The research (translation: hiking way over 50 hikes) for the latest edition of "Hiking Alabama" is done and the manuscript is off to the publisher, Falcon Books.
This edition is a departure from past editions, the biggest change everyone will notice is that all photos and maps will be in color. There is also a new "Trail Finder" section that helps hikers find the trek that best fits what they are looking for in a hike, like best trails for waterfalls, swimming, history, or family hikes.
Readers of previous editions and die-hard Alabama hikers will find that a few of the hikes from the past have been dropped to an "Honorable Mention" status. Since the first edition was published in 2001 the number of trails in the state has increased tremendously and I wanted to include several of the new trails. The only way to do that was to bump some down, but that doesn't mean that they aren't great trails!
Another change is the length of the hikes. I've found that most people are looking for quick day hikes so I've limited the length of the hikes in the book but have added plenty of information so that you can extend the hikes into longer, full-day hikes or weekend (or longer) backpacking trips.
So, the editing begins! I'll keep you posted on the progress. Happy trails!
