Customer Reviews:
Information circa 1992: even the roads have moved!.......2007-07-13
The material in the 2nd edition is from 1992, NOT 2000 as the Amazon page says. We recently moved to Southern California, bought the book on Amazon, then went to boulder at Hidden Valley Campground. I had trouble getting my bearings... Intersection Rock was in the wrong place... the roads have all moved in that area since the book was written. I met a local in the parking lot and asked him what was up. When he saw the book in my hand he asked if I bought it at the ranger station, then complained that it was still on their shelves given how out of date it is.
I don't know if the publication date is a typo (maybe 2000 was the last reprint date?) but I'm not impressed with the book. Combine the lacking route descriptions (see other reviews) with 15 years since publication and you've got a pretty weak guide book. Spend your $33 on a better, more current book.
Great overall climbing guide.......2005-08-05
If you don't know where in JTree you would like to climb or if you plan on doing a little bit of all kinds of climbing, this is the book to have. It provides an overview for the whole area with great maps and photographs to easily locate all rocks (and there is a lot of them so the book is thick). Some of the maps and info are out of date and need to be replaced (the Hidden Valley campground/Intersection Rock map and information about showers). I also found myself constantly writing on the map page references for the different rocks. It may also be nice to include a guide on all major toprope, bouldering, and sport climbing sections, although these exist on the web. Overall, I had an amazing trip and knew where to go every day, I just wish I had more than 5 days to climb there. Ooooh, also the book doesn't tell you that you will have no finger tips left or that the ratings are really hard and you shouldn't use them :-) A 5.10c in JTree is apparently not a 5.10c anywhere else, but this is a one of a kind place!
This is the book........2005-03-11
There are others out there, but Vogel's Rock Climbing Joshua Tree is the definitive overall guide that both new and experienced climbers rely upon. However, for more detailed information on routes in specific areas of Joshua Tree (Lost Horse, Indian Cove, Hidden Valley, etc.), don't leave home without Alan Bartlett's excellent guides.
That said, Rock Climbing JT is and will always be a work in progress, as is any climbing guide, and should be viewed as such. Bolts on old routes can become unreliable, new routes are always being established and the ratings themselves are highly subjective. Some 5.8 routes have felt like 5.10, while another 5.8 can seem like a walk-up. Paradoxically, it is the trusted guide that can't always be trusted.
Each route has a star rating, a qualitative scoring process which is again highly subjective. Some routes have descriptions, some don't. Not all routes have accompanying photographs and in this second edition, there is still an annoyingly large number of misspellings and incorrect cross references. But as I said before, this book is a work in progress. It takes years and years of climbing prowess and research to gather information for a guide of this magnitude and despite the highly opinionated nature of this and all climbing guides, it is still an essential piece of climbing gear no Josh climber should do without.
Missing details, but great guide.......2004-01-22
This is a very comprehensive guide to Joshua Tree for climbers. It is the book that we always take with us as the defintive reference. Generally, the information is accurate and the maps detailing which rock is which in various formations is quite good.
However, there are several notable drawbacks to the book. First - the routes often have no description of them or any guidance as to the trad gear needed for a given route. Second, many of the routes for some areas do not appear in the pictures making route finding without a good desription, difficult. Third, descent information is often not found or has to be interpreted.
It may sound like there are major faults with the book, but in reality it is a good book that is very useful. Just don't expect it to tell you everything you need to know about a given crag.
The best guidebook to Joshua Tree.......2003-07-08
If you're looking for the comprehensive catalog to Joshua Tree climbs, look no further. Author Randy Vogel has undertaken a huge task in compiling over 4,000 routes for the Park. The downside is that the route descriptions are very, often too, concise. For example, "Walk on the Wild Side", one of the best moderate climbs in Joshua Tree has the following "description":
"WALK ON THE WILD SIDE 5.7+ ****".
For a first-timer, this description lacks the necessary detail to be complete. Is this a bolted or trad route? How many pitches? Do I repell off or walk off? Are there bolted anchors? What gear should I bring?
I've found that using this book in conjunction with climbingjtree.com (which includes color pictures and user-submitted commentary along with detailed route descriptions and gear suggestions) to be the best of both worlds!
Book Description
With a large number of beautiful, high-quality color photographs, these guides are as browsable as the best coffee table books but also supply travelers with maps, travel tips, and extensive listings for lodging, camping, and sightseeing.
Located just two hours east of Los Angeles, Joshua Tree National Park is a desert getaway that boasts some of the most dramatic and unexpected scenery in the Southwest. Stunning photographs showcase the area's unusual geology, and chapters on history and wildlife describe the delicately balanced ecosystems. A guide to desert wildflowers is also included, and trail maps are provided for more than 20 of the best hikes in the park.
Customer Reviews:
Outstanding overview and history of Joshua Tree National Park.......2007-05-05
I loved this book. Superbly written and full of interesting facts and history. I have been to Joshua about 4-5 times and absolutely love it, and now armed with this book I am looking forward to going back. Great pictures, narrative and real life experiences make this book a must have!
A nice JTree overview.......2005-08-05
The book provides great ideas for trips within the park for any user. I spent 5 days climbing in JTree but enjoyed finding out from the book what the Joshua tree actually is and going on a hike to see some petroglyphs. The photographs are very vivid and the campground maps are very useful (although an overall map with the campground locations would be useful too).
Review of Joshua Tree: the Complete Guide.......2004-02-27
An excellent book with great photographs. It is organized very well. The author's love of the park comes through and is very inspiring.
Best Guide I've Ever Used.......2003-05-04
This book is it. As an avid hiker, camper, and all around outdoorsman, I've used a lot of different guides, but this one takes it. Between the photos, the extra chapters on local history, ecology etc., not to mention one of the easiest to use trail guides I've seen, I'm set on Destination Press as my guide of choice. Mr. Kaiser has made my outdoor adventures that much more enjoyable.
Perfection, Complete Perfection.......2003-03-25
I am an avid hiker / mountain climber and have been making frequent stops to the Joshua Tree area the last few years. In the past I could not find out where the best camping was or what the best trails were to explore. After reading Mr. Kaiser's book, my eyes have been opened to wonders and beauty of Joshua Tree National Park. I had been missing out for years on everything the park has to offer. I consider myself a fairly decent photographer and love to take snap shots of my travels. Kaiser has some of the most awe inspiring photographs you will ever see. What is a fantastic idea is that Kaiser sells his photographs on his website for very low price and they are absolutely the best quality. I told my wife I took one of the pictures I purchased from Kaiser. She loved it and framed it in our living room. She has even stopped given me a hard time about buying so much camera equipment!
Joshua Tree: The Complete Guide truly is the "Complete Guide". I rate this book far beyond the best travel guides I have ever read.
Book Description
·Detailed directions to locate each climb
·Full-color photos of every route
·High-quality, moderate climbs that are sure to become your favorites
·Descent instructions for every climb
Many climbers who visit Joshua Tree spend as much time searching for good routes as they do actually climbing. This guidebook offers the moderate climber a fun, varied and challenging "tick-list" of 60 great Trad climbs, and makes it easy to find your way around. With color photos of every route, detailed maps, and easy-to-follow driving and hiking directions, you'll be able to climb numerous routes per day and make the most of your climbing trip.
Key features of each climb are described, and you'll even know what to expect when you reach the top of a route and want to set up an anchor and later descend. Are you looking for an area with a concentration of a certain grade or climb? Color-coded overview maps will help you choose your spot.
Customer Reviews:
What a great book!.......2007-03-07
First of all, this book is written by some really nice people. This book is void of the elitism that usally comes with a guide book to an area like this. My wife and I have been to J-tree many times but this was our first year with this book. It truely enhanced our time there. The full color pictures are great, and they took all the pictures from such logical places that if you are following a road or trail and find yourself needing direction, you look up and see exactly what is in the picture for the climb you are looking for. My wife and I found ourself laughing on one climb when we were looking off in the distance for a rock formation and spotted the tree 6' in front of us that was also about 6' in front of the camera lense in the picture! And there are climbs that real people can do! I notice in other guide books the only highly rated climbs are 5.12 and up! Get this book, you won't be dissapointed. I only wish I could meet the authers and tell them of my appreciation.
Randy Vogel, READ THIS BOOK!!!!!.......2006-10-27
Sometimes, as the saying goes, less is more. This book is a classic example of producing a user friendly rock climbing guide to one of the premier cragging areas, by limiting the scope to climbs that most people who go to Joshua Tree actually enjoy. As the title stipulates there are no 5.12 sphincter squeesers here, just interesting traditional climbs (no bolts for the sport freaks).
Each climb is photographed in color with a graphic overlay clearly showing the route. Most of these routes are short, single pitch climbs that encompass a wide variety of problems with the emphasis on classic crack climbs. Approach info and the maximum protection requirement is noted along with a very abreviated strategy for the climb. Information on lodging and camping along with dining options are covered pretty well, though the surrounding areas offer a lot more variety than the book indicates.
If you're a beginner/intermediate climber and aspire to climb in JT, this is the guide to get.
Hands down the best 'Select' climbing book I've ever seen.......2006-04-25
This book is the best non comprehensive climbing guide book I have ever seen. The highlights are:
- Full color photos of the routes
- Both approach photos as well as close up route photos, making it easy to find the rock and specific route
- Full park map with relative camping and route locations listed
- Very good beta on each and every route (includes sun/shade, rack suggestions, etc), usually about a page per route not including another page for photos.
So basically if you're interested in the 5.5 to 5.9 trad routes in Joshua Tree you'll love this book, simple as that.
A MUST HAVE BOOK!!.......2005-02-03
Wow! Great book, color detailed photos of routes, sun/shade orientation for all routes & basically all the info that one needs to have a memorable trip in Joshua Tree. Also great to have a book that has a focus on climbs under 5.10. All in all this is the most informative climbing book I have ever purchased. Would have been happy paying twice the price I paid for it.
Confessions of a fellow climber.......2004-12-08
Okay, I confess that I've known Charlie & Diane Winger for over twenty years. What I can tell you is that they always pour their hearts and souls into their guide books, including "Highpoint Adventures (2002)" and "The Essential Guide to Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve (2003)." Well,this year (2004) they've done it again with their nifty "The Trad Guide to Joshua Tree." Indeed, there is simply no better guide book available for making "fun" climbs in Joshua. The excellent route photos and superb reaseach makes you long to rope up right now!
Book Description
The comprehensive guide to rock climbing in the western half of Joshua Tree National Park.
Customer Reviews:
SWEEEET!.......2006-03-31
Just got my copy and after spending a couple hours with this guide, all I can say is Wow! Kinda thick, but so much info and really liked the history section. Can't wait to visit some of the new spots...
Only question, when are the other volumes coming out?
Book Description
Features 114 hikes of all levels in four California Desert Parks; Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Joshua Tree and Death Valley national parks, and Mojave National Preserve.
Customer Reviews:
Hiking Opportunities in Southern California's Desert Wilderness.......2006-09-11
I have a real fondness for books by Bill and Polly Cunningham. Their 'Best Easy Dayhikes: Anza Borrego' introduced me to desert hiking and has left me with an abiding love of California's desert regions. The off season recreational opportunities in these areas: Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Parks, the Mojave National Preserve, and Anza Borrego State Parks are seemingly endless and this book provides a good introduction to these places. The 114 hikes described in this book range in length from short leg stretchers of 1/4 mile (or less) to all day rambles over difficult terrain from 10 to 16 miles. Each hike description includes a list of key points, mileage between these points, a hypsometric map (GPS compatible) and decent black and white photographs of the area.
Although I like the book, I have a few concerns. I'm not sure the authors rechecked every trail from the first edition. Had they done so, they might have noticed that Squaw Peak and Pond (in Agua Caliente County Parks) have had name changes to accomodate the politically correct crowd. Also, I have twice hiked Mountain Palm Springs Canyon in the last year and failed to note the cutoff trail sign for Indian Gorge. But aside from those minor errors, my major concern is that this book really doesn't provide a comprehensive view of all the desert has to offer. The author's narrow view of "parks" precludes them from discussing the many recreational opportunities in county and state parks in the Imperial Valley and around Palm Springs. Hikers seeking coverage of these areas as well should look at John McKinney's books or to regional hiking guides. Nonetheless, if you are planning a visit to Joshua Tree, Death Valley, the Mojave or Anza Borrego this is an excellent book to get. The authors made a desert rat out of me and they can do the same for you if you give them half a chance.
Average customer rating:
- Extremely Easy To Use
- Beautiful pix, helpful text
- Great book
- A Gorgeous, Informative, Sturdy Field Guide
- Beautiful Book!
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Mojave Desert Wildflowers: A Field Guide to Wildflowers, Trees, and Shrubs of the Mojave Desert, Including the Mojave National Preserve, Death Valley National Park, and Joshua Tree National Park
Pam MacKay
Manufacturer: Falcon
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Binding: Paperback
 Flowers
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Similar Items:
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The Jepson Desert Manual: Vascular Plants of Southeastern California
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Sonoran Desert Wildflowers: A Field Guide to the Common Wildflowers of the Sonoran Desert, Including Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Saguaro National Park, Organ Pipe National Monument, Ironwood Forest National Monument, and the Sonoran Portion of Joshua Tree National Park
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Flowers and Shrubs of the Mojave Desert
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Hiking Death Valley: A Guide to Its Natural Wonders & Mining Past
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California Desert Flowers: An Introduction to Families, Genera, and Species (Phyllis M. Faber Books)
ASIN: 0762711620 |
Book Description
The Mojave Desert eco-region extends from eastern California to northwestern Arizona, southern Nevada, and southwestern Utah, and boasts plant communities as diverse as alkali sinks, dune systems, Joshua tree woodland, pinyon juniper woodland, mixed mojave scrub, and even riparian woodland. Mojave Desert Wildflowers will be appreciated not only by amateur wildflower enthusiasts, but experts will also find the detailed photographs and charts useful in distinguishing among similar species in difficult groups. Species are arranged by color and plant family for easy identification. This guide features 300 of the common species, full-color photographs, detailed descriptions, information on bloom season, and interesting facts about each plant.
Customer Reviews:
Extremely Easy To Use.......2006-04-16
This is probably the easiest to use desert plant book I have (and I have eight that focus on desert plants in all). What it lacks in completeness, it more than makes up for in terms of ease of use. There is a picture for each plant and the plants are grouped according to flower color. So as long as the plant is in bloom, it's not too hard to find out what it is. This book does a great job of covering the plants you are most likely to come across which makes it a great book to thumb through in the field. If you are dealing with similar species within the same genus or rare plants, you'll probably want to get the Jepson guide.
Beautiful pix, helpful text.......2005-09-02
I love these Falcon guides mainly because of the lavish color illustrations. Every flower in the book has its own color picture, along with helpful descriptions. The front matter in this book includes all sorts of background material about the Mojave, along with the usual educational stuff about plant types, leaf distribution, etc. And the book is made to last -- if you take any care of it at all, it will last you forever.
Great book.......2005-02-12
Money well spent. We are ready for wildflower season! A lot of color pictures with good information. If you live in or near the Mojave Desert this is a valuable book.
A Gorgeous, Informative, Sturdy Field Guide.......2003-07-15
Pam MacKay's 'Mojave Desert Wildflowers' is a wonderfully informative & beautifully photographed guide to the wildflowers of the Mojave. This sturdy plastic-coated field guide contains over 300 gorgeous photos, finely detailed plant descriptions, and is virtually an introductory textbook on Mojave Desert ecology. I highly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates the Mojave Desert. The author lives & teaches in the Mojave and her dedication, attention to detail, and love of the desert are revealed on every page.
Jim Otterstrom
Beautiful Book!.......2003-05-15
This guide is so easy to use and the pictures are beautiful. I highly recommend this guide for first time wildflower enthusiasts!
Book Description
Hikes varying from half-hour strolls to full-day adventures, this guidebook is for everyone, including families.
Customer Reviews:
Always Fun, but not Always Easy.......2005-12-19
My wife and I visit Joshua Tree National Park every Thanksgiving Day. Hiking there seems more fun than cooking all day and we always have a wonderful time. Late fall skies there are cobalt blue and the hiking is always fabulous. Numerous trails to desert peaks, pretty rock formations, and of course whole forests of Joshua Trees await those who wish to explore this region and this book by Cunningham and Burke provides a good outline of where to begin.
Like other guides in the "Best Easy Day Hikes" series of Falcon Press, the emphasis here is on shorter hikes. If you are looking for long cross country rambles, other books might be more appropriate for your hiking tastes. Instead, readers here are treated to some of the "classics" in the park. Mastodon Peak (3 miles), Hidden Valley Nature Walk (1 mile) and the Barker Dam Loop (1.1 miles) are typical of the offerings in this guide. These trails are winners and most day hikers will enjoy them.
That said, not every hike listed in this book is truly "easy." The walk to Lost Palms Oasis is over 7 miles of moderately rough terrain and the hikes to Ryan Mountain and Inspiration Peak, while short, are very steep. In addition, some of the truly easy and scenic hikes in the park are not listed in this guide. The Oasis of Mara walk at the visitor center, a pleasant 1/2 to 1.5 mile loop is missing as is the scenic and wheelchair accessible Bajada Loop in the southern portion of the park. I'm sure these oversights will be corrected when the new edition of the authors' more comprehensive "Hiking California Desert Parks" volume comes out. In the meantime, this is a good resource for hiking in Joshua Tree. It is worth the price. Just remember that some "easy" walks are actually quite ambitious.
Book Description
Matching folio to the acclaimed album. 11 songs, including: With or Without You * I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For * Where the Streets Have No Name * and more.
Customer Reviews:
Good enough: simplified cords but brief and incomplete lyrics.......2006-02-28
As the title in my review reads, This book has all the cords of each song in the cd but it doesn't have the complete lyrics so you need to get them elsewhere... Not usefull to read and play.
Spanish translation: El libro es suficientemente bueno. Tiene todas las canciones del CD con sus acordes y notas en pentagrama pero presenta a las letras de las mismas en forma abreviada e incompleta. No es útil para leer e interpretar en simultáneo.
The Best U2 POSTER.......2000-10-14
This poster is the greates U@ poster by far becuase it encompasses the true Beauty of U2. Thier position in the postershows how they view themselves and thier music, Opening our eyes to the incredible world that lies all around us.
A must have for U2 fans playing guitar.......2000-03-26
The book has guitar tabs for the worderful songs from classic album Joshua Tree. It also contains lyrics. The music is beautiful, a pleasure to play.
Book Description
Descriptions with topos and black and white photos for nearly 500 routes in the Southern California area.
Customer Reviews:
Odd choices for "classic rock climbs".......2003-12-09
This is an odd collection of JTree climbs -- some truely classic, but many seem to have been thrown in just because they are near some better climb. It has a mixture of photos and sketches (topos), yet still skips any sort of graphics for many of the climbs.
It's understandable that Vogel's large guidebook didn't have room for pictures of every formation, but this book is supposed to be for "the visiting or infrequent climber." For that, it falls short.
Still, having another resource to try to locate climbs in the huge area of Joshua Tree is a good thing, and the amount of work Vogel must have done to compile this book -- even with it's limitations -- must be commended.
Every climber I know owns this book........2000-03-28
This is the most widely used guidebook for Joshua Tree, and is basically a classic. The only fault I've found with it is that sometimes the rock formations are difficult to recognize from the black and white, strangely angled illustrations. When it comes back into print, many people will be happy.
Average customer rating:
- Sonoran Desert Wildflowers
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Sonoran Desert Wildflowers: A Field Guide to the Common Wildflowers of the Sonoran Desert, Including Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Saguaro National Park, Organ Pipe National Monument, Ironwood Forest National Monument, and the Sonoran Portion of Joshua Tree National Park
Richard Spellenberg
Manufacturer: Falcon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
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West
| United States
| Travel
| Photography
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
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Flowers
| Plants
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Plants
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Botany
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
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Pacific
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| Travel
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Look Inside Outdoors & Nature Books
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Mojave Desert Wildflowers: A Field Guide to Wildflowers, Trees, and Shrubs of the Mojave Desert, Including the Mojave National Preserve, Death Valley National Park, and Joshua Tree National Park
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Cacti of the Desert Southwest
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Shrubs & Trees of the Southwest Deserts
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A Natural History of the Sonoran Desert (Arizona Sonora Desert Museum)
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Plants of Arizona
ASIN: 0762711361 |
Book Description
This guide features 300 of the common plants of the Sonoran Desert. Detailed descriptions, information about bloom season and range, and interesting facts about each plant accompany the full-color photographs. 300 color photos
Customer Reviews:
Sonoran Desert Wildflowers.......2007-01-30
A must-have book for your library of Desert Wildflower books. It is arranged by color of bloom, has beautiful photographs, and the text is very informative. Each plant description also has a comment of something unusual or interesting about it, which is a novelty for a flower book.
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