Mountain Miles

 The Appalachian Mountains are a well-known world treasure, perhaps the most biodiverse region on the planet. This book spans almost six years and 500 miles of hiking by the author along the southern portion of the Appalachian Trail. A fresh perspective is brought to the subculture of "AT" hikers. The path of the trail crosses many areas that featured dramatic family events, and the author weaves in compelling stories of his ancestors who called this ancient mountain range home. Also explored are a multitude of topics ranging from environmental challenges to the modern day problems facing residents of the region.

 The Appalachian Mountains are a well-known world treasure, perhaps the most biodiverse region on the planet. This book spans almost six years and 500 miles of hiking by the author along the southern portion of the Appalachian Trail. A fresh perspective is brought to the subculture of "AT" hikers. The path of the trail crosses many areas that featured dramatic family events, and the author weaves in compelling stories of his ancestors who called this ancient mountain range home. Also explored are a multitude of topics ranging from environmental challenges to the modern day problems facing residents of the region.

* Complete descriptions of 17 routes to the summit of Mount Whitney * Three new hiking routes: Bishop Pass Trail, Taboose Pass Trail, and Avalanche Pass Trail * A Trip Planning Guide that ranks the routes by difficulty, elevation gain, and total mileage Are you up to the challenge of ascending Mount Whitney? This guidebook contains everything you need to summit the highest point in the contiguous United States. This new edition includes a thorough examination of the planning, preparation, and physical training/conditioning necessary for a safe and successful climb, as well as an updated discussion of wilderness permit requirements of both the National Park Service and the US Forest Service. With the increasing popularity of winter ascents on Mount Whitney, a new snow and ice chapter was included in this edition. Author Paul Richins identifies the best places to camp on multi-day backpacking routes, and the most interesting exploratory side trips to take, as well as presents route variations that either reduce the length of a given route, avoid difficult terrain, or add additional "must-see" areas.

Few natural features possess as much personality as the peaks of Grandfather Mountain, which dominate the skyline between Boone and Linville. The mountain takes its name from its resemblance to the profile of a sleeping old man; it was known to Cherokee hunters as Tanawha, or fabulous eagle. Later visitors came to see the magnificent views, brave the famous Mile-High Swinging Bridge, and observe the native flora. The mountain is billed as North Carolinas top scenic attraction. The advent of photography made Grandfather Mountain the High Countrys most photographed celebrity, with images crafted by the mountains longtime owner and champion, legendary photographer Hugh Morton, as well as mementos of family gatherings and individual visits. Grandfather Mountain showcases the rich natural and recreational history of this North Carolina landmark.

“Xu Xiake's Travels” (徐霞客游记) is a Chinese travelogue book, written in the 17th century. The book has 22 sections. It consists mainly of essays describing the travels of the Ming dynasty geographer Xu Xiake. Over 34 years, Xu produced more than 600,000 words, including works such as "Guizhou tour diary" and "Yunnan tour diary". This book offers detailed descriptions of geography, hydrology, geology, plants and other phenomena. It is also respected for its literary qualities and for its historicity.