Classic Treks - Hardcover

Bill Birkett

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0715310755 ISBN 13: 9780715310755

Publisher: New Burlington Books, 2000

Synopsis

" Classic Treks will help you realize your dreams -- of trekking among the world's highest mountains, discovering remote areas far from the noise and stress of civilization, encountering rare animals and birds, glorying in sunsets over snow-covered peaks, and experiencing the satisfaction of completing some of the world's most spectacular hikes. Written by a team of experienced guides who have hiked each of the featured treks, the text evokes the scenery, wildlife, forests and flowers, and local culture -- and transports you to some of the most beautiful and remote parts of the world. Detailed fact files provide all the essential information needed to plan your trip: distance and duration, difficulty and altitude, permits, maps and guidebooks, when to visit, health and personal safety, as well as key features about wildlife, plants, facilities, local food and customs, and scenic highspots. Stunning photographs, illustrations, and specially commissioned maps combine to give a vivid picture of the special nature of each hike and also provide a visual guide to the terrain and difficulty level. A practical introductory section gives advice on choosing a trek, equipment, preparation, general health and safety, tips on camping and provisioning, and guidance about how to protect the wilderness in which you are hiking. From the depths of the Grand Canyon to the foothills of Everest, Classic Treks provides both inspiration and information to help you plan your next adventure. Hikes vary from two days to three weeks in length, and from high altitude climbs in rugged, remote country to undemanding coastal walks, so that no matter whether you are a highly experienced hiker or weekend adventurer, you will find routes to suit your capabilities and inclinations. With a worldwide directory of useful contracts, and covering all the major mountain ranges in North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australasia, Classic Treks is sure to be the ultimate inspiration for hikers worldwide. More than 350 color photographs and illustrations."

About this title

Review:

It's easy to argue with the selection of 30 treks chosen from around the world, but there's no arguing with the presentation. Each annotated trip is accompanied by big colorful photos of awe-inspiring scenery: the pastoral highlands of England's Coast to Coast walk; Machu Picchu rising above the ruins on Peru's Inca Trail; austere glacial cirques in Colorado's Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. The images, in fact, will have any game outdoorsperson chomping at their camelback and ready to hop on the next flight to one of these far-flung and sometimes isolated locales--so it's a good thing that there's so much more than pretty pictures. Route maps, walk profiles (showing difficulty levels and altitude gains), and "factfiles" set expectations and provide essential information (e.g., climate, flora and fauna, transport, background reading), while a detailed itinerary provides a suggested breakdown of daily mileages and camping spots. Some of the classic treks include the California Sierra's John Muir Trail, Vermont's Long Trail, part of the Pyrenean High Route between France and Spain, a Nepalese loop in the shadow of Everest, Mount Kenya in Africa, and New Zealand's Ring of Fire. Even if you don't manage to wear down your Vibram soles on any of these glorious trails, just flipping the pages of Classic Treks will stir the calf muscles and probably send you out the door to your nearest trailhead.

About the Author:

"Contributors:
Judy Armstrong is an award-winning feature writer specializing in adventure travel. She has traveled through North and South America, Africa, Europe and Asia. Steve Callen has spent twenty years trekking and climbing around the world, and has participated in nine major expeditions to the Himalaya. Alan Castle has hiked in over twenty countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australasia, led walking holidays for ten years, and written over twelve walking guidebooks. John Cleare is a professional photographer, writer, and consultant who has traveled widely in Europe, the Arctic, the Americas, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, and Asia. Richard Gilbert has been mountaineering and hill walking for forty-five years, and has written ten books including Big Walks, Classic Walks, and Wild Walks. Tom Hutton is a freelance writer and photographer who has written several guidebooks and contributed to a number of publications. John Manning is Deputy Editor of The Great Outdoors, Britain's premier magazine for hill walkers, trekkers, and backpackers. He has walked in the Himalaya, the Andes, the Alps, the Artic Circle, and throughout Britain and Ireland. Bill O'Connor is a professional mountain guide, author and photographer. He has written books on Nepal and the Alps and contributed to numerous books and magazines. Kev Reynolds has spent over thirty years trekking and climbing and is the author of thirty-five books, including guides to major treks in the Pyrenees, Alps, and Himalaya. Andrew Sheehan has walked and climbed in Europe, North America, Nepal, Kazakhstan and Patagonia, and is currently living in Chile. Phil Stone is a mountaineering instructor and guide based in British Columbia. He is also an adventure writer and photographer. Chris Townsend is a highly experienced trekker and the Editor of Wilderness Odyssey. He has written eleven books and won three awards from the Outdoor Writers' Guild. Walt Unsworth has written over thirty books and is President of the Outdoor Writers' Guild. In 1997, he won the Golden Eagle Award for his services to outdoor literature."

About this edition

• Publisher: New Burlington Books
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0715310755
• ISBN 13: 9780715310755
• Binding: Hardcover