Читать книгу Afoot and Afield: Portland/Vancouver. A Comprehensive Hiking Guide онлайн

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If you are backpacking, be especially scrupulous to follow “no-trace” principles. Camp well away from water on an established site that won’t be further damaged by your tent and your activity around camp. In wilderness areas, the rules generally require that all camps be at least 200 feet from any trail or water source. Leave the site in as natural a condition as possible. Avoid building a campfire and rely instead on a small backpacking stove to cook your food. Finally, deposit human waste in a small “cat hole” about 6 inches deep and cover it.

How to Use This Book

I hope that this book will serve as both a field reference and a catalyst for dreaming about the outdoors. On those all-too-frequent dismal days of winter you can pick up this guide and read about the beautiful places you hope to enjoy as soon as the rain stops. You don’t need any explanation for how to use a book for dreaming, so this section will focus on the best ways for using it as a planning tool and a field guide.

For hikers unfamiliar with our region and for outdoor veterans looking for new places to explore, I suggest that you start with the Best Hikes listing in ssss1. Based on thousands of miles of hiking in and around Portland, this list gives the reader my recommendations for the best walks to see waterfalls, wildflowers, great views, and other attributes popular with hikers. Armed with this information, you can rapidly narrow your options to a hike that meets your preferences. Keep in mind, however, that every trip in this book is worth hiking. Some may be better than others, but there isn’t a dud in the lot, so you really can’t go wrong.