Pros: Very detailed info on individual hikes. Written by two former park rangers.
Cons: Not enough info on safety or preparedness or quick reference charts for hikes.
The Bottom Line: There is some very good info in here on 29 day hikes within the park. I did not find it as useful a reference as some others out there, though.
wilson0423's Full Review: Roger Anderson and Carol Shively Anderson - A Rang...
This is the 4th book in my recent attempt to review every book I read before traveling to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. This one is another one that covers trails with the park and I actually purchased this at a gift shop inside Yellowstone itself. I’m a sucker for color pictures and this book has some beautiful ones inside. The fact that two park rangers wrote this book also brings an interesting perspective that is not usually found in books like these.
The Book
This is a small 152 page paperback book filled with information on 29 day hikes through Yellowstone National Park. The authors are Roger and Carol Anderson; who are two former park rangers themselves. The center of the book is filled with color photos taken from the trails listed inside.
A map of Yellowstone at the front of the book depicts where each of these trails are located within the park. On the page following the map is a useful chart that breaks down the trails into easy, moderate or strenuous hikes. The area of the park, distance of the trail, highlights of the trail, and its associated page number in the book are also mentioned.
What follows this is a somewhat inadequate 4 page section on what to bring hiking, wildlife etiquette and dealing with lightning and bears. I was very disappointed in this section. The authors are park rangers after all and I thought they of all people would put a little more time into trail safety and preparing for a hike into what can be some dangerous terrain.
The Trails
The remainder of this book is filled with descriptions of the 29 different hikes. I was impressed with the descriptions of each trail. Most of these hikes have 3 or 4 pages of information about them. Considering many of these trails are only a couple miles long this is even more impressive.
Each hike includes a full page map. These are a little more detailed than traditional maps found in these type books. These even depict the contour lines so the reader has a better idea of the rise and fall of the terrain. Other trails in the area are also depicted along with any landmarks that might be useful when traversing the trail. A section on hiking directions compliments the map with a description of the path and any landmarks and obstacles to look for.
An introduction is given to each trail, with a brief overview of what to expect. This is followed by the level of difficulty, distance, elevation change, where to find the trailhead and how long it should take to complete the hike. This is all useful info and it’s info that can be found in almost any guide book that mentions these trails. Where this book separates itself is with its great details of the trail itself.
The best time of year to travel each trail is mentioned and the reasoning for traveling that time of year. Sometimes of year the trail may be crowded, hot, or filled with bear activity, and other times it may be filled with wildflowers. These are all very useful things to know before setting out.
There is also a special attention section that depicts any dangers on the trail or just things to be cognizant of. This is what I would expect from two park rangers and there is some good info here to be aware of. The last section on each trail is by far the most informative, though.
The last section on each trail is called Naturalists Notes. There is much more here than just the natural wonders found on the trail. There is also a historical record of events that happened on or near this particular path. This does not just include man’s history, but what forces in nature helped form the scenery and sights along the path. This is one of the best parts of the book and gives in depth details of the trails that I have not seen in other books.
My Opinion
This is a good book to own if you are going to go on short day hikes throughout Yellowstone. The Naturalist notes and the maps with each trail are exceptional. I have found other books to be more helpful though, and this might be best used as a supplement to those.
I personally found Family Guide to Yellowstone and Grand Teton a much better resource for the trails though. Considering two former park rangers wrote this book I found it surprising that the book falls short on preperation and safety on these paths or for hiking in general throughout the park.
I would have also liked more charts like those used in Family Guide to Yellowstone and Grand Teton, that depict where wildlife, geothermal sites, and other activities like camping or fishing can be found.
This is not a bad book, but it’s not as helpful as I would have liked. I was too easily won over by the brilliant color photos inside. I can still recommend the book, though, because it contains info that the other books on the trails do not and it is also an interesting perspective from some of the rangers who worked the park.
4 stars is too many and 3 is not enough so I give this book a 3.54 rating.
Dayhikes -- 29 in all -- of different lengths and ability levels. Each has a contoured map and narrative about natural and human history, botany, geol...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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