Classic Hikes in the Canadian Rockies

The key to "Classic Hikes in the Canadian Rockies, Binder Edition" is the word Binder. Choose a hike, remove the page and insert it in the protective plastic envelope provided. Leave the book at home! Each hike outlines trail location, distance, and elevation. A knowledgeable description follows. Tastefully integrated are photographs and highlighted vignettes. For example, read the words of explorer Walter Wilcox upon his discovery of Paradise Valley in 1894! One is delighted by Graeme Pole's keen attention to detail: turn a page and see animal tracks padding across it, another page reveals a silouette of a mountain flower. The only way to improve Classic Hikes is to personalize it with your notes in the margins.

This is a really good guidebook if the hike you want is covered. The pictures really whet your appetite and are generally fairly high quality. The descriptions are good but sometimes only focus solely on the suggested hike. This can be a problem in some areas (like Lake O'Hara for example) have a lot of options and other trails that are not covered (on the bright side the suggested hikeis wonderful). If you want to focus on the highlights of the Canadian Rockies, this guidebook is a great choice. If you want a more complete guide of all the options available, you may need a different guidebook. Personally, I would buy both this and a more complete guidebook like "Canadian Rockies Trail Guide."