Whether it be through far-flung deserts, luxuriant forests or majestic alpine terrain, when we choose to walk rather than fly or drive, something wonderful happens: our awareness and appreciation of the natural world begins to grow. It can be the faint sound of a gently meandering stream, the distinct smell of decaying leaves on a crisp autumn morning, or even a bowl of cereal that never tasted better than when eaten on a mountaintop at sunrise. Whatever your hiking dreams and goals may be, this book will inspire you to plan and realize your your journeys.

Chapman explores the many parallels between walking with God and walking in the outdoors in this collection of devotional meditations. He draws on personal experiences that can resonate with both seasoned trekkers and casual hikers.

With over 6000 miles of marked hiking trails, israel is one ofthe world's best-kept hiking secrets. This lavishly illustrated book details hiking in Israel, complete with maps, photographs, itineraries and useful hiking tips.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Until John McKinney agreed to take his epic hike, no one had ever walked along the edge of the state to determine if a California Coastal Trail was even possible. Were the beaches passable at low tide? Could the bluffs be traveled without arrest for trespass? Could a trail be found through the rugged coastal mountains?The intrepid trailblazer found the answers to these questions-and to more profound ones that never occurred to him until he was on his challenging journey of discovery.Near and dear to his heart, are theunforgettable people he met along the way, including the founding father of whale-watching, backcountry rangers, nuns praying for mercy for the redwoods, and for us all. A saga, a celebration, a comedy, and a lament, this narrative ranks with the classics of California travel literature. "In spectacular prose both gentle and awe-inspiring, John McKinney tells the grand tale of the California coast like no one before him has done, leaving us on the edge of our seat throughout this entire collection. The stories themselves all end up serving as the first-ever map of the trail, and yet they become something far greater than the sum of the many destinations he describes, however rare and pristine and raw they may be: Hiking on the Edge is written by a true artist, written while wandering along the true edge of existence, exceeding all expectations and preconceived ideas, including his own, while looking into the great unknown." -Thomas Rigler, Executive Producer, City Walk and California Coastal Trail (PBS)

A Magic Carpet Ride is more than just a travel memoir. It is a story within a story about personal journeys as well as travel journeys. Of the many themes, the strongest is the author's rediscovery of her mother's spirit while traveling "Mother Earth." A cosmic theme unfolds, as well as a theme of preparing for the empty nest. The first generation Greek American author describes what it is like to take her own children back to her ancestral homeland to discover the essence of their roots, much like the author did in her childhood trips to Greece. Over 20 countries are described in A Magic Carpet Ride, as well as an educational unit that the author and her three sons designed to build their own trip itineraries and research components. This book is about travel, history, love, pain, goals, fears, risk, adventure, humor, understanding, letting go and faith. Come take a magic carpet ride!

In an effort to connect proud residents and the 10 million visitors a year who visit Santa Barbara with the stunningly beautiful natural world nearby, hiking expert John McKinney, aka The Trailmaster, created this compact guide to the trails in the local mountains.The guide is one of the popular books in The Trailmaster Pocket Guide series, created especially for hikers and designed to fit perfectly in the hiker's pocket or pack. "HIKE Santa Barbara" comes complete with The Trailmaster's colorful stories, trusted trail accounts and easy-to-follow maps.From Seven Falls to Hot Springs Canyon to Figueroa Mountain, "HIKE Santa Barbara shares favorite trails to Santa Barbara's parks, preserves and special places Take along this pocket-sized guide and meander lovely Mission Canyon, Cold Spring Canyon and San Ysidro Canyon. Enjoy grand vistas from Inspiration Point, Knapps's Castle and Montecito Peak. Discover waterfalls, wildflowers and a near wilderness close to town.Some of the best hiking in Southern California is along trails through the mountain canyons right behind Santa Barbara and Montecito. The creekside paths, the mountain trails, and the marvelous views of the Pacific, the islands and "America's Riviera" add up to world-class walking.Author John McKinney knows Santa Barbara well. As the Los Angeles Times hiking columnist for 18 years, he became an expert on SoCal trails and, as a 30-year resident of Santa Barbara, still regularly hikes his home mountains.