Maine Mountain Guide, 8th: The hiking trails of Maine featuring Baxter State Park (Paperback)

~ Appalachian Mountain Club Books (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The "AMC Maine Mountain Guide" is widely recognized as the definitive trail guide to the mountains of Maine. This revised edition now features new full color, GPS-rendered trail maps - the first and only GPS plotted maps available for the area. From Baxter State Park and spectacular Mt. Katahdin to the rugged Mahoosuc Range, this is the ultimate guide for exploring the Maine wilderness. This fully revised and updated 8th edition includes notes on scenic views, geology and nature, trip planning, map and compass use, and bushwacking. It also contains helpful guidelines for backcountry hikers on low-impact camping, winter camping, hypothermia, search and rescue, fire regulations, and permit information.

From the Back Cover

The 'AMC Maine Mountain Guide' is widely recognized as the definitive trail guide to the mountains of Maine. This revised edition now features new full color, GPS-rendered trail maps - the first and only GPS plotted maps available for the area. From Baxter State Park and spectacular Mt. Katahdin to the rugged Mahoosuc Range, this is the ultimate guide for exploring the Maine wilderness. This fully revised and updated 8th edition includes notes on scenic views, geology and nature, trip planning, map and compass use, and bushwacking. It also contains helpful guidelines for backcountry hikers on low-impact camping, winter camping, hypothermia, search and rescue, fire regulations, and permit information. (5 X 7, 260 pages, index, glossary, accident report, pull-out map)

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Appalachian Mountain Club Books; 4th edition (May 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1878239740
• ISBN-13: 978-1878239747
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,128,308 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Guide - but does not include Acadia, October 15, 2001

By	Ken Zirkel "Kickstand" (Somewhere in New England) - See all my reviews

Like other AMC hiking guides in this series (AMC White Mountain Guide, for example), the book includes detailed trail descriptions and top-notch maps. However, be aware that although this guide claims to include "nearly 200 peaks," it does not include every little mountain in Maine (a very big state). Most notably, Acadia National Park is omitted from this book.

Finally, the maps, although excellent, are paper, not tyvek.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good trail companion, August 30, 2002

By	M. Hines (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

This book provides accurate technical information about many Maine trails -- distance, difficulty, altitude, location of water, etc. I successfully used the guide to plan several hikes in Baxter State Park. The fold-out maps provided in the pocket-part are worth the price of the book. My complaints are these: (1) the book needs to be updated more frequently, and (2) it really needs a few well-placed photographs of the more challenging trails. For example, although I inferred the Dudley Trail up Mt. Katahdin was steep (based on the altitude and distance information provided), the book does nothing to convey the visceral impact of the view from Pamola Peak down to Chimney Pond Lake. It's dizzying in a way that makes you want to use your entrails for rope. And, that's something you don't want to discover from the summit.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Excellent guide with one shortcoming......, June 29, 2005

By	Brian Kerecz (Bethlehem, PA, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is necessary if one is going to plan a trip into the mountains of Maine, especially if these plans include Katahdin, or Baxter Peak.

That being said, the one shortcoming which could prove dangerous is the description of Knife Edge. The book mentions how very narrow the ridge is in some places, and the obvious points such as do not attempt in windy or wet conditions. But these are the obvious details one will see posted on the signout board before even entering the trail. However, one point which is not mentioned is the fact that Knife Edge necessitates a series of handholds and footholds across it, especially near the Pamola side, with little to no room for error or else serious injury or death may be the result. I have trekked extensively in Peru and Nepal so did not really have a problem with the ridge (though admittedly it was very difficult), but found myself taking alot of time looking for footholds and handholds much more often than I thought I ever would. The book should describe in painstaking detail this dangerous aspect of probably the most difficult ridge in Maine. Quite honestly, I was surprised it didn't after I got down and reread the part covering Knife Edge. Because of this I am dropping my rating from five stars to three, as this omission could be hazardous to someone's health in the future.

Even with this being said, I would like to do Knife Edge again someday......it was an amazing experience. But the rock climbing aspect of this ridge should be spelled out in the book. This is why most people buy the book in the first place- to get a very good idea of what they will see on the trail.