“Base Camp Las Vegas: 101 Hikes in the Southwest” by Deborah Wall is an invaluable resource guide for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts of all activity levels.
Wall is a recognized expert in the field, hosts a popular column on hiking and other activities, and is a contributor and writer for many travel sites and publications. First published in 2010, “Base Camp Las Vegas” quickly became the bible for hikers interested in traveling the area. “Base Camp Las Vegas: 101 Hikes in the Southwest” is the updated and expanded edition of that book. The guide focuses on trails located in the 4-state region of Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and California, specifically the landscape within easy reach from the Las Vegas area.
My husband and I are relatively “newbie” hikers, with a few trails under our belts in Colorado and New Mexico, so I was eager to get my hands on this book and soak up all that Wall had to offer in this amazing guide. The book begins with a section called Before starting the road, and contains good practical advice to prepare for an outing. Details ranging from what to wear, items to pack, weather considerations and water use, to tips on hiking with kids and what to do if you encounter certain wildlife creatures like rattlesnakes!
From there, the author dives right into specific areas and trails. Having completed each of the hikes at least once, Wall passes on his first-hand knowledge and provides full details on each hike, including the best season to visit, length and difficulty of the hike, elevation data, warnings specific trails and directions. This is vital information as knowing ahead of time allows for proper planning, and hikers will greatly benefit from the experiences learned from the author. I particularly enjoyed reading about the historical significance of many of the areas, including claims to fame and how each area got its names.
In addition to the wealth of information found within these pages, it’s also an absolutely beautiful book. An accomplished photographer, Wall also includes page after page of STUNNING photos of each area. The views that jump off the pages are enough to make you want to gather your team and head out, right away! Truly a high quality production in all aspects, there are many things that I love about this guide. Having read it once, I am now eager to return to the many pages I have bookmarked so I can research and plan our next trip. I’ll have to wait for my husband to finish reading it though – he grabbed it as soon as I put it down!
I highly recommend Deborah Wall’s “Base Camp Las Vegas: 101 Hikes in the Southwest” to anyone interested in hiking, camping, or just learning more about the area.