Publisher Description

Denver is known the world over as the gateway to Colorado's magnificent Rocky Mountains.

offers you 101 of the best of these great hiking destinations to choose from. Take a day to explore an alpine meadow, walk to a waterfall, hike through a forest, or stroll suburban parklands. Enjoy a spectacular day of spring wildflowers or fall foliage, and still be home by dinnertime. Scramble to the top of a mountain to enjoy a sunrise and still make it to work by eight. With Pete KJ as your guide and Denver as your base camp, the splendor of Colorado's Front Range is yours to enjoy one day—or even just a few hours—at a time.
101 great hikes to choose from!

Author Biography

Pete KJ began explorations at age three in the wooded ravine that was his backyard in Seattle. He also began a lifelong writing habit. Backyard expanded as Pete stomped all over the Cascades and Olympics as a youth, and headed onward to the Pyrenees, Alps, Himalayas, and Andes. Peace Corps service in Africa cemented his deep desire to always be out in the world, and when he finally sat in a cubicle as a chemical engineer, it was in places like Puerto Rico and India. Long absent from the cubicle, he moved on to raise kids, travel the world with them, and write about it—and also write novels. Career originally brought Pete to Colorado in the 1990s; its gravity and beauty drew him back and continue to captivate him. In his continuing quest to experience everything this remarkable region has to offer, Pete has hiked hundreds of trails in the front range and beyond.

Review

"With Base Camp Denver you get the best of two worlds: the city's vibrant nightlife combined with trails through some of the Front Range's most magnificent scenery within a three-hour drive."—Discover Life Magazine

"The author, Pete KJ, breaks down each hike, giving you details on every trail, including its difficulty, how kid-friendly it is and — crucial for this time of year — which season the trail is best for."—Jeff Clark, internetbrothers.org

"Each hike features full color images, all of the topographic information that you need. Making it incredibly easy to pick out a hike for any occasion."—Molly Callister, ExploringThroughLife.com

"I appreciated that Pete KJ's recommendations are very detailed and extremely thorough, especially when it comes to recommendations for families and kids. This is very thoughtful, because I don't think I have ever seen a guidebook that is so family-friendly."—Pauline, MamaBearOutdoors.com 
"Base Camp Denver is a priceless resource for anyone looking to hit Colorado's trails."—Mitch Kline Coloradaist.com
"Pete is an excellent, easy to read writer – he takes you right into his love of hiking and treats the reader to wonderful antidotes, historical tidbits, and explanations of each hike. The section introductions could form a nice Sunday afternoon read all by themselves and save the hiking for another day. The pictures alone are worth spending some time "armchair" hiking. There are stunning photographs of each hike, shot with suburb quality. Pete always seemed to encourage the reader to try something new and made even the more difficult hikes seems accessible."—Carol White, RoadTripAmerica.com
"Each hike description includes a number of inspirational good quality photos. There is just enough colorful detail or historical background to add an extra dimension to each hike. There is also a handy directory at the end of the book that will point the reader to different categories of hikes, (kid-friendly, rigorous, and so on), to help in selecting hikes. An excellent guide for a newbie and a valuable reference for a local looking for something new and perhaps a bit out of the way."—Joel Smith, Goodreads.com

Review Quote

"With Base Camp Denver you get the best of two worlds: the city's vibrant nightlife combined with trails through some of the Front Range's most magnificent scenery within a three-hour drive."--Discover Life Magazine (07/17/19) "The author, Pete KJ, breaks down each hike, giving you details on every trail, including its difficulty, how kid-friendly it is and -- crucial for this time of year -- which season the trail is best for."--Jeff Clark, internetbrothers.org (04/05/19) "Each hike features full color images, all of the topographic information that you need. Making it incredibly easy to pick out a hike for any occasion."--Molly Callister, ExploringThroughLife.com (04/08/19) "I appreciated that Pete KJ's recommendations are very detailed and extremely thorough, especially when it comes to recommendations for families and kids. This is very thoughtful, because I don't think I have ever seen a guidebook that is so family-friendly."--Pauline, MamaBearOutdoors.com (04/30/19) "Base Camp Denver is a priceless resource for anyone looking to hit Colorado's trails."--Mitch Kline Coloradaist.com(03/31/19) "Pete is an excellent, easy to read writer - he takes you right into his love of hiking and treats the reader to wonderful antidotes, historical tidbits, and explanations of each hike. The section introductions could form a nice Sunday afternoon read all by themselves and save the hiking for another day. The pictures alone are worth spending some time "armchair" hiking. There are stunning photographs of each hike, shot with suburb quality. Pete always seemed to encourage the reader to try something new and made even the more difficult hikes seems accessible."--Carol White, RoadTripAmerica.com "Each hike description includes a number of inspirational good quality photos. There is just enough colorful detail or historical background to add an extra dimension to each hike. There is also a handy directory at the end of the book that will point the reader to different categories of hikes, (kid-friendly, rigorous, and so on), to help in selecting hikes. An excellent guide for a newbie and a valuable reference for a local looking for something new and perhaps a bit out of the way."--Joel Smith, Goodreads.com

Excerpt from Book

[1] Pawnee Buttes This easy hike to two buttes in the eastern prairie gives you spring flowers, birdsong, windblown solitude, and views stretching off to infinity. It''s a journey through time and a blast for everyone, kids included. At a Glance Difficulty Distance/Time 4.5 miles/2 hours Trail Conditions Trailhead Elevation/Gain 5,200 feet/200 feet each way Children Features Eroded landforms, prairie, birds, spring wildflowers Scenery Best Season All year Photography Other Users Horses, dogs Solitude Notes Toilets at trailhead, very little shade Property Pawnee National Grassland Jurisdiction U.S. Forest Service The drive to this trail near the Wyoming border is crazy circuitous, and things just get weirder at the trailhead, where two buttes appear out on the prairie: startling, boxlike, rising like two gigantic birthday presents. You know you''re in for a different kind of treat, no matter how old you are! Distances are difficult to judge here. The buttes look reachable within minutes, yet the sign says they are two miles away. Begin walking on Pawnee Buttes Trail toward some cliffs to their west called The Overlook. A cacophony of birdsong rises over the sounds of breeze and feet scraping trail, especially in mornings during migration seasons. You might see the long ears of a jackrabbit fleeing. A traditional windmill spins to the left; on the horizon churn dozens of modern wind turbines. Several crude oil "grasshoppers" bob on the plains. At 0.7 miles, you''ll pass through a gated fence and descend into a craterlike valley studded with spiked yucca. In spring there are wildflowers: yellow evening primrose, blue penstemon, purple vetch and phlox. A juniper grove graces the dry snaking streambed, contrasting with whitish cliffs above. It''s difficult to stop taking pictures. Soon you rise into prairie, but West Butte looks no closer than it did at the start. Is it an optical illusion? Land falls away northward as you ford another dry stream and traverse grassland. This prairie is anchored by buffalo grass and blue grama, whose roots form tough sod that holds well against the wind. It took settlers several generations and a Dust Bowl to realize this stuff should never be plowed. On closer examination the diversity of vegetation is impressive. Over 400 native species grow here. The trail dips to arrive beneath the domineering form of West Butte. What is this? A bit of Mars? A hunk of comet? A corroded alien spaceship? Whatever it is, it looks otherworldly, especially in slanting sunlight. And inaccessible! Ringed at the top by 30- to 50-foot cliffs, there appears to be no way to stand on top. The buttes are very much of this world. Remnants of ancient High Plains that didn''t erode into the South Platte, they are protected by caps of sandstone and conglomerate that formed 3 to 20 million years ago. Below the hard caps is softer sediment of the Brule Formation, described geologically as "white to pale-pink blocky tuffaceous claystone and lenticular arkosic conglomerate." It formed 25 to 40 million years ago, before there were words that big. A trail slants down and up toward East Butte, beckoning you to visit it as well. On the way you''ll pass a sign that reads, "Private Land Ahead, Respect Owner''s Rights," but it doesn''t tell you not to proceed. The Forest Service owns all of West Butte, but only part of East. In fact, most of Pawnee National Grassland is privately owned. You will arrive at East Butte within minutes. You can enjoy it from the base or circumnavigate it on a trail of sorts. Rockfall and clay-fall are hazards, so don''t linger beneath precipices. On the east side, gorgeous rippled "clay barrens" melt into prairie. On the north, notches cut into the Brule mark where some people have attempted to scale the butte. Tempting . . . but even if you made it up, how would you get down? Better to enjoy this close encounter from below and respect the summit as a no-go zone. On the way back you can skirt to the north side of West Butte and confirm there is no summit access there, either. Or you can trust me. From Denver. Take I-25 north to Exit 269A, then CO 14 east for another 36 miles. Turn left onto CR 77, drive 15 miles, then turn right onto CR 120. Proceed 5.8 miles, veer left onto CR 87 for 0.8 miles, then turn right on CR 122 and drive 0.7 miles into Grover. Turn right onto CR 390 (Railroad Avenue), continue 5.8 miles, and turn left onto CR 112. Proceed 6.4 miles, turn right on CR 107/CR 112, drive 300 feet, then go left to stay on CR 112. In 2 miles turn left at the sign to Pawnee Buttes. The trailhead and its large parking area are 2 miles farther on the left. 2 hours, 40 mins.

Description for Sales People

Comprehensive guide to 101 day hikes near Denver Detailed maps; easy-to-follow narrative; color photographs throughout Hikes for all interests, skill levels, and seasons; ratings for trail conditions, difficulty, suitability for children and physically challenged, and more Second in the Base Camp Hiking Guides series; Base Camp Las Vegas (Imbrifex Books, 2017) has won seven national awards, sold 3000 copies, and is carried by REI, other hiking-related retailers, and national and state parks. Author is a long-term Colorado resident and has hiked all routes recently. Seven-city author tour in greater Denver area; publicity to hiking magazines, sports magazines and social media outlets (Key outlets: Outside Magazine, Backpacker Magazine, NPR.org Books, Denver Post, Booklist, Publisher's Weekly, Library Journal) National radio and TV interviews; publicity and promotion in conjunction with the author's appearances and speaking engagements Available on NetGalley and Edelweiss++ Promotion and giveaways on BaseCampGuides.com, RoadTripAmerica.com, Imbrifex.com, and Base Camp Guides Facebook page $25,000 publicity and advertising budget

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