Читать книгу Backpacking Arizona. From Deep Canyons to Sky Islands онлайн

11 страница из 56

Camp at Fish Creek, Superstition Wilderness, ssss1

HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE

Scenery

This is the author’s opinion of the trip’s overall scenic beauty, on a scale of 1 (ugly) to 10 (unsurpassed). Obviously this rating is highly subjective and dependent on the author’s tastes. Remember that all of the trips have been carefully selected from a plethora of candidates, and all of them are scenic. Some are more scenic than others, so use this rating as a guide to relative scenic qualities.

Solitude

Most backpackers prize solitude. With this rating, you can get an idea of the degree of solitude to expect, from 1 (you’ll be elbowing your way through crowds) to 10 (you won’t see a soul, even on holiday weekends). Remember that even popular, crowded areas may be very lonely during mid-week and off-season. On the other hand, a quiet, remote area may be invaded by a large group sponsored by an organization.

Difficulty

This is another subjective rating that is intended to rate a trip’s difficulty in relation to other backpack trips. Dayhikers unaccustomed to carrying heavy loads will probably find the easiest of these trips to be strenuous, and couch potato non-hikers will have a very tough time. If you have some backpacking experience, expect a 1 to be a straightforward hike on good trails. At the other extreme, you’ll find that a 10 will probably have such obstacles as serious cross-country walking, tedious bushwhacking, difficult navigation, scarce water sources, and possible rock scrambling where packs may have to be hauled and some group members may want a belay. Backpackers attempting these most difficult trips should be fit, and at least one member of the party should be an experienced desert backpacker. Most trips in this book fall in between these limits.