Day Hike! Mount Rainier

by Ron C. Judd

Most hiking guides are written by backpackers who occasionally day hike. But most people are day hikers who occasionally backpack! So Sasquatch Books has created a series from the ground up just for them. Written for people who want to get out and sample the vaunted Northwest lifestyle with as little hassle and unpredictability as possible, the fresh style, content, and design will also win sales and loyalty from more experienced hikers. Since the book is organized in the way that people travel -- by major roads and highways -- it's easy to find trails without having to cross-reference three or four different guides. Also included are complete trail descriptions; easy-to-read USGS topo maps with elevation profiles; clear and up-to-date driving directions; overall trail ratings; mileage and estimated hiking time; elevation gain; trail conditions; difficulty level; best season; map references; exploring options; access; permits required; special notes on dogs, bikes, and kids; and where to find more information. A quick-reference chart to season and difficulty level as well as sharp, contemporary black-and-white photographs round out the guide.

Genres: Travel, Reference, Nonfiction, Outdoors

200 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Todd Smith]

The author Ron C. Judd has put together what he feels are the best 51-day hikes in Mount Rainer National Park. These hikes go from short ones at a few miles to longer than ten miles. He rates them from worthwhile to spectacular. He also talks about the best season, permitting, parking fees, distance and elevation gains, estimated hiking times, and accessibility for kids and dogs. Topographical maps and elevation profiles are also included.

I enjoyed learning about the different trails at Mount Rainier. Although what is considered a day hike might be beyond what I might consider coming from the Midwest. I think the book is more geared toward a hiker that has a chance to return to the park many times as opposed to a tourist that might come there for a few days. Although, I did find a few trails that I would check out with my son when we go to the park in the future.

[Keya Chakraborty]

Loved the descriptions of the trails in this book and thought the descriptions were pretty accurate for the trails we went on. The preparations section was a bit overcautious for people that are going to stick with the easy trails. I called the Ranger's station at Paradise, and they gave me a more accurate description of what we needed to bring. I would have liked some more pictures and maybe a guide to the flora/fauna of what you may see, but they have a pamphlet for this at the Paradise visitor's center. All in all, I thought the book was helpful, in conjunction with talking to the Rangers.

[Patrick Lovell]

Good

[Coho Cabin]

We feel it's not as good as Dan Nelson's, but still a decent reference for Rainier day hiking.