ST. GEORGE — Avoiding overhyped hikes and getting off the beaten trail is the aim of the new 101 Classic Hikes of the Southwest from Falcon Press. Veteran author Bruce Grubbs told St. George News that he wants trekkers to have outstanding experiences. Grubbs is an outdoor photographer and writer.
“You also want to give them something that’s a little bit off the beaten track without getting into something that would be for experienced hikers only,” Grubbs said.
Grubbs has written for over 25 years and has penned over 35 books. He has found that most people who purchase hiking guides are beginners or new to an area.
“You want people to have fun right off the bat,” Grubbs noted. “So, I picked the classic hikes in each area and then narrowed it down from there. I try to make it different and not just the best-known hikes.”
Ironically, Grubbs wasn’t into the desert Southwest when his family left his home state of Alaska when he was around 15 years old. He has been involved in the outdoors his whole life. But hiking was new to him.
“I didn’t start hiking and backpacking until we moved to Arizona when I was 15. I was raised in Alaska and my parents were into hunting and fishing. I’ve been in the outdoors since I can remember,” Grubbs said. “But when we moved to Arizona, first I hated the desert. I thought it was really ugly.”
Then he and his family began rockhounding and he realized the area’s beauty. His family also got into hiking and backpacking pretty seriously.
“That’s the one thing I’ve done all my life. I’m not doing as much of it now as I’d like to. I do more day hikes now. I really do like backpacking, though,” Grubbs said.
Selecting which hikes to put in his book was a challenge for him to pick “cream of the crop” of hikes to publish.
“That was the hardest part of writing the book. I’m a veteran of writing hiking guides and outdoor guides. But trying to eliminate nearly all the hikes that could possibly be in the book was the hard part,” Grubbs said.
Hiking is more than just walking, as most people believe. Grubbs said that may be true if one is on easy trails with many people. Yet, if people tackle longer hikes, they must have the right hiking gear.
“If you start doing longer hikes, getting further away from crowds and more into the backcountry, you should take equipment a little bit more seriously,” Grubbs said. “There is a concept that’s been floating around for decades called 10 essentials .”
Grubbs said, especially in the Southwest, water is the number one thing to bring and always bring twice as much as you think you should have. He recommends all hikers become familiar with the 10 Essentials of Hiking.
“Dehydration illness is the most common problem that Southwestern hikers have. Even in the cool weather, the air is dry and you dehydrate pretty quickly,” Grubbs said. “So water is number one. And bring a few snacks, so you don’t start running on empty if your hike goes longer than you think.”
Grubbs also strongly recommends people carry a paper map of some kind. He noted that most people use their phones for maps, but phone batteries can die. Also, it’s possible to roam out of cellphone range. He also advises bringing a cellphone power bank and setting the cellphone to airplane mode to extend the battery life.
“I just love maps. It’s fun reading them and figuring out where you are. And it lets you find a lot of stuff you’ll never know about if you don’t have a map,” Grubbs said.
Lightweight hiking shoes are what Grubbs usually wears on his adventures. He recalled when there was a time heavy leather mountaineering boots were popular. But he prefers the lighter shoes. Grubbs recommends that one go to an outdoor shop specializing in hiking shoes. The shoes must be comfortable, fit well and have plenty of toe room.
“That’s the mistake most people make when starting out: they’re used to street shoes, and they get their shoes too short, too tight,” Grubbs said. “And that cramps your toes and that leads to lots of blisters. You need a comfortable fit in the toe room.”
He added it’s helpful to find a shop with a space with a little ramp to walk up and down to simulate going up and downhill.
Another tip Grubbs shared is that there are two types of locators. One is a commercial service like the Garmin InReach, a private locator service. He said if you send an SOS through their device, it will get through. And you can also buy a paid subscription service to send and receive text messages through the device.
“If you’re really doing something remote, your family or friends can track you on your trip. The other kind of locator is called a personal locator beacon or PLB,” Grubbs said.
He said you can carry either type of locator when hiking and you can be rescued if you need to send out an SOS.
“A friend of mine got rescued that way one time and it wasn’t a life-threatening injury, but he couldn’t walk either. So, it made him a believer. I bought mine right after that,” Grubbs said. “I don’t carry one when I’m on well-traveled trails with lots of people, but if I’m in any remote area, I carry one.”
The book 101 Classic Hikes of the Southwest includes information on Southern Utah, Southern Nevada, Southeast California, Arizona, Western New Mexico and Southwestern Colorado. It is generally an arid region with portions of the four American deserts—the Sonoran, Chihuahuan, Great Basin and Mojave. Each of these four deserts has distinct climates and landforms, where elevations range from below sea level to more than 10,000 feet.
Grubbs is an avid hiker, mountain biker and cross-country skier who has been exploring the American West for decades. He has used high-technology gear in the backcountry as a professional pilot, an amateur radio operator and a mountain rescue team member. Grubbs holds Airline Transport Pilot and Instrument Flight Instructor certifications and is the chief pilot for an air charter company. He lives in Flagstaff and Phoenix, Arizona.
Photo Gallery
The Hoodoos at Bryce Canyon National Park is one of the places showcased in a new book by veteran author Bruce Grubbs, Bryce, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Bruce Grubbs, St. George News
Near Mount Charleston in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, Mount Charleston, Nevada, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Bruce Grubbs, St. George News
A view of the Great Basin National Park and Mount Moriah Wilderness, Snake Range, Nevada, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Bruce Grubbs, St. George News
The San Francisco Peaks, Inner Basin, Arizona | Photo courtesy of Bruce Grubbs, St. George News
Hikers on the Kaibab Trail, Grand Canyon, Arizona, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Bruce Grubbs, St. George News
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