Karen Berger

Hiking the Triple Crown 
How to Hike America's Longest Trails
* The Appalachian Trail
* The Pacific Crest Trail
* The Continental Divide    

by Karen Berger  
      
Published by the Mountaineers Books, 2001   

Only about two dozen people have completed thru-hikes of the Triple Crown -- the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, and Continental Divide National Scenic Trails. Karen is one of them. 

In this book, she shares the knowledge gleaned from hiking nearly 8,000 miles of some of the best wilderness in America.

The Appalachian Trail -- 2,158 miles
The Pacific Crest Trail -- 2,650 miles
The Continental Divide Trail -- 3,000 miles (read an excerpt from Where the Waters Divide)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Part 1: Long-Distance Basics 
* Thru-hiking 101. 
* Food and Planning.
* Health and Safety.
* Thinking About Gear.
Part 2: The Appalachian Trail
The Long Green Tunnel 
* Hiking strategies unique to the AT.
* Character and challenges of the trail.
* A community in the wilderness.
* Long-distance considerations.
* Direction of travel.
* International Appalachian Trail/Eastern Continental Trail.
* Resupplies.
* Permits and regulations
* Finding your way.
* Shelters, wild animals, gear.
Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee  
* Trail description, seasons, strategies for starting, "the shakedown," psychological factors.
* Best short hikes: Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 71 miles.
* Best short hikes: Tennessee/North Carolina Balds. 46 miles.
The Virginias 
* Trail description, seasons, challenges of the trail, nutrition, hiking partners, "Trail Days," Appalachian Trail Conference Headquarters.
* Best short hikes: Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. 49 miles.
* Best short hikes: Dragons Tooth, McAfees Knob, Tinker Mountain. 32 miles.
* Best short hikes: Shenandoah National Park. 107 miles.
The Middle Atlantic States 
* Trail description, seasons, heat and humidity, hiking the suburbs, safety, hunting season.
* Best short hikes: Maryland's AT: South Mountain. 40 miles.
* Best short hikes: New Jersey's AT: Kittatinny Ridge. 44 miles. 
New England
* Trail description, seasons, the hard part, the White Mountains, Baxter State Park.
* Best short hikes: New Hampshire's White Mountains. 53 miles.
* Best short hikes: Maine's "100-Mile Wilderness" and Katahdin. 118 miles. 
Part 3: The Pacific Crest Trail
A Trail of Extremes 
* Hiking Strategies unique to the PCT, including character and challenges of the trail
* Direction of travel and dealing with seasonal concerns.
* Resupplies
* Permits and regulations
* Finding your way
* Gear.
Southern California
* Trail description, seasons, gear, starting out, water strategies, other challenges, hiker safety,
* Best short hikes: San Jacinto Mountains. 58 Miles.
* Best short hikes: San Gabriel Mountains. 34 miles.
The Sierra Nevada
* Trail description, seasons, Kennedy Meadows gathering, crossing the passes, snowed in, gear, High Sierra skills, finding your way, river fords, black bears, High Sierra resupply strategies.
* Best short hikes: John Muir Trail. 212 Miles
* Best short hikes: Desolation And Granite Chief Wildernesses. 61 miles.
Southern Cascades (Northern California and Oregon)
* Trail description, seasons, fast-packing with ultralight gear, halfway blues, alternate routes, resupplies.
* Best short hikes: Klamath Mountains. 157 miles.
* Best short hikes: Three Sisters Wilderness. 72 miles.
Northern Cascades (Washington)
* Trail description, seasons and seasonal consideration for thru-hikers, finding your way, bears.
* Best short hikes: Mount Adams and Goat Rocks Wildernesses. 112 miles.
* Best short hikes: Alpine Lakes Wilderness. 78 miles. 
Part 4: The Continental Divide Trail  
The Wild Child of the Triple Crown 
* Hiking strategies unique to the CDT, including route selection, gathering information, seasonal considerations, challenges, permits, resupply strategies, and gear.
New Mexico 
* Trail description, seasons, route planning, navigation, roadwalking, water strategies, private property.
* Best short hikes: Gila National Forest. 50 miles.
* Best short hikes: Cuba to Abiquiu. 64 miles.
Colorado 
* Trail description, seasons, scheduling for snow, equipment and snow safety, thunderstorms, altitude sickness, Colorado rescue insurance.
* Best short hikes: Weminuche Wilderness. 134 miles.
* Best short hikes: Front Range and Gore Range. 110 miles.
Wyoming 
* Trail description, seasons, permits, alkaline lakes, grizzly bears.
* Best short hikes: Wind River Range. 73 miles.
* Best short hikes: Teton Wilderness and Yellowstone National Park. 105 miles.
Idaho and Montana. 
* Trail description, trail conditions, seasons, north-bound/south-bound strategies, Glacier's grizzlies.
* Best short hikes: Anaconda Pintlar Wilderness 88 miles.
* Best short hikes: Bob Marshall Wilderness. 108 miles.
Appendices include
* Recommended Reading 
* Trail Associations
* Mail Drops
* Index

You can:

* Buy this book from Amazon.com.
* Ask your local independent bookseller to order and stock this book.
* Buy a signed copy from the author (e-maila) for info),