I've often felt that California is the most anti-dog state that I have ever hiked in. Dogs are restricted just about everywhere, but most especially in our state parks. On the other hand, a friend who lives in the Bay Area assures me that dogs, in many respects, have more rights than people in San Francisco proper. I'm not sure that is necessarily a contradictory perspective given the position of San Francisco as the cultural center of California's People's Republic. But the simple reality is that dogs are a part of our lives, and those of us who enjoy hiking want to share our experiences with our four legged friends.
Author Jason Fator is much more patient with the anti dog coalition (a small but very vocal minority among hikers). He carefully considers all the arguments made against allowing dogs on the trails and suggests a variety of training techniques for keeping your dog under control so as to mitigate the concerns of other hikers and park users. Yes, dogs can be trained not to chase wildlife, and they certainly can be trained to behave better around people who do not like dogs. Having spent a considerable sum to train my dog after he embarrassed me with bad behavior this December, I can personally testify that Fator's suggestion is a sound one. The bottom line is that dogs need to be kept on a leash at all times.
Although many Bay Area trails are off limits to dogs, Fator does provide a good selection of trails you can visit in this book. He does not attempt a "comprehensive" guide but instead tries to give a representative sampling. In this, he does a masterful job. Hikes range from short and easy 1 mile jaunts to multi-mile butt kickers. He includes a variety of scenery, from redwoods to northern Sierra Lakes (the book includes chapters on Tahoe and the Shasta region as well) and hikes range from very popular to virtual isolation. I've personally hiked about 30% of the routes in this book (and was surprised to find that I had done so almost exactly as described). Since I've only had my dog for the last year and a half, Bambi has joined me on only a fraction of these trails. But all are very nice and I plan to use this book as my main resource on my next vacation to the Bay Area.
In all, I am impressed by the accuracy and detail of this book. I like the trail maps, the descriptions of how and when to access the trails, and the many photographs. But most of all, I appreciate the effort Fator has made to make the outdoors accessible to those with dogs. If you have a furry friend and want to get out more in the golden state, this book is an excellent resource. It is highly recommended.
Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime
Try Prime
and start saving today with fast, free delivery
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
Frequently bought together
$11.69
Get it as soon as Friday, May 17
Only 18 left in stock (more on the way).
+
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Choose items to buy together.
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
