Читать книгу Five-Star Trails: Charlotte. Your Guide to the Area's Most Beautiful Hikes онлайн

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The Hike Profile

Each profile opens with the hike’s star ratings, GPS trailhead coordinates, and other key at-a-glance information—from distance and configuration to contacts for local information. Each profile also includes a map (see “ssss1”). The main text for each profile includes the Overview, Route Details, Nearby Attractions, and Directions (for driving to the trailhead area). Explanations of each of these elements follow.

STAR RATINGS

Five-Star Trails is the title of a Menasha Ridge Press guidebook series geared to specific cities across the United States, such as this one for Charlotte. Following is the explanation for the rating system of one to five stars in each of the five categories for each hike.

FOR SCENERY:

FOR TRAIL CONDITION:

FOR CHILDREN:

FOR DIFFICULTY:

FOR SOLITUDE:

GPS TRAILHEAD COORDINATES

As noted in “ssss1”, I used a handheld GPS unit to obtain geographic data and sent the information to the cartographers at Menasha Ridge. In the opener for each hike profile, the coordinates—that is, the intersection of latitude (north) and longitude (west)—will orient you from the trailhead. In some cases, you can drive within viewing distance of a trailhead. Other hiking routes require a short walk to the trailhead from a parking area.