Outside / In at the San Marcos Public Library: Walking Distance – Extraordinary Hikes for Ordinary People

Our Outside / In column features books about ways to discover, enjoy, protect, and advocate for natural areas and the protection of wildlife, prairies, woods, and watersheds.  We feature both new and classic books about hiking, biking, birding, outdoor travel, and other inspiring topics which will make you want to get up, go outside, and breath some fresh air. Best of all, these books are yours for the borrowing from one our favorite indoor spaces:  the San Marcos Public Library.

Walking Distance: Extraordinary Hikes for Ordinary People

By Robert and Martha Manning
Published by Oregon State University Press, 2013

SMPL Call Number:  796.51

Walking is simple, but it can also be profound. In an increasingly complex and frantic world, walking can simplify our lives. It encourages intimate contact with places and people, promotes health, and is one of the most sustainable forms of recreation. It is also a joyful way to discover the world!  Robert and Martha Manning invite readers to explore the pleasures of long-distance walking in this inspiring book, Walking Distance.

The book includes firsthand descriptions of thirty of the world’s great long-distance hikes, spanning six continents including backpacking trips, as well as inn-to-inn trips. Each entry features personal anecdotes, natural and cultural history, and useful tips, including suggestions for preparing for hikes and for additional reading. Each trail narrative is richly illustrated with color photographs and maps.  Some of the tantalizing U.S. hikes include Vermont’s Long Trail, the Paria River Canyon Trail in Utah, the Lost Coast Trail in California, and the C&O Canal Trail in Maryland.

Submitted by Stephanie Langenkamp, SMGA Outreach Committee Outreach Committee.