CLASSIC HIKES

OF NORTH AMERICA

PETER POTTERFIELD

COYOTE GULCH

Canyons of the Escalante

Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument

Southern Utah, United States

Even old desert hands, already well seduced by the allure of the American Southwest’s canyon country, are blown away by this pretty little canyon as it flows from the desert of Scorpion Flat toward the mighty and enigmatic Escalante River. As if the ineffably beautiful Coyote Bridge, the only natural arch I’ve seen that still has water running under it, wasn’t enough, there’s Jacob Hamblin Arch, Anasazi ruins, and a litany of other amazing features. I can’t stay away from Coyote Gulch, and so now just refine my strategy to give myself the best experience there. The attraction of Coyote Gulch lies in its broad spectrum of temptations. Lots of minor canyons are pretty, but few have water; some have arches and bridges, but few have both those and Puebloan ruins; and, finally, the most interesting canyons seldom have good camping. Coyote Gulch has all of those elements, and for a desert walk this rich in experience comes with fairly easy access during much of the year. Ask any hiker who has been there, and what they all take home is how pretty this canyon is. Leave camp and start down toward the Escalante, past the water- falls and hanging gardens, and the ineffable beauty of the place...

LITTLE BEAVER -- BIG BEAVER LOOP

North Cascades

North Cascades National Park

Washington, United States

This enchanting wilderness walk takes you through some of the most magnificent ancient forest on the planet, with a side trip that allows a good look into what may be America’s most dramatic mountain landscape. A hundred miles of jagged, ice- draped rock spires with names like Challenger, Forbidden, Fury, and Terror are hidden up here in the North Cascades behind an impenetrable moat of dense forest. Some are so remote they cannot be seen from any road. The Little Beaver–Big Beaver loop, combined with a day trip up above Beaver Pass—or even better, Whatcom Pass—offers not just a deep immersion into that magical, primeval forest, but an unforgettable close-up perspective on the dramatic climax of the rugged North Cascades.

CLASSIC HIKES

PRAISE FOR CLASSIC HIKES OF NORTH AMERICA

What media and other writers say about Classic Hikes of North America: One of our finest chroniclers of climbing tells us what we need to enjoy North America's most spectacular hikes. Potterfield's writing is elegant and engaging: Open "Classic Hikes of North America" to any page and see if you don't feel you're already out there. - MICHAEL SHNAYERSON, Vanity Fair contributing editor and author of Coal River Classic Hikes of North America is a thoroughly researched guide to spectacular hikes... Striking photos and beautiful maps accompany the fun to read descriptions, and his accounts will make you want to load up your pack and follow in his footsteps! - ED VIESTURS, high altitude climber and author of No Shortcuts to the Top Peter is the best informed, the most complete, readable and exhaustive hiker in North America... This tome is invaluable. - RICHARD BANGS, co-founder, Mountain Travel Sobek and author of Quest for the Sublime Writing from the soles of his feet and the bottom of his heart, Peter Potterfield delivers equal portions of inspiration and practical information Turn a few pages, and readers will find themselves looking to a calendar to set dates for the 25 hikes detai...

CLASSIC HIKES OF NORTH AMERICA

• 25 Breathtaking Hikes and Treks • With detailed routes and maps for hiking adventures throughout North America Here is everything you need to know about the United States' and Canada's most enjoyable hiking routes and backcountry excursions. Classic Hikes of North America will help you realize your dreams of hiking among the great peaks, scenic canyons and genuine wilderness of North America. Peter Potterfield has hiked all across the globe, from the trek to Mount Everest to retracing Ernest Schackleton's route in Antarctica, the wilds of Arctic Sweden and the rugged coasts of Tasmania. Now he brings his expert advice back home in Classic Hikes of North America, a beautifully photographed and eminently practical account of the best backcountry journeys in the United States and Canada. Peter Potterfield has photographed, analyzed, and graded these spectacular wilderness experiences with both beginners and avid hikers in mind. He offers valuable insight into the difficulty of the hike, potential hazards and difficulties, and the best season in which to take full advantage of each hike. Illustrated with more than 150 color photographs and hiking directions, here is inspiration and i...

Hardcover, 150 illustrations, 224 pages, 9 inches by 11 inches