Nov

27

100 Classic Hikes in North Carolina, Reviewed

Written by S. Beaumont and filed under Review 

100 Classic Hikes in North CarolinaI recently got my hands on the book “100 Classic Hikes in North Carolina,” written by Joe Miller. Miller writes the “Take it Outside” column for the N&O, where he has worked for the last 15 years. Paid to hike and write–I really need to meet this guy. He seems to have figured a few things out. Although, I did get a free copy of this book from his publisher, so perhaps I’m on my way.

The book starts by defining a “classic” hike. More or less, they describe it as one that stands out from the rest and could be enjoyed on multiple visits, each offering something new. It’s hard to argue with that logic. The only consistency I’ve ever found on the trail is that Mother Nature will always have something in store for you that you didn’t expect.

Each hike is broken down with a short narrative of what to expect, key information about the park or trail, estimated hiking time, elevation gain and difficulty. Overall, it gives you just enough to be dangerous without crossing the line of a full-fledged guide book. Consider it a step up from a word-of-mouth recommendation but short of a complete map–something that you’ll want to pick up on your own. Further, each hike is divided into regions of the state (Piedmont, Mountains and Coast) and by cities or regions (Triad, Blue Ridge, etc.) to help you sort through the numerous hikes at a glance. There is also a full shot of the state with each hike numbered corresponding to its listing. This is a very helpful feature for the last-minute road trip or a spur-of-the-moment hiking urge while on vacation.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. I’ve taken several of the hikes on the list and have marked numerous others that I’d like to tackle in the near future. One regret though, the pictures seem to have been captured at varied qualities. Perhaps several were accumulated over the years when 1-2 mega pixel cameras roamed the land. Or even, gasp, when film cameras could be found. The photos are nice enough and serve the purpose of what you could expect in the area, but I think the occasional blurriness takes away from the books value as a true “coffee-tabler.” It is a book about hiking though, so maybe it’s just motivation to get out there and snap some photos of your own.

The bottom line, I seem to find myself with fewer and fewer free weekends to tackle the trail, so when a local authority on a subject can lend a recommendation, I’d highly recommend taking his word for it and maximizing your time outside.

One other observation, Pisgah National Forest (listed as Pigsah) is misspelled on the cover. This may be completely irrelevant to the content and value of the book, and I’m certainly not one to point fingers when it comes to spelling, but I have to think that a few heads rolled on that one. It is the cover of the book.

Anyway, this book would make a great Holiday gift for someone on your list who likes (or needs) to get outside and enjoy the beauty that is all around us. Pick up a copy and support a local author’s first adventure into the world of book writing.

Note: Contains affiliate links.  If you purchase through Amazon using these links, you’re helping to support RFP. I believe the book is also available at Great Outdoor Provision and REI, among others.

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One Response to “100 Classic Hikes in North Carolina, Reviewed”

  1. DPK on December 28th, 2007 6:07 am

    They should have added the Hillsborough Hike in there as a bonus, haha. j/k

    I might pick this up for a friend of mine who enjoys the outdoors.

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