Easy Hiking around Vancouver presents 55 of seasoned hiker Jean Cousins’s favorite destinations. For quick reference, hikes are arranged geographically. Easy-to-follow directions take hikers north as far as Pemberton, east to Manning Park and the Fraser Canyon, or south to Mount Baker in Washington State. The trailheads for many hikes can be reached from downtown Vancouver in less than an hour.
A good collection of hikes in the Lower Mainland area. I like how the hikes are organized into areas, so you can focus on where you'll be. The information noted is worthwhile for planning: terrain, approx. time, family-friendly (or not). I do a fair amount of hiking and like having a book or two of trails handy for last moment reference. I will be adding this book to my bookshelf.
Easy Hiking or maybe just more like hillier walking trails, but definitely about my speed in the hiking department at the moment. While some of these trails are the same or similar to those in other books I've gotten from the library they are nice to have all gathered together in one book as a collection of beginner trails to try out.
I have come to expect a lot of Cousins' books, and this one certainly delivered that and more.
I appreciated: >the frank, informative, and useful advice at the beginning of the book -covering the types of situations you can expect hiking in this region -covering safety tips and gear -covering ways to make the hikes more enjoyable
>the detailed descriptions of the walk >the inclusion of both natural and cultural history >the tips on the best season(s) or month(s) to try a hike >the estimates of length (in time and distance) and elevation gains (so important in this region)
>the descriptions on how to get to the hikes -with some disappointment that several are not accessible by transit, but that is the 'fault' of the region's terrain rather than the author -and many hikes are easily found on transit routes
>the love and passion that Cousins had* for the hikes, the surroundings, the cultural and natural history, etc. that comes through in her writing
*Cousins, sadly, passed away in Sept. 2021 at approx. 93 years old.
I got this copy from the library, but have added it to the top of my 'to buy' list.