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The book should be titled "Snow showing withing 1 hour of Seattle." Spokane, Tower Mt., etc. The author of the book completely neglected to include any trials near or around Spokane. Mt. there are SO MANY.
Sometimes they are useful, sometimes less so (a close up photo of a snow-covered branch may be nice, but is not all that useful here).Estimating hiking times in winter is difficult: Under poor conditions a route can take twice as long as under optimal conditions. For example, it does not include a single road or geographical feature (apart from two rivers) NE of Seattle.
Even with the descriptions in the text, which sometimes reference unreliable and changing features such as "turn at the end of the groomed track".Still, this is the only Washington snowshoeing book I was able to find, so I'll keep using it until something better (or an improved edition) comes along. This is surprising, given that Mountaineers Books has at least one other series ("Day Hikes") that contains all this information.But the single biggest issue I have with this book is the complete lack of topographic information on the route maps.
It does give you an idea about what routes are in the same region, at least.Two common features I've grown accustomed to but that are missing from this book are trailhead coordinates and elevation profiles. The problem here isn't that I don't want to bother carrying a separate map, but that I sometimes have a hard time transferring a route from the book onto the map.
I've only done a few of the routes described in this book so far, but the author appears to have done a great job of choosing and describing snowshoe routes in the region.The overview table in the appendix is especially useful when deciding where to go, though I wish more information (such as the region, required parking permits and avalanche exposure) was shown there.There are some black and white photos scattered throughout the book. Too bad the conditions on which the indicated times are based are not described.The full-page overview map at the front of the book is sad.
Summer hiking books that follow marked trails may be able to get away with this, but not this kind of book.
The routes that are covered feature everything from casual day hikes to extreme outdoor winter camping excursions. I highly recommend this guide to any snowshoe fan. This is a great guide with a nice description about the sport in the introduction. They also cover the whole state.
The trail descriptions are detailed, also provides elevation gain, mileage, and seasonal information. One thing I always tend to harp on with these types of guidebooks is maps.
There guidebooks are generally very high quality and I've read many in coming to that conclusion. My feeling is that if you are going to include one then make it good and useful.
In this case they are somewhat lacking. Its one of many publishes by 'The Mountaineers'.
A good general guide to snowshoeing in Washington. There is also information about road access which is especially essential in winter.
Otherwise this is a good all around guide-book.
Nelson provides a helpful resource for those searching for a nice trail or a backcountry spot to take on during a nice winter day. If you live in the Northwest and own a pair of snowshoes, or want to try it for the first time -- as I did with a few friends -- than this book is well worth the cost. This winter I went snowshoeing for the first time, and this was the guide that I used. I found his directions and descriptions both informative and fun.
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