Product Description
This book is a wealth of tips, knowledge and experiencethat every wintertime backcountry traveler will find clear, concise,essential, and most certainly entertaining. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Excellent winter backcountry advice
The author and illustrator know lots about the backcountry and provide tons of useful information on winter skiing.Even if you've spent much time yourself skiing in the backcountry, you'll find tips here that will make you wonder why you hadn't been doing things that way all along.

The best winter camping guide ever?
There are two types of winter campers: those who have this book and those who need it.Perhaps if you are very very experienced you don't need it but otherwise, get it!Allen wrote a short, but information full book, that is easy and fun to read quickly and jamn packed with a mix of basic functional knowledge, extra tidbits that are good to know, and all kinds of little tricks he has discovered over the years.

Cool book on cool weather camping
Well, I just panned a different book and said don't waste your money so now its time to even the score.

This book is great fun.I have lots of winter camping books and do a fair amount of winter camping.Other books may have more information, but none covers all of the basics with as much humor as this one.I do alpine skiing and snowshoeing so the coverage of tele skiing wasn't of particular interest...but I still really enjoyed reading those sections, too.

It is hard to describe the authors' irreverent approach while dealing with serious (life and death) topics, but they somehow pull it off.This is really a great book to engage someone who isn't already a hard-core winter camper...so if you are, buy it for your significant other (assuming you haven't been able to get them enthused about spending a winter weekend outdoors.)If they don't enjoy this book, you may officially give up on them.

A Great Source of Backcountry Wisdom
This book combines some great humor and excellent line drawings with some great wilderness and backcountry wisdom. All the tips and tricks one picks up over the years are in this book and it is highly recommended reading for newcomers and those already involved.

get it & get it
it is awesome! these guys are nols instructors. one guy provides the incredibly helpful commentary while the other guy provides the humorous illustrations. you will be howling with laughter as you read this great book. my bet is that humor/laughter aids the memorization process. that is key in this case because there are some truly essential tips in this book! not to be without! can't wait to wintercamp this year. they also have a telemark tips book which is very good too... ... Read more

Product Description
In its heyday, Colorado had more than 175 ski areas operating on the slopes of the Rocky Mountains, and while many of those resorts have shut down, their runs still shelter secret stashes of snow. Pristine slopes await backcountry powder hounds out to discover these chutes and steeps, bunny hills and bumps. Chronicling the history of more than 35 of these "lost resorts," Powder Ghost Towns provides the beta for how to ski and board these classic runs today, with comprehensive information on trailheads, where to skin up, and the best descents. Coverage ranges from southern Wyoming's Medicine Bow Mountains to the Colorado-New Mexico border, including famous old resorts like Hidden Valley in Rocky Mountain National Park. ... Read more

Product Description
50 Classic Backcountry Ski and Snowboard Summits in California offers some of the finest ski and snowboard descents in California, ranging over a 550-mile span from the Cascade Range in the north to the Sierra Nevada in the south. Grouped into nine geographical regions, these summits represent the best of the best-from well-known destinations to more remote areas to a sampling of the highest peaks.Historical anecdotes about each region round out the guide for an entertaining and informative read.

Trips range from a half day to seven days, and while all can be completed on either snowboard or skis, the author makes specific recommendations for the best snowboard descents. Each trip description includes a complete narrative of the ascent and descent plus information on trip highlights, trip duration, level of difficulty, mileage, elevation gain, and access.The appendix includes a list of California's highest peaks.

This is the most complete information available in one volume, featuring the widest selection of premier ski mountaineering and snowboard routes in California. With 70 b&w photos and 60 maps. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

This book is a fantastic resource, made better by its fair price.
If you are serious about skiing in California's backcountry, you may already have John Moynier's book, or even Dan Mingori & Nate Greenberg's book on the same topic.Both of those are also excellent, and while there is some overlap in terms of coverage, the overlap is surprisingly small.

Ritchins' book is terrific for people who want to plan a long tour and really enjoy the process of stomping around the backcountry, while perhaps taking in a few long, steep descents (I think that Mount Darwin may be the stiffest descent in the book, and given that I've descended Darwin and enjoyed it, it can't be that hard).Moynier is more about The Rad and how not to get dead while going after it.Mingori & Greenberg is even more oriented to The Rad, particularly single-day trips (I don't remember if they cover anything longer than a day -- maybe Feather Peak is in there).

For most people, if you're honest with yourself, Ritchins' book is probably going to offer the most options, on both sides of the Sierra and up north to Lassen and Shasta.The latter two mountains are not covered in the other books and it's quite a shame, because there are few things as exhilarating as skiing the West Face of Mount Shasta on the 4th of July, harvesting a mile of vertical in nothing but a t-shirt.Lassen's NE Face offers similar thrills without the herds of Silicon Valley types plodding up Avalanche Gulch.I'm not sure if it comes through in my review so I'll just say it: Shasta is probably my favorite mountain in California to explore, partly because it is so massive, and partly because that chunk of the state feels like a totally different part of the country.That said, some other fine peaks further south (like the Thumb, west of Big Pine) are also exclusive to Richins' book, and well worth skinning in to explore.

To make a long story short, if you are looking for a backcountry ski touring guidebook that includes some great descents and excellent camping suggestions, you should buy this book.If you're looking to supplement other Sierra-centric backcountry guidebooks, you should also buy this book.And finally, if you're looking for a guidebook to skiing Lassen and Shasta, you should consider this book, because the topos on the web aren't quite as informative as having one of Richins' maps in your hand.

Have fun and be safe out there.

A must for the backcountry enthusiast
If you are planning a winter/spring backcountry trip and want accurate, detailed information on routes, terrain, and level of difficulty for some of the best skiing/snowboarding terrain in California than this is the perfect book. The book is well organized, clearly written andbeautifullyillustrated. Everytime I pick up the book I find myself mentally planningnew trips and plotting descent routes on the photographs.An addedplus to the book is the wealth of information that it contains on preparingfor a backcountry experience. The author covers everything from avalanchedanger to equipment to bring on an extended trip. He even includes anexcellent website for those who want more information.There always isa question in my mind when I read any backcountry guide about the accuracyof the information. Who wants to set out on a trip only to find out thatthe route maps or the descriptions don't match the terrain? The author issomeone with extensive backcountry experience who has done each of the 50trips described in the book at least once. We all sould be so lucky! Havingtaken two trips with the author that are detailed in the book, I can saythat he did an excellent job of describing the routes and the terrain. Ifyou are someone who is looking for backcountry ski/snowbaording adventure,this book will make your trip planning a whole lot easier. Enjoy

50 Classic backcountry Ski and Snowboard Summits
Having recently purchased Paul Richinsbook, ³50 Classic Backcountry Ski and Snowboard Summits in California,²I was very impressed.Like all books published by ³The Mountaineers,² it is nothing but First Class inevery way. Mr. Richins has gone out of his way to provide the rest of uswith a gem which will lead one to enjoy the fantastic world of the winterSierra.

Even if one is nothing more than an arm chair cross country skierthey would find this book highly enjoyable and enlightening reading.Forthe more adventuresome person, Mr. Richins book would be their ultimateguide to a world of adventure.The pictures, the writing, the maps are allfive star.The little extras that Mr. Richins has added throughout thebook, such as writings of John Muir, and others,adds the spice to thisdelightful book.

Mr. Richins, since he has obviously researched,personally , all 50 of the peaks listed in his guide, has been able to makea very reliable summary of each peak,from Intermediate, Advance, toExpert.This would easily allow me to select a challenge within my abilityand, along with the excellent guide of the book, make winter trips I wouldhave never thought possible.

Great book on skiing in the backcountry
Mr. Richins book is a veritable treasure-trove of information.From well researched check-lists to clear descriptions of everything from how to get to the trailhead to routes on the peaks; this book covers it all! Mr.Richins love of the Sierra Nevada shines through these pages.He inviteshis readers to share his love of the winter Sierra and imparts knowledgethat makes it possible for expert and novice alike to enjoy thesemountains. History of the Sierra Nevada is woven in throughout the book,creating an interestng counterpoint to the climbing routes. A must for thebackpack on winter trips in the Sierras!Something to read by headlamp onthose long nights in the tent!

50 Classic Ski and Snowboard Summits in California: Mount Sh
The most comprehensive guide available for anyone interested in skiing the best of the California peaks.This book will seduce the timid into a world of adventure and outdoor recreation previously thought to be for the"Big Boys" only.The experienced skier and snowboarder willappreciate the breadth of information available in one source.You'llscrunch this one into your backpack along with your topo map.Mr. Richins'writing style flows easily.His excitement for the subject will captureyour outdoor spirit. His vast experience will give you the confidence andtrust you need in a guide (and this guide will fit in your backpack). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Buy Rainier Burgdorfer's guidebook....
Rainier Burgdorfer's Backcountry Skiing in the Washington's Cascades is MUCH MORE useful. I've got both this book and Burgdorfer's guide and this guidebook covers the same tours as Burgdorfer's book and doesn't provide enough new or different information about these backcountry ski tours to make it useful.As Mr. Blair mentions, Burgdorfer's book does cover some tours that are only accessible after roads have melted out or that require some mountaineering equipment, but that just makes it more interesting.The majority of Burgdorfer's tours are suitable for skiers of intermediate or better ability and do not require any non-skiing gear (i.e., mountaineering equipment).

Martin Volken's guide to Backcountry Skiing Snoqualmie Pass (Backcountry Skiing) is also worth checking out as it does provide new and different options from Burgdorfer's guide in my opinion.

Best Guide
The best thing about this guide is that you can use it all winter and put it away in the summer. I really like the relaxed style and the way the author makes me feel like I can do any one of these routes in a day.
I own both backcountry skiing and snowboarding guides to Washington, and this one is by far the best. Most of the routes in the other book are only open in the summer and it would be impossible to get to them in a day.

Not as advertised...
Does anyone besides Seabury Blair's friends like this book?Marlene Kocur liked it but she has also drew the maps for the book.Another reader gave it 5 stars but also happens to live on the Olympic Peninsula.Probably another of Mr. Blair's friends.If you give this horrendous book a positive review please be completely honest about whether or not the author happens to be a friend of yours.Blair has written a pamphlet for beginning cross-country skiers and then stretched it into a book by printing the same route descriptions over and over again.Then he slapped a cover on it to try and sell it to backcountry skiers and snowboarders.A quick perusal at the bookstand would make this obvious but on the web we don't have that luxury.

Greatfor all levels of skiers
Seabury Blair's guide book appeals to those of us who don't jump off of cliffs for entertainment.When first starting out as a novice skier I would have appreciated having a copy of this book.Now that I'm skiing at an intermediate level this guide book is invaluable. It's formatted for all levels of skiing abilities.Most guide books are written with just the facts..very dry. Blair's guide book is informative butwritten with a sense of humor.Whether you are experienced or just beginning to take to the snow this book is for you. Very well done.

At last, an entertaininginformative book
The author has written a witty very informative book. I would very strongly recommend it to anyone who loves the outdoors, and is looking for a book that is not only accurate, factual, but also very entertaining.GREAT READING! ... Read more

Product Description
Washington backcountry skiers know the name Rainer Burgdorfer. The Northwest's backcountry skiing guru and author of the popular but long out-of-print Backcountry Skiing in Washinton's Cascades, has created this entirely new guidebook to include the best, most challenging descents in Washington.

With more than 100 routes and tours for intermediate to advanced alpine and Nordic skiers and snowboarders, Burgdorfer's guide is the definitive reference for the Cascade region. Each trip description details the best times to go-including year-round opportunities--access, starting elevation and high point, tour length and time, maps, level and type of skill required, and permit information. Special sections cover avalanche conditions, snow survival, environmental considerations, weather, equipment, and techniques. A seasonal cross-reference table helps readers select tours by season.Featuring 100 b&w photos and 90 maps. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

The book for backcountry skiing in Washington
This is the best book for backcountry skiing in Washington State.As noted by other reviewers, some of the tours are best done in the spring and summer---they are great when done it the right season.This is all covered by the authors and useful mileages are provided.Skiers and snowboarders looking for adventures in Washington State won't be disappointed by Burgdorfers suggestions---some of them are tough, but usually worth the suffering.

By far, the best backcountry ski/board guide available in WA
Reading the other reviews of this book, I felt that people were ganging up on the author and that I just needed to chime in with my two cents worth. I believe this book to be far and away the best backcountry skiing/snowboarding guide available for Washington. These are the epic routes and memorable peaks that are the stuff of touring legend. I have found the route descriptions to be highly accurate and the maps to be fine for the purposes of illustration. After all, you should really have a full USGS or at least Green Trails map when you go into these areas anyways. The only thing I wish had a bit more consideration are snowboard specific hazards such as long flat or uphill areas along the descent. These add drastically to estimated times, especially when postholing is involved. That, however, is my minor quibble. I've made several of the trips in this book and loved them all (even last weekend when I broke my splitboard out by the Sulphide Glacier). Hardly a weekend passes where I do not have thisbook out planning my next escapades with my climbing partner. An admirable job on highly variable subject matter. Now, if I can just find a book that accurately predicts what the snowpack will look like for a given day...

Review of a Review of 100 Classic Tours...
Everybody is a critic, including some twelve year olds.Talk about a scathing review, this kid really let me have it. However... * If you want to ride Tomyhoi in winter, get a snowmobile, or take a week off and make sure your life insurance is paid up. This is not a winter tour. As an aside, most of Washington's mountains are not accessible in winter. Blame God, USFS, or NPS. * I am not a self-proclaimed guru. Some publicist wrote that. I have a job. I try to get out and ride or ski. That's it. * The Publisher did the maps. My contribution was the relevant information, not the format. I'm sure the Publisher would be happy to create maps just for you if you would guarantee payment! *The avalanche zone indicator debate is obviously alive and well. I'm personally against showing the "danger zones" but Publisher insisted on it. And, if you read the book, you'll discover that you and I agree on this point also. *Photograph selection and captions, indeed the entire content of The Book is subject to the discretion of the Publisher. Gary Brill had agreed to provide images for this book but did not deliver by the Publisher's deadline. I had a contractual obligation to deliver and I did. Fourteen out of seventyfive aerial shots doesn't seem excessive, especially if they offer information not otherwise possible. *It is not muddled thinking to encourage dog owners to consider the consequences of taking their dog in the woods and show an image of a Husky inside the Stevens Pass Ski Area boundary. Personally, I enjoy outings with dogs. *My route times don't seem underestimated. Camp Muir is easily reached in under four hours by fit climbers, in good conditions, carrying a daypack. An hour for lunch and a nap, and an hour for a leisurely descent makes for a reasonable day.* Finally, my first guidebook was published in 1986, not two decades ago. It was intended as a year-around guidebook, not a winter guide. The current guidebook is a similar effort, with an added emphasis on snowboarding. Further comments or questions can be addressed to me at Burgdorfer@hotmail.com. Happy Trails! Rainer Burgdorfer

Major disappointment
The first sentence of the first route in Rainer Burgdorfer's tired tome tells you all you have to know about his disappointing second edition.In describing Tomyhoi Peak's "reasonable access," he uses the parenthetical phrase, "once Twin Lakes Road is clear of snow."What that means is that if you want to ride this peak in the winter, you must add at least 3 miles and 2,000 vertical feet to the route outlined in this guide.In fact, the trailheads to half of the routes and hills in Burgdorfers dated rehash cannot be reached in the winter.Fifty-one of the 102 routes in the book are inaccessible during the months of December, January and February.Worse still, if you take this self-proclaimed "guru's" advice, more than one-third (36) of the hills are only reachable in April, May or June.I don't know about you, but the kind of snow I love to ride just doesn't fall from the sky in April, May or June.If you are looking for a good winter backcountry ride guide, look somewhere other than this book.But describing trails that you can't reach in the winter isn't the only major failing of this book.At least half of the maps in the book are unreadable because the contour lines are too light, too small, or too close together. It would have been far better to create new maps with greater contour intervals. Of more concern to the reader is that the maps showpotential"avalanche zones."A backcountry snowboarder or skier new to this type of adventure might reasonably conclude that these zones are the ONLY areas to worry about avalanche hazard.Anyone with an ounce of experience know this is not true--but beyond that, it is a gross insult to the reader to assume that anyone who plies the winter backcountry cannot recognize an avalanche slope.Further, Burgdorfer's writing is barely informative and massively boring.At times, his huge ego interferes with an objective analysis of the route; for example, his recommendation of the Muir Snowfield solely for its " entertainment value"--presumably derived by watching skiers or riders who don't have his skill or experience. Yet another fatal problem with the book are many of the photgraphs, including a photo by the author of footprints in the snow on Page 56.This useless picture indeed is worth a thousand words--all of them derogatory.In a sad departure from the publisher's (The Mountaineer) usual careful editing for liability concerns, another photo in the book depicts a shirtless skier wearing shorts"on a glacier"(Page44).And the overuse of aerial photograpy would suggest that the author spent more time scouting routes from an airplane in the winter than he did on the snow.Another example of muddled thinking and inattentive editing is the photo on Page 116 of a dog on one of the routes, yet Burdorfer cautions readers on Page 15 to "consider leaving your dog at home."If indeed he wants us to leave our dogs at home (including those trained in avalanche rescue work), perhaps the dog should have been cropped out of the photo.The Indefatigable Ego of the author is also evident in his under-estimation of "ski times" on most of the routes.Anyone who has climbed to Camp Muir from Paradise, almost 5 miles and 5,000 vertical feet, will tell you it takes a great deal longer than 6 hours, but Burdorfer classifies this an "intermediate" route-- and most intermediates would take at least 5 hours simply climbing up to Muir in the dead of winter.In sum, this book was originally written more than two decades ago.It wasn't a helpful guide to Washington's winter backcountry then, and the second edition--which could hardly be called "new"--is no better.

Gary Brill where are you now?
I heard the older version of this book has better pictures ... Read more

Product Description
In this work, these two National Outdoor Leadership School instructors offer lots of tried-and-true tricks and useful tips drawn from years of experience. The material is easy to understand and accompanied by hundreds of entertaining illustrations by renowned illustrator Mike Clelland! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Entertaining, concise, & information.A must have for winter campers and beginner or intermediate backcountry skiers
I wish I had this book before my first winter camping experience in Alaska.It would have made for a much more enjoyable & successful trip.In this book you will find tips on clothing & gear selection, packing appropriately, winter camping safety & planning (including building multiple styles of snow shelters), intermediate skiing techniques, backcountry ethics, and basic avalanche safety.All of these are accompanied by entertaining and informational pictures which for me are very helpful at giving the complete picture.Don't expect this book to teach you to become an expert skier, but it will help you get enough of a solid base to get started without getting yourself into a dangerous situation.I would even recommend this for the relatively seasoned winter camper, as there are several tips which you may not have picked up even if you do get out in the cold frequently.I just finished reading this book a second time and picked up a few more tips that I hope to use this winter.

I would also highly recommend An Illustrated Guide to Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue if you plan to do any glacier travel.

A backcountry guide written for skiiers
BackCountry Ski Book is a little bit misleading of a title, it really is more of a guide to the backcountry written for skiiers.This book is filled withnuggets of wisdom on how to survive and have a great time in the backcountry, when you are skiing.
Much of the book assumes some familiarity with skiing and the outdoors.An absolute beginner can still glean new ideas from context.If this is your first introduction to avalanche safety, and you are planning a trip where this will be important to know stuff, you can get a good intro from this book.The writers also give a list of recommended resources for anyone who needs or want more information.
Clellands cartoon illustrations scattered throughout the book are helpful in understanding the text.The Gonnick style humor keeps the illustrations funny and educational.After O'Bannion states why doing something in a particular manner may not be wise, and gives a better way to manage, one of Clellands illustrations will give you a picture to prove O'Bannion's point.
Some of the tips and suggestions in this book occasionally contradict one another - both Clelland and O'Bannion put in their own favorite tips, even when they disagreed.This allows the reader to select the best idea for themselves.The writers were clear to include under what conditions each idea works best.
This book does not give a lot of instruction on exactly how to ski in the backcountry.You won't find a lengthy discussion of body mechanics on all-mountain vs alpine vs classic skis on virgin powder or slopes.There is some brief discussion on how to get uphill on skis, and similar skills necessary when you aren't at a ski resort.
This book does not have an index, making it a little more challenging to go back and use the book as a reference.Since it is a paperback, you can always mark it up.
The tips on winter camping are really good.There is guidance on which type of camping stoves to get, how to keep your water bottle from freezing, how to pack a sled and many other useful tidbits in this book.
I purchased this book with my own funds.If you are ready to leave resorts behind and head off into the backcountry, get a copy of this book to guide you.

Good winter camping book but....
I bought this book becauseI wanted to get into BC skiing and have a lot of questions aboutthe diffs of tele vs AT, use of skins etc...
The book really doesntoffer much info on skiing. Itdoes howeverhave a lot of infoon camping in winter conditions in an easy to read format with lots of pictures.
So if you need info regarding camping in the snow this would probably be a good bookfor you, if your like me and looking for more info on types of systems when you would want one over the other etc..you should probably pass on this book.

Seriouse Info, Funny Book
I read this because I wanted to learn how to survive and thrive should I ever find myself overnight in the snow. As always, the authors deliver sound advice gleened from their experience, and make you laugh all the way through with the funny illustrations. I appreciate the absence of machismo and political soap-boxing sometimes found in wilderness books, while reminding the reader to respect nature and be responisble.

What's neat about this book is the detailed instructions on how to do things. I don't ski the backcountry, but I spend a lot of time in the mountains and this books has great advice for anybody.

My husband bought me these books to get me interested in backpacking, and it worked. 'Nuff said.

Funny and Informative!
The clever humor aside, this book has everything I needed to know before entering the back country. I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Product Description
Experience the best in outdoor adventure on skis! Whether you’re new to backcountry skiing or a veteran on the slopes, Backcountry Skier is packed with expert instruction and valuable tips to help you make the most of your next trip to the mountains.

Author Jean Vives shares the wisdom gained from his 30-plus years of backcountry skiing experience as he presents the essential tools of the trade: the best clothing and equipment to use, the exercises to get you in peak shape, and the proper ski techniques for the conditions you’re likely to encounter.You’ll also stay safe and on-course with Vives’ detailed descriptions of winter camping, navigation, mountain weather, avalanche detection, and survival techniques. Put this book in your pack and find out how much fun backcountry skiing can be. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Comprehensive and practical
The book did not offer me a lot of new knowledge, but it is a very nice - readible and very practical - summary of most of the most relevant aspects of backcountry skiing. Very useful for reviving the essentials before going into the backcountry again this winter.
And of course there are some useful 'little' things that are new in comparison to other publications. ... Read more

Product Description
Discover the best places to go in the Oregon Cascades for backcountry skiing and snowboarding.In his new guide, Christopher Van Tilburg explores ungroomed powdery slopes and pristine wilderness descents, with more than half the routes described for intermediate-level backcountry skiers.The 60 routes here feature overall difficulty ratings, elevation and terrain, estimated skiing times, USGS topographical maps, skill levels required, and much more.Van Tilburg includes expert advice on safety, glaciers, and avalanche precautions, and details routes from Mount Hood to Mount Bachelor to Willamette Pass, as well as southwest Washington's Mount St. Helens and Mount Adams. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

review
Backcountry ski oregon is a nice guide. The photos are not as good as the ones in oregon descents but it offers a few more routes. Some of the routes are part of ski areas. useful book

Excellent!
What makes Van Tilburg's latest guidebook so good has a lot to do with why Van Tilburg was the perfect person to write it.He's not only an expert skier and snowboarder, but he's also an expert mountaineer, canyoneer, and wilderness medicine physician.When he guides you on these classic descents, you are in good hands.He not only shows you the best places to go, but makes sure you have the information to stay safe and get home in one piece.Let's face it -- if we were experts we wouldn't need a guidebook.If we need a guidebook, we need one written by someone with experience and good sense.Van Tilburg is a good man to follow. ... Read more

Product Description
The official Appalachian Mountain Club Trail map for winter trails in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Featuring backcountry ski tours and snowshoeing. ... Read more

Product Description
Snow avalanches are the greatest source of danger for mountain travellers in winter. This book is essential reading for winter backcountry enthusiasts who venture into mountainous terrain where avalanches are common. In spite of the increasing sophistication of avalanche-hazard forecasting. an alarming number of people die every year in backcountry avalanche accidents. Winter outdoor pursuits have changed substantially in recent years: advances in ski technology have opened up new out-of-bounds areas to free-riders, hi-tech snowshoes allow travel in avalanche terrain, and powerful, lightweight machines encourage snowmobilers to high mark on ever steeper slopes. This new edition of Avalanche Safety focuses on two basic user groups: those who wish to avoid avalanche hazard by careful route-finding, and those who deliberately seek steep slopes to ski or board. Using colour photographs, along with detailed charts, graphs and diagrams, the author clearly explains the basics of snow and avalanches, identifies avalanche terrain, promotes trip planning, describes the skills needed to travel through avalanche terrain and provides guidelines for skiing and boarding steep slopes, with an emphasis on managing risk. It also covers companion rescue. ... Read more

Product Description
This comprehensive guidebook covers one of the last large, intact ecosystems remaining in the temperate zones. This uncommonly beautiful area includes a wide range of natural attractions, from rugged mountain peaks and spectacular waterfalls to spruce and fir forests to fossil forests and geyser basins.

Here is all the information needed to select a trip or trail in the spectacular Yellowstone backcountry, including:
-- An overview of the region's natural history, including forest fire ecology
-- Tips on safety, clothing and equipment, weather conditions, backcountry regulations, and much more
-- Where to find the best hiking, backpacking, bicycling, canoeing, and cross-country ski touring routes
-- Best places to see elk, moose, bison, and other wildlife
-- Foreword by Mary Carr of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Great Book to Introduce Yellowtone and Beyond
Planning a trip out west to visit the National Parks, Bach's book was one of my first purchases. I'm glad I did. It not only prepared me for Yellowstone, but it also prepared me for my visits to Glacier and Yosemite National Parks. The gear lists and the general guidelines for hiking in the backcountry were invaluable in preparing a beginner backcountry hiker to the path ahead.

Yellowstone Yes
This is the best trails book for any of the mountain states national parks. I have not found a book for Glacier or Rocky Mountain National parks as good as this book. The Kent and Donna Dannen guide to RMNP comes close. This book may look as if it is for backpackers, but it has lots of info for day hikes, too.

Yellowstone Yes
This is the best trails book for any of the mountain states national parks. I have not found a book for Glacier or Rocky Mountain National parks as good as this book. The Kent and Donna Dannen guide to RMNP comes close. This book may look as if it is for backpackers, but it has lots of info for day hikes, too.

Wonderful detail on trails and scenic hikes
Bach does a wonderful job of describing each hike in brief detail. The book guides you in every direction, from locating the trailhead to the start and finish of each hike. As he describes each significant turn of thetrail, he also points out natural features and wildlife to watch for. Agreat addition to your Yellowstone library. ... Read more

Product Description
Although mountain bikers are often (and controversially) banned from using trails on both public and private lands, ski resorts have welcomed them with open arms. This is the first book to highlight, in depth, the growing popular sport of mountain biking on ski resorts. In spring, summer, and fall, more and more Northeast ski resorts are opening once-empty trails, lifts, and facilities to recreational bikers. There's something for everyone: for the adventurous, there are steep downhill runs that go on and on; gentle cross-country trails and woods roads for the more mellow of spirit; instruction for beginners; and professional racing for experts and spectators. Plus mot resorts offer rental bikes and safety equipment, and pro shops for repairs and service. In addition, all the amenities of a ski resort are here as well: spectacular scenery, comfortable lodges, daycare for the kids, evening entertainment, and gourmet dining, for the vacationer--or the day-tripper. The Mountain Biker's Guide to Ski Resorts tells you how to choose the right resort for you, and how to get the most from it. Driving directions, prices, bike shops, activities, and nearby attractions and accommodations are summarized for each resort, as well as helpful phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and Web sites. In addition, there are complete directions for riding the most enjoyable and scenic trails, and for linking them together into a full day of mountain biking. Featured resorts include: Gore Mountain, New York; Killington, Vermont; Loon Mountain, New Hampshire; Sunday River, Maine; Bromont, Qubec, and many more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Fat Tire biking bible? Not quite, but close.
Ever since the mountain bike was invented two decades ago, fat tire aficionados have dreamed of an endless summer of endless downhill riding.

Two years ago, Robert M. Immler, a Vermont freelance writer andmountain bike enthusiast, pursued this dream, spending the summer bombingdown Alpine slopes on his Specialized Rockhopper at 20 downhill ski resortsin the Northeast that cater to cyclists.

Immler wrote up his findings anddistilled his experiences and observations in a book published this month."The Mountain Biker's Guide to Ski Resorts is a long awaited compendium ofdownhill riding in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Yorkand Quebec.

This enticing volume deserves a place on he bookshelf of anyserious mountain biker, and rates a read even by armchair adventurerswho've only dreamed of hanging their wheels on a ski lift and riding intothe clouds.

The guide is easy to read, close to comprehensive in scopeand excruciatingly thorough in attention to any details. Although thebook's principal strengths in the area by area information, much of itsappeal lies in the opportunities it offers for planning a fat-tire vacationthis summer.

There are only two major faults. Despite its title, theguide's scope is strictly limited to downhill ski areas and omits much fineoff-road cycling available at cross-country centers.

The second is reallybeyond the author's control: the ski-cum-cycle market is changing soquickly that several of the book's 20 detailed chapters - averaging ninepages per ski resort - will be seriously out-of-date by this summer.

Somehigh points:

In addition to hours, opening dates and costs, each chapterincludes several suggested itineraries with best viewpoints, difficultyratings, explicit directions and distances computed to hundredths of amile.

Other information for each resort includes rentals, bike shops,major cycling events and related attractions - such as water slides to cooloff sweaty cyclists.

Added information includes daycare facilities,on-mountain restaurants and even places to wash off mud-encrusted bikes.Secondary info directs vacationers to nearby accommodations, campgrounds,restaurants and nightlife.

Only a handful of ski mountains provide liftservice directly to the summit. Because most high elevation expert skislopes are too steep and rocky for cyclists to handle, most resorts carrybikes only mid-mountain lifts.

Vermont's 4,211 foot Killington Peak, isthe highest lift-served summit in the Northeast. Other ski mountains withlift service to the to include Loon in New Hampshire and Jay, Stratton andSnow in Vermont.

Several mounts operate an off-mountain shuttle servicefor cyclists. Among the most appealing is Loon's bike van, which carriesriders to the height-of-land of Franconia Notch and allows them to cruisedownhill along the famed Franconia Recreation Path.

Along this graded,paved off-road path, riders can visit sites and sights such as the Old Manof the Mountain, Profile Lake, the Flume and the Basin. Before returning toLoon's cycle center, riders pass half a dozen ice cream shops inLincoln.

Before visiting any ski mountain, call ahead. Because of thechanges in the ski industry, much of this book will be out of date thissummer. Here are some notable updates:

Add Sugarloaf to the lift-servedlist this season, while Shawnee Peak started serving cyclists last summer.In New Hampshire, add Attitash Bear Peak and delete Bretton Woods andCranmore.

Scott Andrews ... Read more