Synopses & Reviews
Stretching south from the White-Inyo Mountains to the Mexican border and 275 miles east to west at its greatest width, the California desert is nearly the size of the state of Virginia. Within these 25 million acres are three of North America's major desert subregions as well as the largest national park in the Lower 48 states. Since the passage of the California Desert Protection Act, interest in the California desert is at an all-time high, swelling the number of visitors to more than 9 million each year.
Newly revised and updated, Adventuring in the California Desert offers detailed guidelines for enjoying the desert to the fullest without harming its fragile ecology. Activities include backpacking and rock climbing, as well as fossil identification, bird watching, and exploring Native American and pioneer historical sites. Special features include:
Information on day hikes, backpacking trips, and peak climbs, all classified by degree of difficulty
Detailed descriptions of each region's natural, geologic, and human history, plus plant and animal identification
Tips on desert safety and survival, weather conditions, clothing and equipment, and special requirements for car travel
Area maps, suggested tours, lists of public campgrounds and conservation organizations, and details for locating facilities for food, water, and gas
Synopsis
Providing detailed information and advice on outdoor activities ranging from backpacking and rock climbing to exploring pioneer and Native American sites, this popular guidebook shows readers how to enjoy the vast California desert to the fullest without harming its fragile ecology. Author Lynne Foster also covers the natural, geologic, and human history of the region, and offers tips on desert safety and survival, weather conditions, clothing, and equipment.