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Quathiaski Cove, BC
Canada
72 Posts |
Posted - 06/11/2012 : 07:01 AM
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Hi Club Treaders!
It's been quiet on the guidebook front for a few years but I've still been busy. The current project is a hiking guidebook dedicated to Strathcona Park (okay there might be a couple of bonuses like an updated and improved Prince of Wales Range). The format includes all the maintained trails from the shortest loop to the flagship trails along with a wide selection of backcountry traverses eg:
Golden Hinde traverse
Augerpoint traverse
Comox Range traverse
Tom Taylor to Mariner
etc....
I'm about 2/3 of the way and am aiming for a spring 2013 publication. The layout is well underway and about ideal timing for some early feedback, not typos and the like but more like overall structure and content. Specifically at the moment I would like to poll the island hiking community for any trips I may have overlooked and I also have a question on breakdown.
In 'Island Alpine', Strathcona Park is broken down into geographic blocks: east, north, central, southern, west. I've started with 'Hiking Strathcona' the same way - for continuity. But I know that an alternative is to use major access to define the sections. In the case of the park that might be: Comox Lake, Buttle Lake, Highway 28, East Main (Gold River), Menzies Main (north Campbell River, Oyster River, Ash River and west coast, Clayoquot & Muchalet Inlet.
It's a longer list by access. The places that I've encountered some awkwardness is the relationship between East Strathcona and the access onto the Comox Range from Buttle Lake, eg; Jack's trail and Southern Strathcona and Bedwell Lake trail.
What do people think? How has the structure of Island Alpine been working? Is the continuity important? Any other ideas?
Yes - I am also working on a new edition of Island Alpine - it's a huge project - I'm leaning toward the finished book being a 'select' edition rather than the comprehensive approach of the first edition. That would mean more of a technical guidebook. Thus separating out the Strathcona hikes into their own volume first.
Thanks for any feedback in advance and at some point I will have hard copies I'd like reviewing before press time.. that will likely be December/January 2013.
Phil |
Edited by - Wild Isle on 06/11/2012 07:55 AM
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35 Posts |
Posted - 06/11/2012 : 07:04 AM
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Wow, great news, will forward this to my networks.
cheers! |
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Campbell River, BC
Canada
756 Posts |
Posted - 06/11/2012 : 07:32 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Wild Isle
Island Alpine Strathcona Park is broken down into geographic blocks: east, north, central, southern, west. I've started with Hiking Strathcona the same way - for continuity. But I know that an alternative is to use major access to define the sections. In the case of the park that might be: Comox Lake, Buttle Lake, Highway 28, East Main (Gold River), Menzies Main (north Campbell River, Oyster River, Ash River and west coast, Clayoquot & Muchalet Inlet.
Is the book entitled "Island Alpine Strathcona Park"...if so why would you include areas outside the park boundary like north of Campbell River etc.
quote:
It's a longer list by access. The places that I've encountered some awkwardness is the relationship between East Strathcona and the access onto the Comox Range from Buttle Lake, eg; Jack's trail and Southern Strathcona and Bedwell Lake trail.
In what way is it awkward?
quote:
Thanks for any feedback in advance and at some point I will have hard copies I'd like reviewing before press time.. that will likely be December/January 2013.
Phil
Is it possible to have a copy of the draft?
Can you include areas such as Kookjai and Elkhorn Mtn.
One thing which a lot of guide books lack is adequate description of the trailhead location and how to get there.
I'm sure Osbos has good ideas on traverse routes. |
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Brentwood Bay, BC
215 Posts |
Posted - 06/11/2012 : 07:52 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by solo75
quote:
Originally posted by Wild Isle
[quote]
It's a longer list by access. The places that I've encountered some awkwardness is the relationship between East Strathcona and the access onto the Comox Range from Buttle Lake, eg; Jack's trail and Southern Strathcona and Bedwell Lake trail.
In what way is it awkward?
I'm thinking it's due to the trails there being accessible from different access points.
I would do it geographicly and have that broken down into sub categories by access points. |
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Quathiaski Cove, BC
Canada
72 Posts |
Posted - 06/11/2012 : 07:54 AM
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Is the book entitled "Island Alpine Strathcona Park"...if so why would you include areas outside the park boundary like north of Campbell River etc.
LOL! Typos already! No, my bad - it's called "HIKING STRATHCONA PARK"
Why include other areas? Simply because there are just a couple of routes that probably won't make it into an edition of Island Alpine Select, but need updating. I realize the incongruity and will weigh that up before committing but I don't see a major down side other than a title clash, with including additional updates that otherwise may not get in to print for a long time.
quote:
It's a longer list by access. The places that I've encountered some awkwardness is the relationship between East Strathcona and the access onto the Comox Range from Buttle Lake, eg; Jack's trail and Southern Strathcona and Bedwell Lake trail.
In what way is it awkward?
It might just be me, which is why I'm asking - as I flip the pages - I find as you go down Buttle Lake you've got Jack's trail & Flower Ridge in Eastern Strathcona and Marble Meadows in Central Strathcona but for Jack's & the Meadows you essentially park & start at the same place. If it's working I'm not looking to change it, just asking to make sure it is.
quote:
Thanks for any feedback in advance and at some point I will have hard copies I'd like reviewing before press time.. that will likely be December/January 2013.
Phil
Is it possible to have a copy of the draft?
Can you include areas such as Kookjai and Elkhorn Mtn.
One thing which a lot of guide books lack is adequate description of the trailhead location and how to get there.
I'm sure Osbos has good ideas on traverse routes.
[/quote]
The details on trailhead access will be vastly improved over Island Alpine. The mapping, distances and descriptions are all new and up to date.
Elkhorn will not be in "Hiking Strathcona Park". It's more of a technical peak, it's already covered well in Island Alpine - but of course it would appear in an Island Alpine Select.
On the flipside, King's Peak will be in 'Hiking Strathcona' because along with the technical routes (which won't be listed) it has a trail and a well established history as a hiking peak.
Other examples: Mt Myra Yes. Colonel Foster no. Albert Edward yes, Mt Harmston no. But the peaks detailed aren;t separated out like Island Alpine, they're simply described in the hiking description with summiting details as needed. A good example are say teh peaks along the Elk Mountain to ElPiveto ridge. In Island Alpine they are described peak by peak, each with its own entry. In Hiking Strathcona it's the traverse that is described including details of how to climb to the summits along the way.
I'll prepare and post a PDF when I'm ready for that stage - through the summer probably. Although I could post one of a section for an example maybe this week - stay tuned on that... |
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Qualicum Beach, BC
Canada
1303 Posts |
Posted - 06/11/2012 : 09:07 AM
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Hi Phil,
I liked the addition of topo maps in "Island Turns & Tours" and "Coastal Hikes". Will you have them in the new guidebook, or in the revised "Island Alpine?
Regarding the revised addition of "Island Alpine", please take your time. Since the first addition came out, I'm sure there's much more new route info and I'll bet many more high quality photos to be had. What about adding a few colour photos? I have one of the Golden Hinde, taken from Schjelderup Lk that I think is a winner.
Peter |
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Quathiaski Cove, BC
Canada
72 Posts |
Posted - 06/12/2012 : 7:27 PM
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Yes Peter I'll be using those topos in both. They improve constantly and I'll be able to build a bit more on the turns and tours version. There will be at least a colour spread and I'll fish around to see if full colour is an option - all the pics will be prepared in both colour & b&W.
Hiking Strathcona should be ready for 2013 but Island Alpine Select will take some time yet. I do have a lot of new route info submitted but there must be lots more out there too. |
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hornby island, bc
Canada
3 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2013 : 07:47 AM
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| any update on the book-I am doing a hike this fall and could really use you guide from tom taylor to mariner-cant find much info onine |
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 Fleece thong wearin, Buntzen Lurkin, mystic poet mountain man and international spokesman of the friends of the white squirrel society
Port Moody, B.C.
Canada
5900 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2013 : 08:14 AM
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Yes Phil.... taps his toes.... how's it coming .... still waiting 
I'm planning on moving over to the Island in the next few years and NEED places to explore . |
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Quathiaski Cove, BC
Canada
72 Posts |
Posted - 05/21/2013 : 12:19 PM
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YES, YES!!! it's really coming along. I am oh.. about 60 -70% complete - it turned into a bit of a whopper almost 300 pages already. It looks like I need one more hiking season to fill in a few gaps and all being well Hiking Strathcona should be complete for a spring 2014 launch. Sorry for the delay but these are big projects and I have to work on them on 'down' time.
In the meantime if you need info on the Tom Taylor - Mariner traverse there's a trip write up in a Wild Isle Magazine back issue http://www.wildisle.ca/magazine/backissues/pdfs/WI_7.pdf that might help a bit. |
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New Guidebook - Hiking Strathcona
