PROTECT AMERICAN RIVER CANYONS

The Confluence Autumn 2005 pg. 4

Georgetown Hiking Trails: Trying to Get Lost Off the Divide
Book Review by Julie Nencini

Georgetown Hiking Trails: Trying to Get Lost Off the Divide by Tom Petersen is a self-published gem to some wonderful hikes in the Georgetown Divide area. The author starts out with a humorous look at hiking and a good reminder of how to get prepared for some outdoor time. Petersen, who started the "Get Off Your Gass Hiking Club," draws from his extensive hiking experience to chronicle trails in his book that have become part of the Georgetown Divide folklore. The trail maps in the book are drawn by Petersen, and he gives a helpful disclaimer that the maps are to help the hiker locate and get started and not necessarily to be an exact replica of the terrain. His playful map drawings and trail descriptions, laced with folklore, entice the hiker to explore some of the more remote areas of the Georgetown Divide area.

In fact, Petersen recommends topographical maps to aid in route finding and deciding which trail best suits your stamina. The El Dorado National Forest Map, available through the Georgetown Ranger Station (530-333-4312), has the best mapped overview of the area covered in his book. I would also recommend detailed topo maps and an area map of Georgetown, as Petersen gives directions from Georgetown and you do not want to drive into Georgetown and realize the trail you want was 6 miles back the way you came from.

The trails chosen by Petersen for the book are mostly the work of the gold prospector and the timber harvester. They take the hiker through pine, fir and oak forests along river and stream to memorable waterfalls, rare plants and much more. The trails are divided into various categories. The author starts with easier trails and then divides the book into geographical areas that include more moderate to steep hikes. He ends the book with the Obscure, Lost and Secret Trail categories primarily for those who have become "addicted" to hiking and the outdoors. So pick a crisp Fall day and head to Georgetown (have breakfast at a small café like my friends and I) and try "not" to Get Lost Off the Georgetown Divide.

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