The Tahoe Sierra - A Natural History Guide to 112 Hikes in the Northern Sierra

Describes over 100 hikes around the Lake Tahoe Basin and in the Sierra Nevada from Carson Pass area north to the Sierra Buttes. Virtually all the trails are covered, visiting such diverse areas as Desolation Wilderness, Malakoff Diggins, Bucks Lake and Lakes Basin. Hikes range from easy dayhikes to strenuous multi-day backpacks. Contains all the topographic maps you'll need for each hike, plus mileage, elevations, difficulty rating, and campsites. It also interprets the natural history you find along them. Glacial history is particularly stressed, since without glaciers the area would be lakeless - except for Lake Tahoe, whose story is also told. The geology is summed up in a separate chapter, as are zoology and botany. Over 150 wildflower species are illustrated - far more than you'll probably see. Finally, there is a chapter on tout fishing. Jeffrey P. Schaffer, 4th edition 1998, 406 pages, softcover