Bored Feet Press Yosemite Adventures

Matt Johanson, Foreword by Hans Florine

Yosemite Adventures; 50 Spectacular Hikes, Climbs and Winter Treks by Matt Johanson, Foreword by Hans Florine This is the fourth book Bored Feet has distributed written by Johanson, but it is entirely different from the others. In fact, it is also unlike most outdoor guides since it covers five different ways to explore: winter treks, hikes, backpacking trips, mountain climbing, and rock climbing, ten of each treated in its own section within the book. It also covers a broad range of experience levels, from beginner to advanced. Given the broad choice of activities covered, the book does an excellent job of speaking to the variety of users for which it is written. Each section has its own list of recommended gear, and each chapter includes a few insider tips.

The winter treks range from easy to strenuous. Most can be done either on skis or snowshoes.They all explore Yosemite Park, although the 39-mile trans-Sierra trip starts outside the park way down in Lee Vining Canyon. Hikes also run the gamut from easy to strenuous, leading to a broad variety of park scenery: waterfalls, giant Sequoias, panoramic views, lakes and a couple of loops, all good choices. The backpacking trips include plenty of short and easy two day trips, but also some moderate three or four day trips, a couple on the John Muir Trail and a 75-mile trek on the Pacific Crest Trail from Tuolumne Meadows to Sonora Pass. Choices for mountain climbing (at Bored Feet we'd call these peak bagging) include the iconic Half Dome and moderate to strenuous choices all over the park, plus the famous ascent of Matterhorn Peak from Twin Lakes near Bridgeport, northeast of the park.

The section on rock climbs is the most bold and challenging. It's obviously challenging to send novices and beginners out to climb on their own, but the choices here are good and Johanson's supporting info is excellent, clearly explaining what skills and equipment each choice requires. The climbing choices are clustered in Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows.

So if you are adventurous and looking for one book that will provide a broad range of adventures in and around Yosemite National Park, you want to pick this one up.

256 pages, 5" x 8", full-color cover, 90 color photographs,1 black & white photograph, 50 maps, 7 color photo climbing route diagrams, 5 other climbing route diagrams, rock climbing glossary. Published by Triumph Books. ISBN 978-1-60078-914-4. trade paper