50 Trail Runs in Southern California (Paperback)

~ (Author), Jim Wolff (Author), Shamir Shahin (Author) "This course traverses lush canyons with stream crossings and switchbacks up the mountainside..." (more)
Key Phrases: intersects from the right, main fire road, short downhill section, Santa Monica Mountains, State Park, Santa Barbara (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Southern California's accessible mountain and desert trails, not to mention its warm climate, make it one of the best US locations for the increasingly popular sport of trail running. The Santa Monica Mountains, the San Gabriels, the San Bernardinos, and Santa Ynez offer trails suited to all levels of skill and commitment, amidst stunning natural settings just a short drive from the major metropolitan cities of Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and San Diego. This introductory guide to the sport includes all the information you need to get started, plus detailed descriptions of the most spectacular trails in the region.

Product Details

• Paperback: 236 pages
• Publisher: Mountaineers Books (May 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898867002
• ISBN-13: 978-0898867008
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #95,488 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Confidence Builder, July 25, 2000

By	Dale Bell (Venice, CA) - See all my reviews

A recent resident of Venice, California, I looked out to the Santa Monica mountains from my second story window and wondered where the running trails were. I've bounced around LA over the past few years, running in Griffith Park, Fryman Canyon, Porter Ranch, among other routes, but these new mountains drew me to them.

How to find my way? I ran one morning at Will Rogers Park and asked someone about the trails that lured me away from the traffic and the people. The runner said: "Get Stan Swartz' book!" Thus armed, I searched a book store and found it quickly. It was exactly what I was searching for, similar in style to the wonderful book I had purchased years earlier which depicted all the trail running possibilities within New York City.

Now, eight weeks after placing third in my ritualistic 10K at Descanso Gardens, I leaf through the book almost every morning, wondering which route I will take on the weekend, building up my confidence with each page turn.What I find fascinating is that the descriptions of the routes, the distances, and benchmarks, the terrain, ALL MATCH THE REALITY. I know I am on the right trail; I know when I am half way through; I know when to turn left or right; the topographical maps give me an idea of the ups and downs. Now that I have completed several of the runs alone among this spectacular landscape, I inhale the spiritual aspect of running imbued by George Sheehan and combine it with the practical information provided by this book.

I look forward to trying out as many of the runs as I can, venturing out even to the longest ones at 13 miles. When I can, I will join the other runners on Sunday mornings. The three authors have given me a great gift: the ability to explore historical terrain with the eyes of a contemporary "critter"...a trail runner who feels at one with the wondrous varieties of Nature described so completely by those who have gone before me. Thank you.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thorough, entertaining, informative, May 3, 2000

By A Customer

This book has excellent information for the novice or seasoned trail runner. With it's topography of the trails, the newest runner can pick a trail that is not too difficult. Beautiful photographs.