Mount Rainier DRIVE or HIKE to SEE is the only visitor guide book written with maps and photos for both sightseeing and day hiking adventures in Mt. Rainier National Park. Most visitors know about Paradise and Longmire but have no idea about anything else inside the park. This book with its mileage maps will guide visitors from the entrance of the park up the Nisqually Road describing with photos and marking each point of interest and each trailhead for hiking as you travel through Longmire and up to the Paradise Visitor Center. The book likewise maps and marks all the hikes and sightseeing places along the dramatic Stevens Canyon Road, which visitors often miss seeing. The book has itinerary suggestions for sunny days, cloudy days and even rainy days. It tells you where to go and what to do when the mountain views are covered in clouds noting there are places that become more delightful under the clouds. The distances are well marked in the book, food availability is discussed along with favorite picnic areas. There is an explanation of the mountain seasons so you can plan your trip accordingly. Mount Rainier DRIVE or HIKE to SEE book is your complete guide to visiting Mount National Rainier!
09/19/08
Yes, we know there are already many books about hiking in Mount Rainier National Park, but this is the first I've seen that takes into account the floods of November 2006. The book has been produced for the 2007 hiking season and is a perfect fit for tourists or experienced hikers who cannot access some of their favorite trails this year.
This book couldn't appear at a better time as the drive from the Nisqually-Paradise Road to Paradise draws tourists like flies to honey. Johnson describes 15 drives to points of interest and hikes that are accessible from the Nisqually entrance of the park.
With five must-see views and 10 hikes to choose from, a visitor easily can combine drives and hikes to suit. "Mount Rainier" details five points of interest near the road, including waterfalls and the flower trails of Paradise. Easy hikes are lavishly detailed, such as the Trail of the Shadows at Longmire, a historical nature trail. The hikes range from easy to moderate.
Set your odometer to zero at the Nisqually entrance as there are no mileposts on roads inside the park. Twin Firs, 4.4 miles inside the park, is the first suggested stop. Johnson calls these two majestic trees "the forgotten treasures." Other suggested stops are Narada Falls and the Christine Falls Viewpoint.
The maps were created by the author and are user-friendly. Trail descriptions are enhanced with several color photographs. Johnson's photographs alone will compel a visit to Comet Falls, though Johnson cautions to make sure the log bridge is in place.
The book concludes with a suggested "Itinerary for Sunny Weather" and an "Itinerary for Cloudy Days." On a sunny day, Johnson suggests a visit to the Paradise area, and on cloudy days she suggests other points of interest, such as old growth forests and waterfalls -- ideal for photography on cloudy days.
Karen Sykes, West Seattle resident and avid hiker, has been traveling Northwest trails for 25 years and is the author of "Hidden Hikes in Western Washington." She can be reached via e-mail at: hikes4ever@hotmail.com.
Karen
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