Backpacking Washington
Monday, May 14th, 7pm
Presented By Guidebook Author
Craig Romano
Come backpack Washington with award winning Washington state guidebook author, Craig Romano.
Drawing from his new release, Backpacking Washington (The Mountaineers Books), Craig will be spotlighting spectacular backpacking destinations from the wild Olympic Coast to the sun kissed canyons of the Blue Mountains. Backpacking Washington includes 70 trips from throughout the state ranging from 14 to 46 miles—making them perfect for weekend and weeklong adventures. Craig spent two years and hiked over 1,500 miles enduring snow, heat, forest fires, and floods researching this, his 8th book.
WTA’s Susan Elderkin sits down with Craig Romano in this Trail Talk Q&A from the May-June 2011 edition of Washington Trails Magazine
Tell me about Backpacking Washington, coming out in June.
There are 70 backpacks, and I approached it by thinking where can I go for 2, 3 nights—a week? The range in the book is from 14 miles to 50. The majority are in the 20-30 mile range. Most of them, you can get into a basin, set up your camp and keep exploring.
How long did it take you to cover all of this terrain?
I started in October 2008 and finished in October of 2010. I had three or four months a year to work on it.… It was demanding.
Favorite trip few people know about?
Here’s one: Basin Lake in the Norse Peak Wilderness. It’s right behind Crystal Mountain. I’ve been there three times and have never seen anyone in there. Great for wildlife and views. Lots of elk and mountain goats are in there.
Are there backpacking destinations that live up to the hype?
Probably one of the most spectacular places on the planet is Image Lake. It’s out-of-this-world.… One pointer: Get up early and do the sunrise. Also, the Enchantments. They are truly spectacular. I feel like I’m in the Sierra Nevada with all of that granite.
Backpacking Washington: Overnight and Multiday Routes, details 70 routes from the wild Olympic Coast to the open ridges of the Columbia Highlands and beyond. With an emphasis on weekend trips, routes range from overnight to weeklong treks. Features include:
• Mileage logs with campgrounds, water, and other trail elements
• Icons for choosing family- and dog-friendly trips
• Recommended nearby day hikes
• Info on WA’s three long-distance trails: Pacific Crest Trail, Pacific Northwest Trail, and Wonderland Trail
Above images courtesy Craig Romano and Mountaineers Books.
Nepal Adventure: Starting approximately October 1, 2012, I will be returning to Nepal to an area I love (Tilicho Lake) and going to an area I have not been (Dhaulagiri Base Camp). I am willing to take up to ten people with me. This will be a totally catered affair and all you will have to carry is your day pack. It will be professionally guided and the camps will be set up for us and the cooking will be done for us. This is a visually stunning part of the world and one of those experiences of a lifetime. Please note: This is not a commercial endeavor on my part and I am a person of contact only. All participants will be making their own arrangements for flying to Nepal and back and dealing with the Nepal agent, as I am doing. The agent, Dipak Dhamala is a personal friend and has arranged my previous trips.
For Itinerary and details contact:
Brian Steely
(360) 297-3825 brianandcris@centurytel.net
Featured Trips
This month, we kayak in the San Juans.
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Backpacking Washington
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