Читать книгу 101 Hikes in Northern California - Matt Heid - Страница 11

Preface

WELCOME TO THE total Northern California outdoor experience. Every aspect of the region’s incredible natural diversity is found within these 101 hikes—the jagged granite of the High Sierra, the crashing surf of the Pacific Coast, the volcanic landscape of the Modoc Plateau, the rich diversity of the Klamath Mountains, the magnificent redwoods of the North Coast, the spectacular views of the Bay Area. Lakes, peaks, rivers, creeks, volcanoes, waterfalls, valleys, beaches, forests, meadows, wildlife, wildflowers, lighthouses … all can be found within these pages.

This book describes a greater area than most Northern California guidebooks. Stretching north from Sequoia National Park through the Modoc Plateau of northeast California, it includes virtually all of the Sierra Nevada. Sweeping north along the coast, from Big Sur to the Oregon border, it contains the Coast Ranges, the San Francisco Bay Area, and the Klamath Mountains. In total, this book covers the entire northern two-thirds of the state. And now this third edition opens up several new realms, with 18 entirely new trips and expanded coverage of the Sierra Nevada and North Coast regions.

The hikes were selected using three basic criteria, with each adventure including some combination of the following:

 Isolation: Wilderness is freedom, an escape from the trappings of society. The fewer people you encounter, the deeper your experience.

 Scenic beauty: Sweeping 360-degree vistas, exquisite works of nature, and the splendor of Northern California.

 Unique destinations: Redwood forests, giant sequoias, granite domes, marble mountains, thundering waterfalls—places unlike anywhere else on Earth.

While all of these hikes can be completed in a single day, more than half can also be done as overnight backpacking trips. Each hike includes summary information outlining the basics of the trip, detailed driving directions, an in-depth trail description, and the location of the nearest visitor center and campground. Backpacking information is provided for appropriate hikes. The hikes are broadly distributed across Northern California—no matter where you are, an adventure awaits nearby. Enjoy!