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The hikes look great, but unfortunately the majority of them are on trails where dogs are not permitted.
This is a great book for the beginner hiker to know what's out there. Also some of the "hikes" in DC are made up. However my main gripe is that in the front of the book he lists which hikes are metro accessible. But when you go to the hike, no where does it actually say which metro to get off at. I don't consider walking on city blocks an actual hike. Some color pictures would have been nice, but there are plenty of nice b&w pictures though.
In short, it's just harder to follow if you are trying to use it on the trail. And it's got 60 hikes -- that's a lot of hikes. Are these big problems. "60 Hikes" is written up more as a travel log.
The hikes are diverse and interesting. The author seems a nice fellow. First, it's occasionally unreliable. I can't tell.
For instance, hike #14 (Black Hill Regional Park) tells you to go "right" at an orange pole that has a number of trails eminating from it. But it is not 'above average.' Why. Take hike #7, on and near Catholic University. The author sends you behind the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center to 'savor the view' from a grassy knoll. I've tried to like this guide, I really have.
You won't find the words 'pet', 'dog', 'leash' anywhere. Finally, the directions are just a little sloppy at times. It took me half a mile to realize I was heading too far south for it to be the right trail. The best guides often organize hikes around mileage - they mark notable features always starting with the mileage the hiker has gone from the start and then describe what you should do or what you will find there. Second, I have a dog. The writeups include a nice dollop of history. The mileage is often there, but its thrown in at different spots.
A parking lot and air compressors is what you savor. Can I take my dog on these hikes. Sometimes the directions have too much detail and other times not enough. Not really, but that's what separates the good guides from the great guides.
[.].Just the ticket into the woods or over the mountain if you feel trapped in Silicon Valley. Good details about the trails and tips on where the flowers are blooming.
I got the book three months ago and have used it a lot since then. It provides pretty accurate information for my hiking trips in the area. I would recommend it to hiking enthusiasts.
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