Читать книгу One Night Wilderness: Portland. Quick and Convenient Backcountry Getaways within Three Hours of the City онлайн

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The DIFFICULTY rating is also subjective, and runs from 1 (barely leave the La-Z-Boy) to 10 (the Ironman Triathlon). Since most out-of-shape Americans would find even the easiest backpacking trip to be very strenuous, this rating is relative only to other trips.

Since SOLITUDE is one of the things backpackers are seeking, it helps to know roughly how much company you can expect. This rating is also on a 1 (bring stilts to see over the crowds) to 10 (just you and the marmots) scale. Of course, even on a “10” hike, it is possible that you could unexpectedly run into a pack of unruly Cub Scouts, but generally this rating is pretty accurate.

The next two lines list total ROUND-TRIP DISTANCE and ELEVATION GAIN for that trip. For many hikers, the difficulty of a trip is determined more by how far up they go than the mileage they cover, so pay especially close attention to the second number, which includes the total of all ups and down, not merely the net change in elevation.

OPTIONAL MAP: Every trip includes a map that is as up-to-date and as accurate as possible. Many hikers, however, will also want to carry a topographic map. This entry identifies the best available map(s) for the described trip.