Trails and Tales of Yosemite and the Central Sierra—A Guide for Hikers and History Buffs by Sharon Giacomazzi

Sharon Giacomazzi loves to tell history tales and she loves to hike. She combines these passions in an enthralling guide to the glorious Central Sierra, presenting more than 60 fun excursions. The book's five sections, Gold Country, Western Slope, Yosemite Valley, Other Yosemite Park, and Eastern Sierra, are made richer with their fascinating historical context, and Sharon is a born storyteller who makes history fun.

You'll find ghost towns, waterfalls, wildflowers, Sequoia groves, historic roads, hot springs, river canyons, lakes, mountain peaks, and railroads, both excursion trains and historic lines long gone.

While Sharon includes some of the popular hikes, she also leads you to destinations off the beaten path, hidden corners in Yosemite Valley and the surrounding popular region. She emphasizes easy day hikes, but you'll also find peaks to climb, places to backpack, and resorts where you can just relax amidst scenic grandeur.

“Giacomazzi's enthusiasm for the world she writes about [Eastern Sierra canyons] is so infectious that her guidebooks are that rare thing: guidebooks that are actually a pleasure to read. And they are packed with useful information and historical lore, especially for the hiker new or relatively new to the Eastern Sierra.”
Michael Loughman, The Inyo Register

304 pages, 6" x 9", full-color cover, 59 historic and scenic photographs, 38 maps by Marsha Mello, bibliography, index, 2001.
ISBN 0-939431-25-4. trade paper

From the back cover:

Explore the majestic Central Sierra and learn its fascinating history

This truly one-of-a-kind guide leads you to more than 60 of the best walks and hikes among the spectacular scenery of Yosemite Park and the surrounding Sierra, an area larger than Maryland and Delaware combined. This comprehensive book features the Less traveled trails as well as some popular classics.

Trails & Tales of Yosemite & the Central Sierra will guide you to the best Sequoia groves, hidden waterfalls, most gorgeous canyons and wildflower blooms, most rewarding peaks to climb and other superb adventures.

Whether you're an avid hiker or a casual walker, you'll find the trails coming to life as Sharon Giacomazzi interweaves them with their historical context. She spins enthralling tales of native peoples, early explorers, Gold Rush mining, pioneer lumbering, early railroads, John Muir's adventures, and more.

From the Table of Contents:

I. Gold Country