Best Hikes and Walks of Southwestern British Columbia

Nora D.S. Robins is co-ordinator of Internal Collections at the
University of Calgary Libraries.

Dawn Hanna works as the recreation editor of the Vancouver Sun. In her
spare time she is an inveterate hiker who has hiked in Canada, the
United States, South America, and Scotland. Best Hikes and Walks of
Southwestern British Columbia, Hanna’s first book, features 80 hikes
for all abilities and all seasons in the areas of Vancouver, the North
Shore mountains, Whistler, Squamish, Manning Park, and the Skagit
Valley.

The guide begins with advice on hiking (e.g., the “ten essentials,”
clothes, and equipment to bring)—all geared to ensuring trail smarts.
The pages on trail ethics and what to do if one encounters a bear or a
cougar are particularly informative. Each trail description includes
hiking distance, elevation gain, high points, time needed, rating, what
to expect on trail, and information about plants and animals along the
trail. Each description is accompanied by a trail map, an elevation
chart, and at least one color photograph. The guide lists the hikes by
difficulty, month, and season and concludes with a short bibliography
and an index.

Compact, lightweight, and easy-to-use, Best Hikes and Walks is highly
recommended.