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Reviews > Books > Trail Guides > Favorite Hikes Flagstaff & Sedona > Owner Review by Jamie DeBenedetto
Owner Review of "Favorite Hikes - Flagstaff Sedona" by Cosmic Ray September 12th, 2004
Personal Information Jamie DeBenedetto
Background/Experience I've spent much of my life hiking, camping, backpacking, and more recently kayaking, all over my home state of Arizona. In January of 1999 I started a local outdoor club called the Canine Hiking Club of Arizona. I lead one or two single or multi-day hikes per month with the club in various locations. I also day hike in local recreation areas near my home a couple of times a week, usually with a dog in tow. My backpacking style definitely leans more toward lightweight. I use a hammock instead of a tent most of the time and I try to keep my pack's base weight below 15 lbs (7 kg). Product Information
In all there are twenty detailed trail descriptions for Flagstaff, AZ and twenty-nine for Sedona, AZ but there are several others listed by name and number on the Collective Map pages. Field Information and Use Conditions Generally I'm in my home or vehicle when I use the "Favorite Hikes - Flagstaff Sedona" book but it's fairly compact so it does have potential as a "bring along" in a pack if so desired. It does not have any water repellent properties however, so it would need to be protected if inclement weather was a possibility. Product Review Cosmic Ray is a riot and I wish he had authored every guidebook I own. I happened upon the "Favorite Hikes" book in an outdoor store in Flagstaff four years ago. The colorful cover caught my eye but the wit and personable writing from a local swayed me to make the purchase. I'm so glad I did. Comments like, "Printed on recycled paper with 100% blood, sweat and vegetable ink" have always made me smile while using the book and I hope to someday happen upon Mr. Cosmic Ray plodding along a trail somewhere so I can properly thank him for his gift to the hiking community. Although this book is simple, only two pages for each hike, Cosmic Ray has found a way to pack a ton of information in between its covers. The first page for each trail includes the name of the trail at the top and a hand drawn map for a more visual idea of the area. The map, while not loaded with major detail, does provide a good picture of the roads to the trailhead, as well as, the trail itself and surrounding or connecting paths and other significant features in the area. The second page also displays the name of the trail but in this version Ray adds a little unique four or five word summary. "Studly Climb to Killer Views" or "Serious Ascent to a Stellar View" are a few examples. Additionally, the second page contains a written description and directions to the trailhead. Ray has also added some quick glance material to this page. A little contour profile with the high and low elevations of the trail, the total or one-way distance, the estimated time it takes to hike the trail in hours, the type of trail it is (loop, out and back), his difficulty rating, the best season to visit the area, and the effort needed to find the route are all in this format. I have used this book as a guide for more than ten trails and the information is solid. Ray's directions to the trailhead and his telling of what to expect while on the trail are easy to follow and accurate. One feature I have particularly found useful is the mileage markers, which accompany the drawings of the roads to the trailhead on the map page and the written directions on the adjoining page. Coupled with the written directions they take all the guesswork out of finding obscure and often unsigned forest roads. The quick glance information, like the contour profile, is also really handy. These extras allow me to browse through the book and easily gather details about a given trail without having to pick through the whole description. The descriptions are worth reading, however, and I've often found myself milling through the pages just to see what Ray wrote even though I'm not planning to hike that particular trail. In just a few paragraphs he paints a picture of the hike that not only gives me the basic layout of the path but also provides me with lively advise and suggestions for ways to really get the most from the trek. Here's a short excerpt from the Humphrey's Peak Trail write up … "On this day you will get higher than a hippie in a helicopter. You'll stand above all others in the land of AZ. Well, let's not get carried away, but you will ascend to the top of Humphrey's Peak…highest in Arizona at 12,633 ft." "Plan for an all day outing. If it begins to cloud up, it is time to bail. You would not be the first nor the last to be blown to kingdom come by a lightning bolt at this elevation. Talk about your bad hair day!" In addition to the normal details usually found in a book of this nature, like flora along the trail or geologic features, Ray routinely points out quirky little factoids about the area like secret spots to explore, the best places to enjoy the view or take in lunch, how busy it gets during certain times of the year, or where to look for Indian ruins. These extras really add a personal touch and make me feel like I am getting the scoop from a hiking partner rather than a guidebook. One special feature Cosmic Ray denotes throughout the Sedona, AZ section is something he calls vortex sites. In short, a vortex site is a place some believe gives off special magnetic energies and each site is supposed to have certain "vibes" unique to that rock formation or location. From the Cathedral Rock Trail description… "Cathedral Rock is a magnetic vortex which balances the body's energies and supplies a feeling of tranquility. Rather than being in one particular spot, there is a wave pattern of magnetic energy which surrounds Cathedral Rock and you have only to relax and surrender to the feeling." I'm still on the fence about the validity of vortex sites, as I have personally never experienced the sensations these sites are said to emit, but it's just another unconventional and zesty nugget of information included in this book. I mean, after all, what would a favorite trails book written by a guy named Cosmic Ray be without something a little "far out"! Likes
Dislikes The only gripe I have about this book and it's a small one, is the absence of a Table of Contents or Index type directory. This would make looking up a trail a little easier. J. DeBenedetto August 29th 2004 Read more reviews of Cosmic Ray gear Read more gear reviews by Jamie DeBenedetto Reviews > Books > Trail Guides > Favorite Hikes Flagstaff & Sedona > Owner Review by Jamie DeBenedetto | |||
