Crossing Arizona: A Solo Hike Through the Sky Islands and Deserts of the Arizona Trail
Townsend, an experienced hiker and author of 14 other books on  hiking and the outdoors (e.g., Walking the Yukon), recounts his  solo hike from the Mexican border up through the deserts,  mountains, and canyons of central Arizona to the Utah border.  His personal reflections during the two-month hike are  intertwined with historical anecdotes as well as information  about the region's flora and fauna and geological formations.  Owing to the occasional repetitiveness and the lack of clear  photographs the black-and-white images included are too  grainy this title may be cumbersome to read if you are looking  for an enticing travel adventure. But the plethora of background  information, along with Townsend's experience as a long-distance  hiker, may serve as a useful reference for those planning to  attempt the 800-mile hike. Similar titles include Bruce Grubb's  Hiking Arizona and Jerry Sieve's Along the Arizona Trail.  Recommended for all libraries in Arizona and other libraries  with an active outdoor clientele. John McCormick, New Hampshire  State Lib., ConcordCopyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.