Base Camp Las Vegas

I am so sorry that I was unable to view this book. My Kindle was unable to download the file. I did want to read it. I look forward to checking it out in book form. Thank you for the opportunity.

BASE CAMP LAS VEGAS presents a huge assortment of hikes in the Las Vegas area. For each hike, the author includes these points:
• Best Season
• Length
• Difficulty
• Elevation Gain
• Trailhead Elevation
• Warnings
• Jurisdiction
• Directions
• Alternate Directions
The first part of the book covers preparation and safety. Deborah presents lots of good ideas to consider before making a long hike.

There are also great full color photos that feature the highlights of a hike.

For each hike, dangerous conditions are noted, such as shown here:

One of my favorite section is the appendix at the rear of the book. Here, there is an index to hikes.

All in all, I was delighted with this book. I only wish I lived closer!

Preliminary review with photos on Bassocantor.com

Thanks to Netgalley and Imbrifex Books for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed looking at the maps and pictures of the hiking areas and hope to be able to apply them to a trip next summer. Thanks to the author for listing everything that one might need on these hikes, as well as what type of a hike it is; easy, moderate, difficult. This book would be especially great if you live in the Las Vegas area, or near enough to go often.

As a hiker who is not from the SW but frequents it, what a terrific book. While the National Parks and other big recreational areas get a lot of foot traffic, I am constantly looking for more local hikes that are a bit more isolated. Great pictures and details. Will definitely use this a resource for planning my next trip to the area.

Really great information and written with the hiker in mind. Excellent!

A great guide for seasoned as well as newbie adventurers. The information is thorough and easy to comprehend. Thank you for putting together a wonderful guide book! Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read for a fair review

If you plan to visit Las Vegas, this book will help you get out of the city to explore the wonderful natural areas that can be found nearby, or within driving distance. Want to take a break from the bright lights and hustle and bustle of Las Vegas? This book will help you plan a trip or two to see some of the more spectacular natural sights found in the area.

The region covered by this book is quite broad, and all directions are given from Las Vegas. This makes sense since it is a common destination point and there is an airport there, so it’s a major transportation hub. You can easily start your hiking trip there. The book covers hikes in Nevada, Arizona, California, and Utah. The hikes featured range from really easy and short, to incredibly strenuous or difficult. Some are in areas so remote that the author recommends taking two spare tires and everything you might need for self-rescue, since help would be a long way off if you have a mishap. Those are the hikes best left to the experienced adventurers!

The book is full of beautiful photos showing some of the features you can find on these hikes. Photos feature scenics, overlooks, waterfalls, forests, ancient archeological sites, and more. The photos complement the text nicely and are very attractive.

There are basic maps showing locations, but you will need to acquire more detailed maps for whatever area you plan to visit. This is recommended since some of these places can be difficult to find! The author recommends that you have both a road map and a detailed trail map. She even tells you where you can acquire them, often giving web site addresses where you can do further research.

Some of the trails have historic significance. The author did a great job researching the history and presents the stories behind some of the locations in this book. The author also reminds the reader to never touch any petroglyphs or pictographs since the oils on human hands can damage these priceless ancient treasures. I was pleased that she repeated this advice in every trail description that included any petroglyphs of pictographs. It’s very important that we preserve these features and I was glad that the author emphasized this.

The other thing I really liked about this book is that the author has hiked all these trails and gives incredibly detailed descriptions, right down to where to turn to see other nearby features of interest. She also tells the reader which trails are appropriate for children or not. It’s quite important for parents to be aware of any dangers on these trails, such as steep drop-offs or places where little ones would have to climb. I was glad that the author thoughtfully included this in the text since it is very important information for parents planning an outing with their children to have. Most trail maps don’t have this information.

The writing style was easy to read and the author hits all the important points in each trail description. She also provides a summary of each trail at the end of each description. This is where the reader will find information such as elevation of the trailhead, distance the hike covers, and elevation gain or loss, warnings about any hazards that might be encountered, links for more information, as well as directions to get there. There are some places where the author tells you about unique side trips to features that you will enjoy experiencing.

Another very important point that I was pleased to see the author emphasize is the possibility of flash flooding in these areas. Being desert environments, flash flooding is possible, even if the location where you are hiking is clear and sunny. Rain many miles away can cause flash flooding and the author gives advice on where to check to get up-to-date weather predictions before departing on some hikes that are in areas prone to flash floods. This is often at a visitor center or nearby park office, but it’s super important for hikers to have this information available.

There is a section at the end of the book where hikes are broken down by difficulty and who should undertake each one. There are hikes for children or those with limited mobility, on up to the most strenuous ones in the book. If you use an e-reader to read the book, you can click on a link that will take you right to the page with that hike, which is a handy feature.

The author’s writing style also includes a very subtle sense of humor that I found refreshing. I enjoyed reading this book and dreaming about taking some of these hikes someday. I have been on some of these and the descriptions are accurate from my experience, although some of my experiences were many years ago. I recommend this to anyone who loves the outdoors who finds themselves in Las Vegas or nearby. There is plenty to see very close to the city!

I’d like to thank NetGalley and the author and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is an amazing book. The details given on the hikes is superb. I love all the little nuances the author gives about the hikes and the areas. It is a masterpiece of work on hiking in the southwest. Even though I don't live in the southwest, I am excited to plan a trip camping in some of these areas and exploring the hikes mentioned. The pictures are stunning as well. I am so impressed by the amount of research that went into this book. It is a gem of a find. I would wholeheartedly recommend buying this book.
This e-book was given to me by Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Good information and details. Good pictures and maps. Great resource. Recommend.

We had just returned from a trip of the national parks near Vegas (a trip that included Zion, Antelope, Grand Canyon) when I found this book - after I read it (not the whole of it but enough to value it!), I realized this would have been a godsend if I had it before our trip. Now I plan to ensure that I have the book before our next trip to Vegas and surroundings!!
This gem of a book contains detailed insights into, as it says, 101 hikes in and around Vegas (who would have thunk it!?) - with tips, tricks, level of difficulty, time needed, what to carry with you, sights to see on the hikes, to-dos and not-to-dos, and so much more. The pictures of the hikes inspire and give you an idea of what to expect while the maps will truly be helpful.
A must for every Vegas traveler who wants to explore beyond the Strip.

I was very much looking forward to reading and reviewing Base Camp Las Vegas. As an avid hiker I spend great care planning and selecting hikes. So much of this is subjective, what is appropriate or appeals to one person is very different for another. Books like this are invaluable to me as I can choose by level of difficulty, distance, features along the way. There are also things that can make or break a hike that only someone who has actually been there can reveal and offer detailed information. With limited time, don't we all want the most out of every adventure?!

Beyond the specifics of location, distance, geographic information, Deborah Wall really sets herself apart in this genre as a personal guide. I was impressed with the amount of detail, the additional safety information pertinent to desert hiking, and the stunning photographs. I often utilize the library for guide resources, but this is one you're going to want to own and have with you. Highly recommended for outdoor enthusiasts of all levels, both living in the area and planning visits.

I received an advanced reader copy (eGalley) from Imbrifex Books through NetGalley. This review reflects my honest and unbiased opinions.

"Before You Hit the Trail"
I was pleased to find this section at the beginning of the book. With hiking, there are a lot of risks if one goes unprepared. Hiking in the desert is even more deadly. This book very wisely covers the importance of bringing water, and specified just how much each hiker should bring for a day hike. Other warnings include flash flooding, which to the inexperienced hiker may seem silly in the desert. I mean, we'd know it was coming based on the weather, right? Wrong. Flash flood is just that, unexpected. And in the desert, other hazards include hypothermia (when the sun goes down) and rattlesnakes. Plus, it gives a little section on if you're going to hike with children.

Finally, in this section, it encourages "leave no trace", something I've found more and more in national parks, as well as the Boy Scout motto when it comes to hiking and camping. It's a no brainer, but you'd be amazed by how many visitors just dump trash wherever or graffiti on petroglyph and pictorgraph rocks. It's frustrating and sad, the lack of respect show by those that can't be bothered to think of others.

So the book opens with Red Rock Canyon, which I think is probably the biggest pull for the Nevada and, specifically, Las Vegas area. With strikingly red rocks, it's very photogenic. But that isn't the only interesting part. The area of Nevada is rich with American Indian culture and history. While on vacation, we almost went to Red Rock Canyon, that is until I discovered Valley of Fire. Even the name sounds cool.

From falls to canyons, there are so many trails to choose from. And the great thing about this book is that each trail has the following: Best season to go, length, difficulty, elevation loss, trailhead elevations, warnings (such as flash floods, excessive heat, etc), jurisdiction, and directions. I wish we had this book before exploring Valley of Fire. The areas we visited (Atlatl Rock, Mouse's Tank, White Domes) were all covered, included a little explanation, history and tips if you had children with you.

Nonfiction
Adult
I cheerfully admit that I really like going to Las Vegas. I love exploring the streets to check out the architecture and decor, from the miniature Brooklyn Bridge at New York New York to the stunning Dale Chihuly glass sculptures and the water fountain performance at the Bellagio. But after a day or so of dodging fellow tourists while exploring the Strip and the even-better Freemont Street, I am ready for some day hiking in Valley of Fire or Red Rock Canyon. This is just the book to make sure you have a great time exploring local wild spaces while enjoying evenings in the City that Never Sleeps. This is a revised edition of the 2010 publication, adding 40 more hikes all within a reasonable drive of Vegas. The book opens with a nice introduction to hiking in the southwest, offering tips on hydration and heat, flash floods, hypothermia, rattlesnakes, hiking with kids, and more. Wall is an experienced hiker and recommends carrying about 5 litres of water when hiking around Vegas, to ensure you don’t fall short and allowing for leaks, unexpected delays, and helping poorly prepared hikers. Good advice. The book then turns to the hikes. She groups them by area, starting with the oh-so-close and spectacular Red Rock Canyon. I’ve hiked the Icebox Canyon trail there, and this book recommends that and another dozen trails in this national conservation area. Each hike includes a photo or two, basic facts about difficulty, when to hike, length and elevation gain, and a lengthy description that explains how to get to the trail head, why you should hike this trail, and what to look for on the hike itself. As a new dog owner, I would have liked to know if leashed dogs are welcome on trails – an easy amendment for a future edition! Oddly, there is no table of contents, and I deeply lament the lack of a proper index. However, there is a helpful appendix called Choose Your Perfect Hike, in which Wall lists the top five hikes by a number of options from the best for kids and hikers with limited mobility to those most appealing to teens to hikes for those interested in geology, wildflowers or waterfalls. Plan a trip to Vegas and make it an extended stay with a car rental, pick up this book, and enjoy the extraordinary landscape of the southwest. My thanks to publisher Imbrifex Books for the advance reading copy provided through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
More discussion and reviews of this book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33199514