One of the world s most spectacular places, the Grand Canyon annually attracts over 4 million visitors who peer over the edge of the abyss. A smaller number of them trek from the rim to the banks of the Colorado River on one of the nation's best-known hikes. Many of these hikers are inadequately prepared for the rigors of what can be a deadly journey. This indispensable guide describes the most popular route into the canyon the 16.2 mile round-trip route from the South Rim to the Colorado River. It addresses the many possible hazards (extreme heat, cold, elevation gain/loss of over 9,000...

50 Best Short Hikes: Yosemite National Park and Vicinity leads hikers of all skill levels to some of the most stunning landscapes Yosemite has to offer including: bubbling alpine creeks, smooth glaciated slabs, giant sequoias, deep dark blue lakes, and rock as far as the eye can see. In addition to in-depth hike descriptions, the author has also included information about the parks natural history, complex landscape, and its human history. Additional information includes tips on keeping yourself and your family safe, the park's natural predators, and helpful weather information.

This new book by Sierra expert Elizabeth Wenk includes photos and descriptions of approximately 300 species of wildflowers and flowering shrubs in the High Sierra. Focused on areas above 8,000 feet in elevation from Yosemite south through the Whitney Region, by restricting the collection of species to higher elevations, the book can include all commonly seen species and nearly half of all higher elevation species in a compact guide. Make plant identification more approachable to hikers, this book differentiates between species using features easily identifiable to a non-botanist. Descriptions...

As the highest mountain in the lower 48 states, California's 14,505-foot Mt. Whitney is on the "life list" for many hikers. And it's no wonder: the views from the top of the 21-mile round-trip Mt. Whitney Trail are unbeatable, extending across the jagged granite peaks of the Sierra Nevada to the expansive Owens River Valley and beyond.

While tremendously rewarding, this hike is demanding even for experienced trekkers. Would-be hikers need to be prepared for the altitude, long distance, elevation gain, mountain weather, and other potential dangers. One Best Hike: Mt. Whitney by...

50 Must-Do Hikes for Everyone. 2nd edition.

This book aims to introduce scientists and educated laymen to the fascinating geology of the Bergell Alps, first with some background information on geology, tectonics, minerals and rocks and then to lead readers on excursions to observe geological features in the field. We believe the best way to make readers familiar with local geology is to lead them to intriguing outcrops. Such books are common in North America, but missing in Europe, particularly for the Alps. With this work, we use hands-on experience at a series of sites to educate readers how individual outcrops, moraines, landslides...