94 Hikes in the Northern Canadian Rockies: Yoho, Jasper, Mt. Robson and Willmore Wilderness Parks

Matt Hartman is a freelance editor and cataloguer, running Hartman Cataloguing, Editing and Indexing Services.

Canada’s immense area and relatively sparse population make it a demi-paradise for hikers and backpackers. For the novice and the experienced mountain man/woman alike, however, wandering on the trails and in the mountain passes without the benefit of map, guidebook, and proper supplies can invite disaster. Urbick and Spring (and Douglas & McIntyre) are doing their part to avoid such potential calamity. An earlier work, 95 Hikes in the Canadian Rockies, explored the southern Rockies (Banff, Glacier); now we are presented with the companion guide, which ventures north into the higher and more rugged areas around the Continental Divide.

The book provides a one- or two-page description of each of the 94 hikes; each description (with a map) includes such details as individual mileages, trail conditions, hiking times, recommended season, elevation gain, scenic attractions, as well as some well-written text. There is a 17-page introduction with the standard strictures against littering, fires, bears, and with instructions for the complete hiker and backpacker: what clothes to wear and carry (for the “sudden and drastic changes in the weather”), what utensils (basically, a knife), and the proper foot gear (carry a pair of sneakers). There is also a useful address if more and better maps are needed (essential for cross country and climbing tours).

Black-and-white photographs illustrate every page, and some of them are breathtaking; for these alone the book would make a worthwhile purchase. The authors’ love of the wilderness and their desire for its preservation are evident throughout. These qualities, along with a lucid, descriptive style and usable maps make the volume a worthwhile addi-tion to the growing number of wilderness and hiking books available on the market.