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San Juan Mountains Hiking Guide?

Discussion

11 replies
Posted by Bret Edge on June 27, 2007 at 3:33 AM
I ended up not going to the San Juans this week. So, I'm trying to use the free time to better plan my upcoming weeklong San Juan trip. Anyone have suggestions for a good hiking guide to the area?

Muchas gracias to all who respond...
Posted by Roger Rouch on June 27, 2007 at 8:41 AM
I was browsing through "Hiking Colorado's Weminuche and South San Juan Wilderness Areas", by Donna Ikenberry last night. A lot of extended backpacking trips to less popular places. Worth having and some new ideas of places. Photographing the Southwest Volume 3" by Laurent Martres has a shorter section describing some of the more popular and easier to reach photo ops. Don't know if I would go out and buy it just for a San Juan trip, but worth a browse. I'd probably opt for "Colorado's Best Wildflower Hikes Vol. 3 San Juan Mountains" by Pamela Irwin for some of the more common and shorter outings. It is very good.
Posted by Guy Tal on June 27, 2007 at 8:45 AM
Bret, I don't know what else is out there but I found Paul Pixler's "Hiking Trails of Southwest Colorado" helpful on the (very) few times I've been to the San Juans.

Guy
Posted by Mel Ladewig on June 27, 2007 at 10:01 AM
I have a book dedicated to hiking and climbing in the San Juans. Its out of print, but I'll bet you can find a used copy. I'll pull it off the shelf when I get home. I think the author is Rosenborough.

Mel-
Posted by Todd Caudle on June 27, 2007 at 10:47 AM
Both Guy's and Mel's suggestions are excellent. Those books are rather old, but still better than anything else out there. And I think I have every Colorado hiking guide ever written in the entire WORLD!
Posted by Brent Doerzman on June 27, 2007 at 11:30 AM
Message posted by Bret Edge
I'm trying to use the free time to better plan my upcoming weeklong San Juan trip. Anyone have suggestions for a good hiking guide to the area?



Ummmm...... Jack Brauer? :biggrin: :wink: :jump:
Posted by Brian VanDenzen on June 27, 2007 at 1:28 PM
Pixler's is the best, except it's focued more around Durango. There are some good Ouray/northern San Juans hiking books at the Ouray outdoors store. The Ikenberry book is very good for backpacking, but truthfully, just getting a set of high quality topos and using google is probably as good a solutions as there is out there.
Posted by Lance Warley on June 27, 2007 at 1:53 PM
I'm going in July with Rich Durnan.
<rdurnan@richdurnanphoto.com>
www.richdurnanphoto.com
Posted by Bret Edge on June 27, 2007 at 2:08 PM
Hey Brent, can Jack just piggy back me all over the place? If so, that'd be ideal! :biggrin:

Most of you understood that I meant hiking book, not "guide" per se. I like Brian's suggestion and will do just that. I'll bust out the topo's and start researching. Might also try to pick up the Pixler book when we get over there.
Posted by Brent Doerzman on June 27, 2007 at 2:13 PM
Reply posted by Bret Edge
Hey Brent, can Jack just piggy back me all over the place? If so, that'd be ideal!


Of that, I'm sure!!!

Most of you understood that I meant hiking book, not "guide" per se.


Yeah, but it just popped in my head, thought it was funny and just had to do it! ! :wink: :rolleyes:
Posted by Bret Edge on June 27, 2007 at 2:18 PM
Oh trust me, I know you were kidding! I got a kick out of it, dude!
Posted by Mel Ladewig on June 27, 2007 at 7:32 PM
Remembered to check mine. Its "The San Juan Mountains - a climbing and hiking guide" by Robert Rosebrough.

Mel-