The Book Nook

Enjoying the Great  Outdoors on Land or Water One positive outcome of the pandemic is a renewed interest in outdoor activities.  As health care and recreational industries shared lists of safe outdoor activities, people were able to combat cabin fever while enjoying fresh air.  Today I’m reviewing two non-fiction guidebooks for walking or paddling in southern Wisconsin. Finding new places to explore has become a favorite new activity, so I was glad when a friend loaned me two invaluable guides.  First is “60 Hikes within 60 Miles” by Kevin Revolinski, published in 2008.  Using Madison as the central point, this comprehensive informative guide lists trails in Dane and surrounding counties. The book opens with a numbered map listing the 60 entries, with Wisconsin Dells and Horicon Marsh at the north edge and the Illinois border at the south.  Dodgeville marks the western end of the map, which extends east to Lake Michigan.  The walks/hikes are listed by county with a separate section for the city of Madison. The preface touches on historical, geologic and land use information, noting popular sites such as The Ice Age Trail, Devil’s Lake State Park and the “Driftless” Area.  Both the introduction and How to Use this Guide are extremely informative, and you’ll find topics related to safety, weather, essential items and trail etiquette, among others. This book shines in its level of detail and categorization of hikes by length, walking ease, habitats or specific areas of interest such as historic sites or scenic views.  Looking for trails that are good for runners, kids or dogs?  Love wildflowers, waterfalls or bird-watching?  There are lists for each of these and more.  There’s something for just about everyone, whether you seek an easy flat walking trail or difficult and steep hikes. Those hesitant about the unknown can take comfort in the breadth of trail knowledge and helpful information.  Revolinski provides driving directions, GPS guides, maps, how to locate trail heads and detailed descriptions of the walk from beginning to end.  There’s a graph that shows trail heights from beginning to end.  When applicable, the author notes locations for many useful things from drinking fountains and restrooms to picnic tables, fish-cleaning stations and more.  Finally, each entry lists “Nearby Activities”, which may include restaurants, campsites, parks, antique stores, or other items of interest. Kevin Revolinski is a freelance writer and photographer whose writing focuses mainly on travel.  One of his books is considered to be the definitive guide to Israel and he’s lived in many places around the world. For paddlers, there’s “Canoeing & Kayaking South Central Wisconsin – 60 Paddling Adventures within 60 Miles of Madison” by Timothy Bauer.  Also published by Menasha Ridge Press (in 2016), it has a similar feel to the hiking guide, starting with a numbered map and list followed by a table of contents also broken out by area.  This guide also has a helpful introduction, which includes trip planning, crucial safety information and which locations require special passes.  The author also shares what he chose to include/exclude and why along with useful tips on equipment and public access. There’s a categorized section of mostly day-trips with a few choices for those requiring 1-2 overnight stays.  Bauer lists trips by distance, skill level and what he feels are good choices for camping, finding rapids or trips with kids.  Once you’ve made a choice and head to the description for that trip, you’ll again find a wealth of information. Each entry starts with “The Facts”, which describe where to put in and take out, plus the distance and time needed.  He provides the gradient and water level, sometimes with phone numbers for checking river levels.  Also mentioned is the water type, the skill level needed and whether a kayak or canoe is recommended, sometimes with explanations. He follows with a description of the area and shuttling details.  For bike enthusiasts there’s a list of trips for both car and bike shuttles.  Other details include navigational facts for put-in/take-out areas, frequently with landmarks noted for the latter.  The author gives enough information to effectively envision the entire trip.  He finishes each entry with info about nearby spots to eat, rental outfitters, curiosities or campgrounds, etc.  Where relevant, he gives a description of what you may encounter if you decide to paddle further. Sometimes there’s a shout-outs regarding things to do or thanks to local people or associations. One example includes recognition of the work done by the Black Earth Creek Watershed Association and others in transforming the stream from an unsightly, log-jammed mess to a waterway that provides a great paddling experience. One of the appendixes includes information on metropolitan trips for Madison and surrounding towns while another has honorable mentions for Grand Marsh, the Wisconsin River and other places.  There are others for Illinois trips within 60 miles of Madison, how to read online water level info, paddling resources, whitewater safety codes and a glossary. Bauer acknowledges that purists prefer wilder areas such as the boundary waters and says he wanted to depart from most paddling guides for a couple of reasons.  Not everyone has the time for a trip to far-away places and he decided to offer less-touted options that are more quickly accessible but not necessarily less beautiful.  Finally, he includes lakes, which eliminates the need to deal with shuttling logistics. The result is a fantastic guide for canoe and kayak enthusiasts.  My friend recommended the following website as an excellent resource: https://www.wisconsinrivertrips.com/ Timothy Bauer is an outdoor enthusiast and water lover who has been exploring Wisconsin waterways for about a dozen years.  A New Jersey native, he’s called Wisconsin home since 2003. In spite of the how much information is packed into these practical guides, both are surprisingly compact – 6 x 9 inches and about ½ inch thick and can easily fit in a small daypack, although I’d recommend a waterproof pouch for the paddling guide.  Whether you’re new to walking or paddling or a pro, I can recommend both books for their information and inspiration.