Recently, I had the great pleasure of taking a backpacking trip in Rocky Mountain National Park. Of course I had to bring some books with me, but I had to keep my pack light because I intended to be on the trail for six days. Without question I had to bring my Rocky Mountain National Park hiking guide to reference maps and trails. A good hiking guide is an indispensable book for the outdoor enthusiast such as myself. From my hiking guide, I learned of some more obscure and remote hikes in the area, perfect for somebody looking for some peaceful nature solitude. In addition to learning of different hikes in the park, the book was loaded with information about elevation gain, scenery, wildlife, and trail difficulty. Here at Anthology we have a wonderful selection of hiking guides including hiking guides for Rocky Mountain National Park, the Denver and Boulder area, Colorado 13ers, and a selection of the best hikes for children.

In addition to my hiking guide, I also brought some field guides with me. Frequently when hiking or climbing I come across a particular tree, plant, or animal that I am not familiar with. Carrying tree, wildflower, and bird identification books made the trip so much more enjoyable, as well as a learning experience. Here at the bookstore we also have an excellent selection of field guides. We have field guides to help you identify trees, mushrooms, birds, animals, wildflowers, rocks and minerals, animal tracks and edible and medicinal plants. Studying these books will certainly add a new dimension to your outdoor exploration.

I couldn’t only bring field guide type books with me on my trip, I had to have something for leisurely reading. For this I chose to bring a new book I picked up called God Makes the Rivers to Flow by Eknath Easwaran. This spellbinding book contains selections from the sacred literature and scriptures of the world, collected into one volume specifically for slow meditative reading. There was no greater joy in my trip then sitting by a small mountain stream, slowly reading these wonderful poems and prose, contemplating the beauty of nature and the universe. Whatever your reading interests, Anthology has something for you to enjoy while also enjoying the splendor and majesty of nature.

Thanks for reading and have a beautiful day!

Matt