The collaborative effort of Thomas Winnet, Jason Winnett, Kathy Morey, and Lyn Haber, Sierra North: 100 Backcountry Trips In California's Sierra is an detailed and thoroughly "user friendly travel guide to planning a hike in California's wild, rugged, and beautiful mountains. Filled with topography maps, one hundred different trips with route descriptions, information on fishing, swimming, flora, fauna, geology, and history, and much, much more, Sierra North is a highly accessible and information-packed resource which is especially recommended for vacationing nature lovers.

I've used this guide on every leg described in the book and it was dead on (1988 - 1996). The summit creek area description was helpful since that section wasn't well marked. Is much better than USGS maps. Definitely recommend. 259 Top of the line.

I bought this book & another book, kept this one and returned the other. I haven't seen a better guide to the PCT.

This book, along with its Oregon-Washington Second Volume, is a MUST-read for anyone planning their own trip along all or part of the Pacific Crest Trail. This trail guide provides a wealth of information such as mileage, water-stops, trail conditions, tips, maps, and even locations (including addresses!) of post-offices and other along-the trail stop-overs for re-supply. PCT hikers often carry this book with them in their packs and reference it often. More weight-conscious thru-hikers will cut or tear the book apart into sections (it's conveniently divided into a long series of trail sections between stop-overs) and ship the abbreviated guides back to themselves at towns along the journey.

Combining years of research and tens of thousands of miles of first-hand trail experience, the authors have done an outstanding job in allowing future backpackers access to the information they need to plan their own epic adventures. The book usually comes with an pamphlet included to keep you posted on any updates and changes to the trail since the book's latest release (which I believe there have been six such releases since its initial publication in '73).

I'm planning my own thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail, and after much of my own extensive research through countless other books and guides, I still come back to this one for the information I need to plan my own greatest adventure to date. Be sure the check the Oregon & Washington volume of the guide as well, written by the same authors in the exact same format.

I have used this book since 1980 to hike all or part of the PCT. It can make or break your trip. The most important info is where to find water. Some souces are difficult to find, but this book will lead you to it. The amount of info,maps, water, landmarks, milage,trail conditions, suppy points, etc., make this book a must on any hike along the PCT. If you don't have it with you, you're a lost soul.

This is an excellent book for first-time climbers of Mt. Whitney. The author explains the perils, pitfalls and also the exhilaration of climbing the highest peak in the lower 48 states. The book is especially strong on maps, even though finding Mt. Whitney is not at all difficult; there is only one stop light in Lone Pine, turn there and head up the 14 miles to the portal.

A word of caution though, for a first-time climber reading this review. Please do not attempt this hike unless you are supremely physically fit. I have seen many sobering cases of hikers on Whitney who were simply not prepared for the rigors of this climb. Most physically fit people should be able to do the 21 miles in 12-13 hours. If it takes you 24 hours you will suffer and it will be a miserable experience. Train for at least six months before attempting to summit. Be sure and run 25-40 miles a week, hike every weekend at altitude (if practicable)and invest in a good stairclimber. You must have strong quads and calves in order to enjoy the hike and the descent will be brutal on your knees, no matter how fit you are. Also go out for several 10 hour hikes in order to prepare yourself mentally for this challenge. The mental part of Whitney is as difficult as the physical, particularly on the descent when you've been on the trail for a long time already.

In addition, plan to spend at least two nights sleeping at altitude prior to the ascent. Many people simply sleep in their car at Whitney Portal, but if this is an uncomfortable thought, stay at gorgeous Mammoth Lakes, about 150 miles North of Whitney. Mammoth is at 8,500 feet and there are several perfect hikes of 10-12 miles there to prepare for for altitude (Duck Pass is my favorite).

Climbing Whitney can be a defining moment in your life. I return every year and look forward to it with relish. If you are fit, properly acclimated and mentally ready, you will find Whitney to be one of the best and most fulfilling things you've ever done in your life. Good luck!

If you want to hike Mt Whitney or the area you don't have a choice-you must buy this book. It comes with a topo map and the book descibes every trail on the quadrangle, along with historical and natural information. Don't bother going to Mt Whitney without this book.

My wife and I are volunteer forest service workers in Los Padres National Forest, Ventana Wilderness. We maintain the Pine Ridge Trail, and spur trails, between Big Sur Ranger Station and Sykes Hot springs (with lots of help from friendly hikers). We enjoy exploring other areas for backpacking and camping but don't want to waste our precious leisure time searching for the better hikes, so we use good trail books, like this one, to plan our trips.

Sierra North covers selected better trails in Yosemite National Park, and the following wilderness areas: Mokelumne, Carson Iceberg, Emigrant, Hoover, Ansel Adams and the northern end of John Muir. It meets most of our demands for identifying the better hikes to explore in a convenient easy to use book. It provides good directions to the trailheads and descriptions of the trails, camps and attractions along the way. It provides a description of how strenuous the hikes are and has a neat graph to show the gain and loss of altitude over the distance for each trail. It has a "take out" folded map showing the trails and trailheads and it has a convenient table summarizing information on all the trails to help with trip selection. It is small enough to carry on a backpacking trip.

Some down side knits are. The map is not sufficient for backcountry hiking so, you still need to buy a good trail, contour map. The instructions of how to use the altitude gain and loss graph are located in the Maps chapter (hard to find) instead of in the Introduction with the other information on how to use this book. There is no small single page map showing the general location of all the trails; therefore, you must take out and unfold the larger map each time you want to check a location.

There is a companion book titled "Sierra South" which covers Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia National Park and John Muir Wilderness. My wife and I use both of these books and recommend them for others. These are good trail books to get you started in one of the above areas. After you make somehikes and wish to explore a specific area more thoroughly, you may want a trail book that specializes in that one area.

Great trip planning resource - more overnighters than Sierra South.

My wife and I are a Volunteer Trail Crew in Los Padres National Forest, Ventana Wilderness. We maintain 12 miles of the Pine Ridge Trail, and spur trails, between Big Sur Ranger Station and Sykes Hot springs (with lots of help from friendly hikers). I also have a full time day job so my leisure time is very precious. I enjoy exploring new areas for backpacking and camping but I want others to do the legwork and report the best trails, so I rely on good trail books.

Sierra South covers selected better trails in Sequoia National Park, Kings Canyon National Park and John Muir Wilderness. It meets most of my demands for identifying the better hikes to explore in aconvenient easy to use book. It provides good directions to the trailhead and good descriptions of the trails, camps and attractions along the way. It provides a description of how strenuous the hikes are and has a neat graph to show the gain and loss of altitude over the distance for each trail. It has a small "take out" folded map showing the trails and trailheads and it has a convenient table summarizing information on all the trails to help with your selection. It is small enough to carry on a backpacking trip. I use It and I recommend it for others.

On the down side: Updates to trail information is provided on a page in the back of the book (easy to overlook/forget). The map does not have elevation contours (you still need to buy a contour map). The description of how to use the altitude gain and loss graph is located in the Maps chapter (hard to find) instead of in the Introduction chapter with the other information on how to use this book. There is no small single page map showing the general location of all the trails; therefore, you must take out and unfold the larger map each time you want to check a location.

There is a companion book titled "Sierra North".

This is a wonderful guidebook with very helpful information about some of the best hikes in the southern Sierra. It's not just a good guidebook, but is also just plain fun to read. The pictures are nice as well. The included map is decent, but could use a little help.

I really like how different paces for the hikes are given, leisurely, moderate, and strenuous. Also, information about what season the hike should be take, early, mid, and late. Also, all the topo maps needed for the hike is given. Introductions to various geographic areas is given as well.

One thing I was really disappointed about, though. The description of the Mt. Whitney Trail from Whitney Portal to the summit is pretty poor. I thought they might describe more about the summit, this being the tallest mountain in the contiguous U.S., but maybe I'll have to wait until I get Secour's "High Sierra".

The only thing I would add to the previous review is that Sierra South does not have that big a selection of overnighters. Of the ones they do have, many are 9-ish miles in length (round trip) and I don't like to drive that far to do a couple hours of hiking. It is still a great book, though. Sierra North has more in the way of overnighters.

Well researched and extremely well written, it is a wealth of accurate information for planning either partial day hikes or multiday backpacks. The single most reached for resource I use for the lower Sierra's trails. The description of the trail, fauna and flora to be expected enroute and access to trailheads are valuable and allows even the armchair hiker a good virtual experience. A companion guide to be used with this book would be a good topo map similar to perhaps those produced by Tom Harrison Maps.

I found this book to contain numerous examples of poor directions to the trailheads and summits. I have completed summit hikes in 35 counties and have been sent to impossible to find trails in many instances. In two attempts in yolo county I have been unable to find the trailhead. Local conditions can change by season and over time but this book desperately needs to be updated. In fact if the author would contact me I would be willing to help however I can.

This book will really get you hooked on highpointing. It needs a little updating, but the information in it is good.

If Gary Suttle is reading this, hey, why not come out with another issue?

Without question one of the better guidebooks in print. I particularly like the maps, which are taken directly from the USGS topographic maps of the areas involved. It should be noted that many major California peaks are covered in this book, including Mount Whitney, White Mountain Peak, North Palisade, Mount Shasta, and the 3 major peaks surrounding the LA basin. (San Gorgonio Mountain, San Jacinto Peak and Mount San Antonio)

This book has proven very helpful to me on hikes to California county high points, and I highly recommend it for anyone contemplating similar expeditions. It is also useful to those simply interested in learning more about the history and topography of the county they reside in.

The first time I did the John Muir Trail I diligently bought this book like good little Internet researcher. I assumed, like everyone else, that this book would help me plan my trip. Not so. This book is like a play-by-play description of walking down the trail. It doesn't mention preparation, weather, seasons, services, rest stops, food drops, transportation...nothing. I quickly shelved this book and moved on to Ray Jardine's bible of the PCT. Although Ray's book often borders on insanity, it is full of trail wisdom. If Winnett's guide is the GEO Metro of trail books, Jardines is the Ferrari.

One of the other reviewers said the book has nothing for planning a trip, but someone must have ripped out those pages from his copy. The book is more than a trail description; it includes descriptions of mid-way trailheads, resupply options, and other planning guides. This book is a great resource both for hiking the trail and planning to do so.

I hiked the JMT from Tuloumne Meadows in Yosemite to the Whitney Portal in July/August 1997. We used the book to plan the trip as well as for our exclusive guide book/map source on the hike. The book weighs next to nothing and I found it easier to keep track of one book rather than a whole bunch of maps, so it was worth taking. The book contains all necessary maps, trail descriptions in both directions, and a mileage/altitude chart. With the book, we always knew how many miles we had to hike in a given day and what the terrain would be like (elevation changes etc.) My only suggestion for improvement with the book would be for it to discuss recommended camping spots in more detail (perhaps by placing symbols on the map for particularly scenic spots, spots with bear boxes etc.) In general though, as someone who has hiked most of the JMT using this book as a guide, I'd highly recommend it. For the money and weight, you're unlikely to find anything better.

This book is a real disappointment. My impression is that the author is speaking to someone who already knows the trails and the area well. It may be better than nothing, but it could have been much more.

In fact, I have been unable to find a Yosemite backpacking guide that wasn't a disappointment. There must be one somewhere. I am spoiled on excellent guides such as Hiking New Mexico (I don't recall the author), and particularly the Arkansas guides by Tim Ernst. All backpacking guides should be as thorough and thoughtful.

The small format High Sierra Hiking Guide Series is clearly an on-the-trail refresher series. For day hikers and 'packers alike one of these and the appropriate 7.5 topos will get you there and back. Most of the lyricism we expect from a Wilderness Press guide is present, though in an abreviated form due to size constraints: for the full treatment and as a home reference volume for picking potential trips (or reliving past ones) Sierra North, Sierra South and Yosemite National Park - A Natural History Guide to Yosemite and Its Trails are the way to go.
These are full decription tomes where you can smell the duff and here the crunch of the granite under your boots. Imagine my horror when I got back east and found their idea of a trail guide was more a mileage marker list, I guess the complexity of the trails is an issue but I've worn my second edition Sierra South to tatters from all the rereading and my East Coast guides (White Mountains, Vermont High Trail etc.) get read to keep me from getting lost and quickly reshelved as they have no feeling. FalconGuides are a bit better but where they overlap as with Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada the Wilderness Press are far superior a read tho if all you want is distance and elevation they'll do.