Explorer Editor
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What's the best guidebook for someone who wants to start hiking in NH? I'll probably stick largely to the 4,000-footers.
IMO, both are worth having (I have both). I'd get the AMC guide first, 4000-footers second.Mohamed Ellozy said:For general hiking in the Whites there is no doubt that the AMC guidebook is by a huge margin the best.
On the other hand, for the specific purpose of bagging 4,000 footers I would recommend The 4000-Footers of the White Mountains, by Steven D. Smith and Mike Dickerman. It gives more detailed escriptions of the trails, and is especially useful for hikes which involve several different trails, as it describes the whole hike in one place, rather than divide it in pieces coresponding to the different trails used.
dms said:Up front I'll admit to being biased because I was on the guidebook committee for several years, but I really think that the AMC White Mountain Guide is the best overall source of info for trails in the Whites, for the 4k's and other NE mountains as well.
does anyone sell a Tyvek copy of Washburn's Presidential Range map? (I have a paper copy already)swamp said:On a finer scale I dig USGS but of course nothing beats any map surveyed by Brad Washburn.
For on-trail hiking use, they are completely adequate. Some people like milage markers on the maps and the AMC maps don't have that. But otherwise, they are IMO the best general purpose hiking maps for the Whites. They are not suitable for bushwacking, but otherwise they are quite excellent.Explorer Editor said:I take it those that come with the books are less than ideal.
4000'er said:The (waterproof) White Mountain Trail Map by Map Adventures. Pne of the great things about this map is the length of the trails are right on the map.
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