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Reviews > Books > Trail Guides > Hinterlands Unofficial Red River Gorge > Owner Review by Shawn Chambers
Hinterlands
TESTER INFORMATION
Backpacking Background: I love Appalachian hikes and being in the woods. My preference is for a hike that leads to a stellar view. Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina are my usual stomping grounds. I am a mid-weight kind of guy, but increasingly find myself enjoying longer, multi-day hikes and I am conscious about shedding some pack weight, but in a fiscally responsible way. I also climb and prefer clothing that can pull double duty. Book Information
Author: Jerrell Goodpaster Between the Covers
Jerrell Goodpaster's trail book covers the hidden gems that are off the beaten path. This hefty volume contains directions and descriptions to over 100 trails representing a broad cross-section of the type of hiking found in the Red River Gorge. The book is broken down into easy to digest sections. The front material explains basic criteria for why certain trails were chosen with others left out, how to read the maps and charts, and it provides some general history related to hiking in the Red River Gorge. The Good
I was thrilled to finally learn of this book after hearing tales of people on Half Moon, Indian Staircase, and Cloud Splitter -- places not on the "official" trail maps. Hinterlands makes finding these unofficial trails a snap. Goodpaster's descriptions of the trails are easy to follow with or without a GPS. His writing style is breezy and light with many humorous comments and quite a bit of self-deprecating humor. It is easy for me to imagine him hiking these trails and his writing style quickly made me feel as if he were an old hiking buddy. The book's organization allows me to find my favorite trails easily and also lets me plan a trip at a moment's notice based on time or my co-hikers' capabilities. I can tailor a hike based on mileage and/or difficulty easily. The Bad
The Ugly
The ugly? Just my trail-worn copy! It has been drenched at Pepe's Point, scuffed at Indian Staircase, and dropped down the side trail of Star Gap Arch, but the binding is still good and it has lots of miles left in it. No matter where I go, I like to get away from the tourist trap destinations and find the hidden treasures the locals know about. This guidebook definitely helped me explore deeper into the area known affectionately as "the Red". Signature
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