Revising and Updating

Trying to keep up with road closures and trail conditions can be downright daunting. And as much time (seems like always) as I am on the trail researching for my guidebooks, it can be a challenge keeping my books updated. I hike, map and research every trail I write about so you can trust my information when you hit the trail. But what happens when something changes after my book is published? We try to reprint each title every 12-18 months, so I can add those changes in. I also try to keep you informed on my blog, facebook site and website. But I also can use your help too. You see I am always out researching a new book which means my focus stays in one area for long periods of time. So if something is happening over on the Olympic Peninsula and I am spending the summer near Mount St Helens, I might miss that change. I try to keep up with all my sources to keep me informed, but many times in the field I am not getting that information. With that said, please don't hesitate to send me an email about anything you notice changed from the time of my books' printings. I just finished making revisions/corrections for the 3rd printing of Day Hiking North Cascades. I am currently researching two new books, Day Hiking San Juan and Gulf Island and Day Hiking Mount St Helens. I'll be working on a second edition on the Day Hiking Olympic Peninsula soon with all kinds of changes -including adding new hikes! Let me know if there is anything in particular you want to know more about. And please let me know if there have been any trail/road/land-use changes out there! Thanks and I look forward to hearing from--and thanks for all of your support!

How about a Set of Guidebooks for Five Dollars?

My 50 for 50 fundraising campaign is literally off and running! In celebration of my 50th birthday this year, I am challenging myself to compete in and complete the White River 50 Mile Trail Run on July 30th. That's a big challenge and I continue to train setting my sights on my next 50K race in two weeks- the hilly and rough and tumble Lost lake 50K. I have also challenged myself in trying to raise $10,000 for the Washington Trails Association. To date, I thorough your donations have raised over $800. I am hoping that more of you can donate to this great cause with all that money going back into our trails and public places. Any donation is good. And if you donate at least $5 this month (time is running out) you will be entered into a drawing to win a set of my day hiking books. That's right-for just a $5 donation, you may end up winning $76 in books. So, click on this link and make a donation-please! Any amount of $40 or more will also land you a one year membership in the Washington Trails Association. You'll receive a year's subscription to Washington Trails Magazine and become part of a 10,000-plus member strong community of hikers and trail users. Can I count on a donation from you? I'm running my culo off in the process!

Let me give you a Book

to take away

the

November

Blues!

This month I am giving away two of my books! And perhaps you'll be one of the recipients. Choose from Day Hiking North Cascades, Day Hiking Central Cascades, Day Hiking Olympic Peninsula, Best Hikes with Dogs Inland Northwest or Winter Hikes of Western Washington Card Deck.

Are you interested? Here's how to win one:

• Suggest to your friends "liking" me on Facebook!

• When I hit 500 Likes I will give away a book by random drawing to one of the new recruits (as of November 11).


• The person responsible for suggesting that person (the recruit) will also receive a free book.


• And the more people you recruit increases your odds of winning a book!

Are you interested? Send your recruit here. And the sooner I hit 500 Likes, the sooner I can get those guidebooks into your and your recruit's hands! Use your book to plan future trips, venture out now, or give away as a gift. Good Luck!

Dare to go where no Guidebook Authors have gone before!

Those of you who are familiar with my guidebooks know that I hike every trail included in my books and thoroughly research its history and land use management for you, so that you can have an optimal hiking experience. One of the other things that I pride myself upon as far as my books are concerned is that I go out of my way (literally) to include trails, parks and areas that other guidebook authors ignore or just plain don't know about. Where else will you find information on hiking at the mouth of the Columbia River, Whidbey Island, the Chehalis River Valley, the Finney Block of Skagit County, the Loomis State Forest of Okanogan County, the hills surrounding Chelan and Wenatchee, or the Kitsap Peninsula? Yep-you won't find much about these places in other guidebooks-but they're covered in mine and well-and you'll get more than just Green Mountain for the Kitsap Peninsula and you'll get entire chapters on the Long Beach Peninsula, Trapper Creek Wilderness, Clark County, the Chehalis Valley and the hills surrounding Wenatchee. So, if you think that you have hiked everywhere that this state has to offer (even I don't make that claim!) check out my line of guidebooks for new ideas. You might even find out like so many folks from Spokane to Aberdeen that there are trails right in your backyard that you don't even know about! Great! I always get a warm fuzzy feeling introducing hikers to these places. And if you think that there is a trail that I don't know about and you want to share it with me (which I hope you do) please feel free to fire me an email at Craig@CraigRomano.com. Oh yeah, and don't forget to check out http://www.hikeoftheweek.com/ each week too for new hiking ideas!

(Photo- Wynoochee Lake in the Olympics- Out of the dozen guidebooks out there in print on the Olympics, you'll only find this great 12.0 mile loop hike in mine-Day Hiking Olympic Peninsula to be exact)