Five-Star Trails: Asheville: 35 Spectacular Hikes in the Land of Sky

Description

The definitive guide to hiking in Asheville. Five-Star Trails: Asheville by accomplished hiker and writer Jennifer Pharr Davis covers 35 hikes in the greater Asheville region, from area nature preserves to treks along the Blue Ridge Parkway and in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Asheville resident has sought out her favorite hikes, as well as a cross section of adventures on foot that exhibit the variety of hikes found in the greater Asheville region. Hikes include treks along the famed Appalachian Trail to waterfalls of the Pisgah National Forest. Other walks take you to the rhododendron blooms atop Craggy Gardens. Solitude can be found on remote Hickey Fork. And then there's the granite domes and crashing cataracts of Dupont State Forest. Mix hiking and history at the Cradle of Forest or Mount Pisgah via Buck Springs Lodge. Soak in inspiring panoramas from Shining Rock Wilderness or Looking Glass Rock. These fantastic hikes are laid out in an organized fashion by a professional hiker and speaker who exemplifies the heart and spirit of Asheville. Hikes range widely in elevation, distance, and difficulty, providing a variety of experiences for everyone. The guide provides in-depth trail descriptions, directions, and commentary on what to expect along the way. Each hike features an individual trail map, elevation profile, and at-a-glance information, helping readers quickly find the perfect trip.

JENNIFER PHARR DAVIS grew up in the North Carolina mountains, where day hiking was part of her life with her parents and two older brothers. At age 21, she took on the entire Appalachian Trail (AT) as a solo female and fell in love with long-distance backpacking. In 2011, she set the overall record for completing the AT, covering the entire trail in 46 days, 11 hours, and 20 minutes and averaging a remarkable 47 miles per day. Even though this record has since been eclipsed, she remains the fastest woman on record to hike the AT. She has logged more than 14,000 miles of North American trails. In addition to the AT, those treks include the Pacific Crest Trail, Vermont's Long Trail, and the Colorado Trail. Traveling to six continents to exercise her hiking wanderlust, she cites Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro, Peru's Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, and Australia's 600-mile Bibbulmun Track among her international highlights. Jennifer has written six books, including three North Carolina guidebooks; two hiking memoirs, Becoming Odyssa and Called Again; and her latest, The Pursuit of Endurance: Harnessing the Record-Breaking Power of Strength and Resilience. She has also written articles for the New York Times, Outside magazine, Backpacker, and Trail Runner, and has been featured in the Washington Post, the New York Times, the Daily Beast, NPR's Talk of the Nation, and the CBS Early Show. In 2016, Jennifer was the recipient of the prestigious Laurel Wreath Award, bestowed upon her by the State of North Carolina for her outstanding athletic achievements. Jennifer lives in Asheville with her husband, Brew; daughter, Charley; and son, Gus. In addition to the important job of being a mom, she is also the owner and founder of Blue Ridge Hiking Company. For the latest on Jennifer, check out blueridgehikingco.com.