Customer Reviews

Sierra North: Backcountry Trips in Californias Sierra Nevada

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

 

 

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.

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

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.

Had the first edition of sierra north, 1969, and then the second, early 70's, it seemed that they had a little bit better map, in the back they had a fold out topo map. But this is still a great source of info on the sierra nevada's. What is missing is the info on obtaining a wilderness permitt, and that you need one just for day hikes in certain areas..
this is still a great book..

This is the essential book for planning backcountry trips in the Sierra. Details such as noting which trails are open earlier season help planning a trip that won't get cancelled because of snow on the trail. More detail on shade and forest would be nice.

Awesome book of trailheads and routes. This book is easy to follow and can really help plan a great backpacking trip.