra Middle" - it doesn't get to the Northern Sierra!, July 21, 2009

By 

James Musick (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sierra North: Backcountry Trips in Californias Sierra Nevada (Paperback)

The book & reviews are pretty good (per the other reviewer's comments and my initial look-through), but I was very very disappointed to find out that this book does not really cover any area north of HWY 80 (or actually it just squeeks by with Castle Peak).

That means it is missing a *huge* chunk of the northern Sierra Nevada wilderness - Sierra Buttes, Feather River, Gold Lake area, and so on...all the way up to where the Sierra Nevada really ends (up towards Mt. Lassen, depending on which source you read).

I'll upload a rear-cover image...take a close look at the red outline showing the area the book covers. If you want to backpack or hike north of HWY 80, get a different book!

Cheers,
-J

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best backpacking guide for your money..., July 28, 2007

By 

Otis Maxwell (Saratoga Springs, NY) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sierra North: Backcountry Trips in Californias Sierra Nevada (Paperback)

Planning a trip using another guide made me realize how good this book is. The first reason is the elevation profiles at the start of each trip that tell you how high and low you'll be--something good to know this summer when the temperatures at the lower sites (like Yosemite Valley) exceeds 100 degrees. Second, the authors tell you exactly what it is like to hike the trail, from one landmark to the next, without extraneous commentary. Seems like a simple enough formula but only these guys get it right.