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The hikes look great, but unfortunately the majority of them are on trails where dogs are not permitted.
Also some of the "hikes" in DC are made up. This is a great book for the beginner hiker to know what's out there. Some color pictures would have been nice, but there are plenty of nice b&w pictures though. I don't consider walking on city blocks an actual hike. 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.
Take hike #7, on and near Catholic University. The writeups include a nice dollop of history. Are these big problems. Finally, the directions are just a little sloppy at times. And it's got 60 hikes -- that's a lot of hikes. The author seems a nice fellow. In short, it's just harder to follow if you are trying to use it on the trail. Can I take my dog on these hikes.
First, it's occasionally unreliable. I've tried to like this guide, I really have. 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. You won't find the words 'pet', 'dog', 'leash' anywhere.
I can't tell. 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. The mileage is often there, but its thrown in at different spots. The author sends you behind the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center to 'savor the view' from a grassy knoll. "60 Hikes" is written up more as a travel log. The hikes are diverse and interesting.
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. Second, I have a dog. But it is not 'above average.' Why. A parking lot and air compressors is what you savor.
Good details about the trails and tips on where the flowers are blooming. [.].Just the ticket into the woods or over the mountain if you feel trapped in Silicon Valley.
I would recommend it to hiking enthusiasts. 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.
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