Cheap Hiking Guide-Yosemite National Park (DVD) Price

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Customer Reviews of Hiking Guide-Yosemite National Park

A quick, informative way to choose hiking trails
I had hiked in Yosemite some 30 years ago, and this August I am planning a week long trip with my son, to introduce him to the beauty of the Sierras. The trip will include some day hikes, and one several-day backpacking trip. The goal was to narrow down where to hike. This DVD and the accompanying booklet provided a simple way to decide on the best trips, given a limited amount of time. Actually seeing the vistas and having a detailed narrative provided `virtual tours' that made choosing routes much easier. We decided on the backpacking trip from Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley via Cathedral Lakes and Cloud's Rest. A nice feature of the DVD is that `side trips' are mentioned in the body of the main description, and by navigating the menu, details of each side trip can be obtained. For example, near the end of the backpacking route, there is an opportunity to branch off and climb Half Dome. Depending on our condition at the end, we may include this extra climb in our itinerary---- the video gives a good feeling for the trail difficulty as well as the visual reward at the top. While a single DVD can't cover all the trails in a park as large as Yosemite, it does an excellent job of detailing the main day-hiking trails most visitors have access to, and outlines a few ideal backpacking routes with outstanding scenery that should work well for the more novice backpacker. The DVD is thoughtfully crafted, and was very useful for planning the trip. In addition, it provides an excellent way to show friends and family where you are planning to go (or where you have been)!

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A comprehensive guide to many of Yosemite's biggest hikes
As a native Californian, it's somewhat surprising that I'm still relatively unfamiliar with the trails in Yosemite. I have visited Yosemite, but I've only completed a handful of the shortest hikes. I'm planning on spending some time in Yosemite this summer and this DVD and companion booklet is becoming an invaluable aid. <
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>The DVD is arranged by hike and each hike is in a photo slideshow-type format with narration. I found the pictures beautiful and the narration informative and pleasant. The DVD provides a wide array of information about the flora, fauna, and landscapes of Yosemite. <
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>I found the Companion Booklet to be a useful addition to the DVD. It also gives you something to bring along on the trail when the DVD can't be with you. It's definitely not a replacement for the DVD, but it does provide a quick summary of each trail. <
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>It's easy to see that this DVD and Companion Booklet is made by someone who loves Yosemite and knows it well. As well as knows what information hikers and backpackers need and want to know. I'm very much looking forward to future hikes in Yosemite.

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Perfect DVD for any serious dayhiker or backpacker who is planning a trip to Yosemite
In the credits the creator of this DVD states that he has a "passion for Yosemite...like home to me". This passion and love of Yosemite comes through clearly in this DVD and I recommend it to any serious dayhiker or backpacker who is planning a trip to Yosemite. There are so many miles of trails in Yosemite that this DVD is by no means comprehensive, but it does feature some of the most scenic and popular trails in the park. Any first time visitor who wants to do some good hiking should review this DVD before visiting. For experienced Yosemite hikers many of the trails on this DVD will be 'old news', but even though they are 'old news' to me I still enjoyed it tremendously, even picking up new pieces of information along the way. <
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>As a local resident and regular backpacker, I've hiked 90% of the trails discussed in this DVD. With a smile on my face I watched the photo slideshows and listened to the author's narration, reliving the many memories I have of each of the trails. Each trail is presented in a standard format, with an initial description of the route, including distance, elevation gain and loss, trailhead access, and any special permits or arrangements needed (such as shuttle reservations). The narration then continues over a slideshow of the trail. I found the information and photos to be very appropriate - they included descriptions of the views, flora, fauna, geologic features, and interesting side trips. Of great value are the photos of confusing trail junctions, with the narration explaining which way to go. Also, there are details about water accessibility, outhouse availability, and general amenities that are encountered along the trails. If only there was a way to bring the DVD along on the trail! <
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>But wait - there is! The companion book that goes along with the DVD does not contain all the text of the narration, but it includes some of these crucial photos and trail descriptions that makes the DVD so valuable to the first-time Yosemite hiker. <
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>The author is careful to mention when permits and special shuttles are required. He even points out some illegal campsites along the trail to Cloud's Rest. For this reason I found it surprising that backcountry bear regulations were not mentioned. Yosemite has a big problem with bears and hikers have to do their part by storing food properly - it would have been nice to hear this mentioned on the narration over the three backpacking trips featured in the video. <
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>One other thing I would have liked to have heard about is the winter accessibility of the trails featured in the DVD. This is mentioned briefly in the "Insider Tips" section, but it would be nice if something was mentioned about winter use for each trail. For example, the Mist trail to Vernal Falls is a bad idea in the snow, but the Valley Loop is a lovely cross country ski or snowshoe trip. And although the author says he loves Yosemite the most in the Spring and Early Summer (a gorgeous time for waterfalls and flowers), I tend to enjoy the quiet and solitude that can only be found in the park in the Winter months. <
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>I'd love to see this DVD become a set - what about one focusing on some of the hikes off of Tioga Road? For example, North Dome, Lembert Dome, Mount Dana, and Tuolumne Meadows? And, how about one that focuses on hikes in the Hetch Hetchy region? I can't get enough hiking in Yosemite!