Published authors are known to have haunted these parts over the past few years. These are the ones I know about:

SUSAN ALCORN: Camino Chronicle: Walking to Santiago — Susan, known to cavort around the backcountry with Ralph Alcorn, another THD regular, recounts her hike across historic Spain. From a reader’s review: “This highly personal account is interwoven with a sketch of the bloodstained history of the Camino from the beheading of St. James and his miraculous appearance to lead the Christian Reconquest of Spain from the Muslim’s, earning him the ignominious title – ‘Slayer of the Moors’. ” No doubt the headless hikers of yore haunt those hills to this day.

SUSAN ALCORN: We’re in the Mountains, Not over the Hill: Tales and Tips from Seasoned Women Backpackers — Susan’s other book explains why women of a certain age like to go backpacking. From a reader review: “Debunking the myth that only the young and fearless and male can enjoy backcountry travel, Susan Alcorn’s thoughtful book is a practical and anecdotal read for any woman who ever doubted her ability to engage in the sport of backpacking. An EveryWoman’s guide to wilderness travel, this compassionate volume takes us through the trials, tribulations, and the triumphs of some three dozen backpackers, ranging from 40 to 74 years in age, and all, incidentally, women.”

RICK DEUTSCH: One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome — Rick prepares hikers for the one hike nobody will ever forget: Yosemite’s Half Dome. Reader’s remark: “This book is an education for anyone considering the Half Dome hike. This hike is NOT a “stroll in the park’ or something to do “spur of the moment”. It requires physical training/endurance, proper gear & attitude (the cables are not the place to fool around, they require your full attention).”

BARBARA EGBERT: Zero Days: The Real Life Adventure of Captain Bligh, Nellie Bly, and 10-year-old Scrambler on the Pacific Crest Trail — Barb, a former co-worker of mine, recounts how she took her 10-year-old daughter from Mexico to Canada on the PCT. Small World Dept: Susan Alcorn comments: “It is utterly amazing that a family with a 10-year old would undertake such an adventure. What’s perhaps more amazing is that “Scrambler” (Mary Chambers) consented to the trip, and flourished! An inspiring story.!”

JANE HUBER: 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: San Francisco — Jane is the heroic keeper of bahiker.com. Comment: “I bought the book out of gratitude, but I should have bought it out of pure self-interest. Having an actual book to page through, WITHOUT being hooked up to a computer, is a joy, and I rediscovered the simple truth that cross-referenced lists on paper (and a good table of contents and index) can be superior to links on the screen.”

AMY RACINA: Angels in the Wilderness: The True Story of One Woman’s Survival Against All Odds — One of my all-time favorite wilderness survival stories. Reader’s comment: “Amy Racina is an ardent hiker who enjoys great solo journeys in the Mountains of California. She planned a 162 mile journey in Kings Canyon National park in 2003. This was to be in one of the most remote parts of the park, Tehipite, many miles from the nearest hikers, well beaten tracks and worn trails. In this brilliant account the author tells the tale of her tragic accident, a terrible fall, and the rescue at the hand of three `angels’ and her subsequent recovery. It is a harrowing tail of someone approaching death in the wilderness, alone. The only downside of the tail is that a majority of it deals with recovery and less of it with hiking.”

JOHN SOARES: 100 Classic Hikes in Northern California: Sierra Nevada/ Cascade Mountains/ Klamath Mountains/ Coast Range and North Coast/ San Francisco Bay Area — John lives up Mount Shasta way but he’s written about many a path in the Bay Area. From a reader review: “This is a good “inspirational” book to look through, with great full-color photographs on at least every other page. It’s great for planning a vacation around because it gives you a taste of what many different areas look like. The written information is equally good, with lots of great hikes with short, concise descriptions. With this and a local topo map, you’re all set.”

DAN WHITE: The Cactus Eaters: How I Lost My Mind-and Almost Found Myself-on the Pacific Crest Trail — Often hilarious account of trekking from Mexico to Canada. Reader: “The book often reads like David Sedaris meets the Three Stooges. I can’t remember the last time I laughed out loud so much while reading. ” I’ve read this and highly recommend it.