Trips and Trails, Volumes 1 and 2, by E. M. Sterling. Seattle, Washington: The Mountaineers, 1967 and 1968, respectively. 221 and 217 pages, 126 and 137 photographs by Bob and Ira Spring, and 106 and 104 maps by Marge Mueller, respectively for each volume. Price $4.95 each.

These companion volumes are family-oriented camping and hiking guides, with emphasis on hiking and view finding. Volume 1 covers the North Cascades, Olympic Peninsula, and Moran and Deception Pass State Parks in the Puget Sounds lowland; volume 2, covers the South Cascades (including Snoqualmie Pass southward) and Mount Rainier National Park. The author’s descriptions are simple, direct, and lively. In his Introduction he presents useful, and philosophic hints on the ways of family camping and camp cookery, clothing and packing and on the proper use of public campgrounds and trails, and of roads that still may be dominated by logging trucks. The Springs’ photographs provide both the spectacular scenes and those that quietly give the feel of the countryside and its history, local economy, geology, flora and fauna. The simple line maps by Marge Mueller are uncluttered and concise, and show by symbol the cultural and natural features reached from numbered highways and logging roads. Symbols culminating the description in the text of each hike or viewpoint indicate whether they are accessible by rough roads, Sunday-driver type roads, difficult trails, or trails suitable for children up to age 8.

The broad area of coverage by the books gives an excellent view of all parts of western Washington within reach of roads and short trails, whether the foregrounds are primitive or logged. As noted in the Foreword by Harvey Manning, the books are "designed to lead away from the camp and into the woods, along the trails, and besides the rivers and saltwater waves, and up from well-travelled main roads onto lonesome roads with views and walks and things to do … the theme is that while camping is good fun, it’s more fun to go snooping around … The country covered is for everyone. Lack of outdoor experience is no barrier … the average child of 2 and 3 can manage several miles a day under his own power—more with an occasional piggyback ride—and have a grand time splashing in puddles, peering at beetles.”

The most eloquent testimony to the popularity of these guidebooks (volume 1 is in its second edition within a year) has been the accelerated visitation to areas formerly known to only a few. As a result, those who seek solitude in their enjoyment of a "private” wilderness scene will consult the book as a guide to where not to go on a weekend hike. Regardless, these trail guides and others like them are stimulating a rebirth of pedestrianism for its own sake, and present Mr. Average Citizen with a reminder of the pleasures to be found at little cost in the world beyond the cities and suburbs. In turn, he may hearken to the call and lend his support to the increasing numbers who are "writing their congressman” in the fight for preservation of the natural treasures so well catalogued in these volumes.

Dee Molenaar