Hiking Vermont (Paperback)

by Larry B. Pletcher (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Driving through Vermont, one notices the lack of billboards beside the road. Instead, a set of uniformly restrained signs point the way to roadside attractions and places of interest off the beaten path. On the hiking paths of the state, signs are even less common. Hikers need to know the right topographical map to bring along, how to get to the trailhead, the length and difficulty of the trail. Many also appreciate learning a bit of history as they walk. Hiking Vermont provides all this and more. This FalconGuide is divided according to the 11 natural regions of Vermont. The hikes described include views and rambles along the Taconic Range, poetic stops along the Robert Frost Interpretive Trail near Middlebury, the sound of the cascades in the Lye Brook Wilderness, and visits to a farmstead and a sugarbush with nearby swimming hole. Outdoor writer Larry Pletcher lends an afternoon hike or an extended trek atop peaks and ridges. The book's black-and-white photos give a sampling of the state's scenic treasures. Hiking Vermont also includes special sections on the Long Trail, hiking with children, and barrier-free trails that lead to great fishing spots, campsites, and more. Don't venture into the natural splendors of the Green Mountain State without Hiking Vermont in your pack.

From the Back Cover
Divided according to the 11 natural regions of the state, the hikes described in this FalconGuide include views and rambles along the Taconic Range, poetic stops along the Robert Frost Interpretive Trail near Middlebury, the sound of the cascades in the Lye Brook Wilderness, and visits to a farmstead and a sugarbush with a nearby swimming hole. Learn how to pack to assure a safe trip, whether you're taking an afternoon hike or taking an extended trek atop peaks and ridges. Other features include the black-and-white photos which give a sampling of the state's scenic treasures. Also included are special sections on the Long Trail, hiking with children, and barrier-free trails that lead to great fishing spots, campsites, and more. Don't venture into the natural splendors of the Green Mountain State without <I>Hiking Vermont</I> in your pack.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Falcon; 1st edition (August 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560443952
• ISBN-13: 978-1560443957
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #365,739 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Guide That Makes for Great Reading, April 29, 2005

By	David Prager "redhawk" (Winterville, GA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

In a rural state such as Vermont, although plenty of opportunities for hiking exist, finding them can be difficult since they are off the beaten path. This guide will help you find those hidden (and some not-so-hidden) hiking gems that are scattered throughout the Green Mountain state.

This guide describes 61 hikes scattered fairly evenly across Vermont. Hikes range in length from 0.5 miles to 15 miles with the average at around 4-6 miles. Each hike comes with some basic facts about the trail, a rather detailed set of directions to the trailhead, a map, a detailed trail description, and usually a photo. The maps are typical Falcon maps: they show the trail, a couple of main features, and not much else. I have to say I don't understand why Falcon doesn't upgrade their maps to the USGS topo variety that are found in the 50-hikes series and most other top hiking guides these days. Still, I have lots of Falcon hiking guides on my shelf, so I guess my wallet speaks louder than this review.

Perhaps the most outstanding quality of this guide is the author's wide and varied vocabulary. In fact, this guide has a literary quality not found in most hiking guides. Occassionally this gets in the way of clarity. For example, the author describes the trail to Camel's Hump as a "bony" trail. Does he mean rocky? narrow? These cases are the exception, and usually the author's vocabulary simply makes the reading experience more enjoyable.

I have heard some other people complain about the lack of Long Trail information in this book. On this point I must respectfully disagree. True, if you are looking to hike the Long Trail from start to finish, you will need better information than what is provided here. Still, 16 of the hikes in this book describe dayhikes along the Long Trail, and this is a book on hiking, not backpacking. Most dayhikers will find plenty on the Long Trail here to keep them busy for a long time.

In summary, this may not be the best guide to Vermont hiking on the market, but this book merits serious consideration. I withheld one star, mainly for the maps and slightly for the potentially vague descriptions. As I said though, this book has a literary quality not found in most hiking guides. So if you enjoy reading hiking guides or you are interested in Vermont hiking, this book should find its way onto your shelf.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent guide for discovering Vermont, September 19, 2003

By	Candace Scott (Lake Arrowhead, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This is an excellent addition to the Falcon Guide hiking series, and the author adds a touch of humor and class to each route description. The driving directions to each trailhead are detailed and accurate. the route descriptions are similarly packed with information that any hiker can use. If there was a chance of seeing wildlife, Pletcher duly notes it and informs you when the best times are for seeing bears or moose. If you're backpacking, he tells you where to find water and where reliable springs are located.

I was a little disappointed that he didn't concentrate more on the 260 mile Long Trail which traverses the length of Vermont. I was looking for information of their shelters and side routes into towns along the way. But for day hikers, this is a good, reliable and handy guide. Recommended.