After traipsing around Washington state’s wildlands
for the past 50 years, Ira Spring and Harvey Manning have put
together an eccentric and entertaining guidebook, 100 Classic Hikes
in Washington, covering the North Cascades, Olympics, Mount Rainier
and South Cascades, Alpine Lakes and Glacier Peak. Unlike other
guidebooks, in which environmentalism goes unmentioned, 100 Classic
Hikes in Washington is prefaced by a statement about the green
constituency that can evolve from hiking. Spring and Manning want
their book to serve as a catalyst for “green-bonding’ – developing
emotional ties with wildlands. So don’t be surprised to find a
half-page tirade against off-road vehicles, or wilderness areas
casually referred to as “insultingly small.” The authors pride
themselves on their minimalist approach to backpacking, and scorn
backcountry travelers “gaudily resplendent in boutique fashions,
nibbling freeze-dried strawberries and shrimp, pinpointing their
location by satellite and chatting on the cell phone with Aunt
Nelly.” The hike selections offer practical information about some
of the finest wild country in North America, including some great
maps, Spring’s excellent color photography, anecdotes and histories
of local conservation struggles.
100 Classic
Hikes in Washington, by Ira Spring and Harvey Manning, The
Mountaineers, 1001 SW Klickitat Way, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98134;
mbooks@mountaineers.org. Paperback: $19.95. 256 pages.
*Stanley Yung
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Guidebook with attitude.
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