No comments about Rand Mcnally Wisconsin: Highways and Interstates (Rand McNally Folded Map: States).

1 comments about Backroad Bicycling in Wisconsin: 28 Scenic Tours through Lakes, Forests, and Glacier-Carved Countryside, Second Edition.

1. The collaborative effort of Jane and Scott Hall, Backroad Bicycling In Wisconsin: 28 Scenic Tours Through Lakes, Forests, And Glacier-Carved Countryside is a superbly organized and presented resource filled with maps, recommended routes, tips and tricks, and much more for avid cyclers, complete with information about terrain, where to find repairs and rentals, highlights of one's trips, and much more. Backroad Bicycling In Wisconsin is confidently recommended as being a truly first-rate, "user friendly" guide for avid Wisconsin cyclers.

2 comments about Climber's Guide to Devils Lake (North Coast Books).

1. One would never think of the Midwest as having any great climbing areas. While it isn't Yosemite or Joshua Tree, Devil's Lake in central Wisconsin is one of the country's best climbing spots. This guide details hundreds of great climbs in DL along with maps and climb ratings. Descriptions are short with some beta mixed in and the maps are little confusing. But since most of DL's climbing areas are hidden in the bluffs, the guide is an absolute must. It's also small enough to fit in a back pocket



2. Found this book after getting started in outdoor climbing. There are so many routes there, and this book tries to cover them all. Must have for DL.

1 comments about Latin American History: A Teaching Atlas (Conference on Latin American History).

1. A great wealth of knowledge is packed into this volume. It includes extensive info about Spain as well, including the Reconquista and Age of Exploration. This is the only place I have been able to find detailed maps of both Bolivar and San Martin's campaigns in English. I would have liked to see a bit more about British & American imperialism in the 19th century, but overall it is a great book. I would puchase a newer, up-to-date version in a heartbeat.

2 comments about Animal Tracks of the Great Lakes States: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Wisconsin.

1. Again, the pictures in the book are easy enough to use for my 3 year old. The information contained in the book is useful. We enjoy using this book and look forward to the spring and summer when we can travel further than our backyard.



2. Very basic book that misses the mark. The drawings of animal tracks are poor in quality and clarity. In a book illustrating animal tracks I would expect a photo of the animal that made the tracks. This is a great book for a youth.

4 comments about Backpacking Wisconsin.

1. Wonderfully illustrated throughout with maps and b/w photos, Backpacking Wisconsin is a comprehensive guide and informative overview to the best Wisconsin has to offer the outdoor enthusiast and hiker. For each recreational excursion surveyed the aspiring backpacker will find complete directions for getting there; information on entrance fees and permits, campsites, and contacts; detailed trail maps with keys to roads, parking, trail shelters, water supplies, and outhouses; ratings for trails, scenery, quiet, solitude, and points of interest; background information on history, geology, and terrain; trail notes describing trees, shrubs, wild flowers, birds, and mammals. Backpacking Wisconsin is an indispensable, success enhancing, outdoor recreation and travel guide. Enthusiastically recommended for hikers, campers, bird watchers, and nature lovers.



2. This is a pretty darn good book. I live in Milwaukee and am pretty familiar with most of the places described. The info is accurate, and there's enough of it. A lot of good maps, too. The authors have divided the state into 5 backpacking regions and in each region they've listed many of the best backpacking parks and trails. It's satisfying to know that the authors have themselves backpacked most of the areas they describe. A lot of good stuff in this book, including general backpacking "how-to" info in the first part, but... There is one piece of advice that I think is poorly thought out. On page 25, their advice is to not bring a cell phone into the woods and that it is of little potential help. They talk of the subject in somewhat unrealistic terms, and only of getting lost in the woods and completely ignore other potential problems such as a medical emergency. As an experienced backpacker, I can tell you as they do... DON'T go into the woods if you aren't prepared for emergency and what to do if you get lost, but, if things do go bad and you have a cell phone with you (especially one of those really small, lightweight ones with a wide coverage area) you could be darn glad you brought it. Keep it turned off, use it only in emergencies and pray that it sends and receives OK from your location. This is the biggest potential problem with cell phones in an emergency, but coverage is getting better and technology is giving us more reliability. Their advice should have been (as it is in many other backpacking articles)...Bring a cell phone (with a fresh battery) if you want to, but understand that it is NOT guaranteed to work, keep it turned off except ONLY for emergencies and it is NO SUBSTITUTE for knowledge and smart preperation. Having said that (it's a small point that I made a big deal of)... DO buy this book if your'e looking at a backpacking trip in this wonderful state.



3. I do not like this book at all. Maybe it is because I am used to using Falcon Guides, but when I purchase a hiking or backpacking trail guide I expect good trail narratives, not a description of the author's hiking experience. I don't care what time they got into camp or what they had for dinner. In a backpacking book I expect some description of water availability from streams, lakes, etc. In this book the authors only describe whether or not public water is available at campsites. Since I have not found this book to be of much use in planning a backpacking trip to Wisconsin, I am now purchasing the Hiking Wisconsin Falcon Guide.



4. This is a great book. I am into backpacking but never recieved good info about it in our state (I choose to save it for vacations out west - not anymore). I really like how the authors put the book together with ratings of trails and persoanl experience. Excellenet organization. Unlike the other reviewer I think the personal accounts are much needed as they help describe exactly what it was like when the authors were there. This is exactly what Wisconsin backpackers need. I didn't want to make the mistake of going backpacking in Wisconsin and having it turn into something that was too civilized. This book describes what kinds of things are at the campsites or if campsites exist at all(then one must wilderness camp--my favorite). It acts as a guide as to which places will better suite your particular taste for backpacking so you aren't wasteing your whole summer trying to find good places to go.

4 comments about Hiking Wisconsin (America's Best Day Hiking Series).

1. I am happy to own this guide. I particularly like to be able to review the different places where I can go hiking before I go, so I know I am making a wise choice. It has information for biking, boating, etc. It does not have information for cross-country skiing, however.

   One thing I really like is that it tells you about different stops along the trails, so you can use this to make sure you have not deviated from the trail.




2. This book was originally recommended to me by some hikers at an EMS. I've now been to a couple of places discussed in the book, and I've found that it gives a good sense of what's going on at the places described in the sense of what sorts of terrain, etc that you might encounter.

   But it seems to only mention a SMALL subset of the possible hikes in an area. For example at the Kettle Moraine park (Southern Unit) it failed to mention that most of the trails have longer and more difficult variations. And it didn't mention going up to the top of a hill, where you can see the entire park.

   Still, this is the best reference on hiking in Wisconsin in this format.




3. I purchased 11 books on hiking, camping, and touring in Wisc. Of these books that I purchased, this book is the best for hiking (4 of the 11 books were on hiking.)

   It is especially good if you:

   - don't know Wisc too well (I grew up in Wisc, so am very familiar with Wisc, but I never paid attention to the names of the incredibly wonderful places my folks took us to when I was a kid, which was a big mistake.)

   - want to go on the best hikes

   This book has the best hikes (when compared to the other hiking books I bought.)

   It's a great book for the first-time hiker or for a hiker that doesn't know the hikes in Wisc. I wish I had bought this book ten years ago when I first wanted to hike with friends in Wisc. Ten years ago, I purchased "Guide to Wisconsin Outdoors" and "Wisconsin Handbook", which weren't right for me at the time (even though both are excellent books) because they weren't for hikers, but more for folks that wanted to drive through an area and know what the cities have to offer in way of entertainment and amentities. Those two books, while absolutely perfect for folks who prefer to either drive through, do indoor activitity, and learn about an area's local amenities (which can be important information), they set me back several years on my goal to get up to speed on hiking in Wisc. I needed a hiking book.

   So, I finally found this book. I bought other books on hiking (4 of them), but I liked this the best. Now that I know more about the areas I went to as a kid, I now know that this book lists the best areas for hiking. All of the best hiking areas we went to as kids are in this book (except one, which is a not so well-known area that our family would go to - but none of the other hiking books I bought listed it either.)

   I want to mention the cons of the book, so you know what's missing and so you know what you may need to find elsewhere. When you travel to a faraway location, it's a good idea to know the local amenities of the area (restaurants, etc.). This book doesn't have that information. However, I would definitely not buy a book that tries to cover both hiking and amenities in one book because that's what I did ten years ago and that method failed me because I ended up not getting the hiking information I needed (other info got crowded out by the info on amenities) so I ended up not hiking in Wisc for several years as a result because I was stalled on it - I didn't have the info I needed and I didn't know how to get the information from faraway. I was in Washington at the time (majestic views but not as peacefully pastorial as beautiful Wisc), and back then, you couldn't find the books you needed online like you can now.

   So, I suggest buying Hiking Wisconsin and finding the hiking locations through it, and then figure out amenities through other sources (the other two books that I mentioned do a good job on amenities, though I wouldn't recommend them for hiking.) Also, triple AAA covers amenities for free (but a bit too briefly when compared to the two books I mentioned.)

   If you are an experienced hiker that has already gone on more than 75 different hikes in Wisc, most likely this book will be a repeat for you since it covers the top 100 hikes.

   I liked this book because it has the best hikes. It was important to me to find the beautiful locations my parents took us to when we were kids (my Dad knew some really good areas.) Those were great places and created great memories for me. So, I just didn't want to go to any place that simply had a so-so hike - I wanted it to be special and see something that moved me as much as the hikes moved me when I was a kid.

   So, if your goal is to find the best areas to hike, I'd buy this book.




4. Hiking Wisconsin was my first encounter with the "America's Best Day Hiking" series. After this experience, I hope I have more encounters with this series in the future.

   This book possesses all of the attributes of a well-written guide. There are 55 hiking destinations described here, and a couple of trails are described at each destination. The destinations are scattered throughout the state, but there is a noticably higher concentration in the south than in the north. Also, the last 9 hikes are grouped in a category entitled "urban," which for this author means Milwaukee and Green Bay.

   Each hike features a map (they appear to be computer-generated), difficulty ratings from 1 boot (easiest) to 4 boots (most difficult), directions to the trailhead, and an excellent, detailed description of the trail. There is also a summary table in the front of the book, so choosing a trail to hike is very easy.

   Trail lengths range from 0.7 miles to 14.5 miles with the average at only 2 or 3 miles. This is, in my opinion, the greatest drawback of this book. Too many of the hikes described here are short nature hikes. For experienced hikers (such as myself), 2 miles counts as a warm-up; we expect more out of a hike. I know that longer options are availible at many of these locations. Thus, the author frequently makes the unusual choice of describing two short trails over a longer, meatier, more interesting one. This is the only reason I cannot give the book 5 stars.

   The book itself is unusual because it measures 8.5x11 inches, quite large by hiking book standards. To compensate, the publisher has made the pages perforated so you can tear them out as opposed to take the entire book with you on a hike. I don't view this as a good alternative. If your desk looks like mine, the pages are better off in the book so that they don't get lost. This is not a major problem, but the design is unusual, and I thought it should be noted.

   In conclusion, despite the drawbacks mentioned above, this is still the best, most complete guide to Wisconsin hiking on the market. As such, I would recommend it for purchase to anyone interested in learning more about Wisconsin hiking.

No comments about American Map Wisconsin State Travel.

5 comments about Hiking Wisconsin (State Hiking Series).

1. I'm familiar with this book and know the author. Plus I've done some of the hikes in this book. It's well done and I think you'll really enjoy the results of the author's extensive research about the entire state. He's found the hikes that will bring you to quiet, scenic spots. In some places he has put together parts of adjoining trails to give you the best of what a place has to offer. Many of his hikes are not well known or are in areas like the Sand Counties where you might not have thought to go hiking.



2. I heard Eric Hansen speak recently and was impressed by his enthusiasm for what Wisconsin has to offer and for connecting with nature through hiking. His hike descriptions give you a good feeling for why you'd want to hike in each place plus the directions and a trail map. I especially like the extensive "hike finder" in the front of the book where he lets you know which hikes are best for things like waterfalls, quiet lakes, views etc.



3. The fifty percent of Wisconsin residents who like to hike, most of the eighty percent who like to walk, and visitors to the state will find value in this book. Several premier Ice Age and North Country Trail segments are highlighted. The introductory chapter offers insights for foot travelers to improve this popular and healthy activity. The size of the book is handy. The "For more information" listing on every hike review can be especially useful.



4. Eric Hansen's guidebook provides the reader with hikes that take you away from traditional trails and allows the hiker solitude and ability to experience nature in some of its purest forms. I have personally travelled on some of the trails listed. His directions are clear. The book provides Eric's insight into various experiences along the routes. Erics's keen awareness of the environment and trail savvy makes this book a must for any serious trails enthusiast interested in the midwest outdoors.



5. Wisconsin borders two of the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River. It is home to hardwood and evergreen forests, a superb system of lakes and streams, and a wealth of municipal, county, state, and national parks. In Hiking Wisconsin, Eric Hansen (who hiked over 800 miles of Wisconsin trails while working on this guide) showcases the best outdoor hiking trails available to the general public. Each hiking trail entry features hike descriptions, difficulty ratings, and trail lengths. Hiking Wisconsin is enhanced with "user friendly" maps, clear directions, information on camping, seasonal access, and trail restrictions. Hiking Wisconsin is the perfect "take along" guidebook whether you plan to be gone for an afternoon or a weekend or a week. If you are anticipating an outdoor excursion somewhere in the Badger State, then begin your planning by securing and browsing through a copy of Eric Hansen's Hiking Wisconsin!

5 comments about Wisconsin Atlas and Gazetteer.

1. This gazeteer is very useful for planning outdoor trips...canoeing, camping, etc. It even includes wineries and seems to be very accurate so far.



2. This map is the thing to have if you live in Wisconsin and plan on going anywhere outside of your stomping grounds. The backroad details are a great tool if you ever get detoured off of the course that you know. My wife was on her way to work (3o miles away) one morning when a fatality traffic accident rerouted traffic off of the freeway into the windy backroads of southwestern Wisconsin. There was a trooper at some dinky road directing all of the traffic onto it. From that point, there wasn't any help to guide her way to a place she could get back on the road she knows so well. She called me from her cell and I tried to give her a route from what I could find on mapquest until she got too far into the sticks and we lost connection. After a couple of bad guesses on which way to go, eventually she managed to find a county road and made the right decision and got back to the freeway. From that point on, we made sure that one of these is tucked under her car seat not only as insurance for these situations, but as a guide to any time we travel a decent distance. Very detailed and accurate. A must have.



3. This is the greatest thing since sliced bread! You can find your way into or out of anywhere with this atlas! Just love it... especially when navigating around construction, road closures, and flood damaged areas. I love how it has every little country road listed in it... you can literally navigate anywhere. And I'm a person who usually gets lost at the drop of a hat.



4. If you do any driving around in the back roads up north in Wisconsin, this is an invaluable tool that you should never be without. I remember traveling with a friend who had a GPS unit that was somewhat of a pain since you had to know exactly where you were (one would think a GPS unit would be able to determine that w/o input but I guess I'm expecting too much!) - & then it would label the roads wrong. I've used a Gazetteer for years & have always been happy with the detail involved. It shows what type of road/trail (so you can figure out if you really want to chance it, depending on your vehicle!), plus shows elevations, streams, lakes, etc. One square = one mile, so it's pretty easy to figure out how far you have to go to pretty much anywhere.
   
   I believe these come out every 4-6 years (forgot which), so it's sometimes best to wait for a new one, or attempt to get the last edition a little cheaper online. I'm not sure if they're available for every state, but they should be.



5. These map books are great to have when traveling even though you might have mapped your route online and have a GPS. They give a great big picture quickly if you need the big picture or need to reroute. I have worn out my old 12 year old ones and wanted to get up to date one. I wouldn't be without them.