FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2009

By René Laubach

Paperback • $18.95
288 pp • 6 x 9 • 978-1-934028-21-6

Includes:  Photos and Locator Maps

Appalachian Mountain Club Books is pleased to announce the release of newest title in its Best Day Hikes series, Best Day Hikes in the Berkshires. This new book by naturalist René Laubach covers 50 of the most impressive trails in the Berkshires region of Massachusetts, from short family outings to day hikes that reward with spectacular views.  Ideal for families, nature lovers, and hiking enthusiasts, AMC’s Best Day Hikes in the Berkshires leads explorers through the region’s varied and scenic natural areas, from Bash Bish Falls in the southern Berkshires to Mount Greylock in the north.

Each trip description in this easy-to-use guide includes a detailed map and a summary of the trip time, distance, and difficulty.  Readers will also find tips on the best trails for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, and nature notes on the area’s plentiful flora and fauna.

From short nature walks to day-long adventures to winter trips, this guide is an essential four-season reference for locals and visitors alike. Several hikes are on the Appalachian Trail, and two of the region’s popular rail trails are also included. Many trips are near Berkshire destinations, such as Great Barrington, Lenox, and Williamstown.

Special Features

• Convenient “At-a-Glance Trip Planner” for quick and easy reference
• Detailed locator maps showing parking areas, trails, and natural highlights
• Summaries of time, distance, and difficulty for each trail
• Helpful hiking and safety tips
• Essays about the flora, fauna, and historic landmarks
  

 “Where to go, what you’ll see, and why it matters – it’s all included in this invaluable addition to the hiker’s library.”—Tad Ames, President, Berkshire Natural Resources Council

About the Author
René Laubach is the director of the Massachusetts Audubon Society’s Berkshire Wildlife Sanctuaries. He has been an active birder for many years and has authored seven books on natural history.

Ordering Information
AMC Books are available wherever books are sold, and are distributed by The Globe Pequot Press, Inc., Guilford, CT 06437. Booksellers please call 888-249-7586. The general public may order directly from the AMC or by calling 800-262-4455.

About the AMC
Founded in 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club is the oldest conservation and recreation organization in the nation. With 90,000 members in the Northeast and beyond, the nonprofit AMC promotes the protection, enjoyment, and wise use of the mountains, rivers, and trails of the Appalachian region. The AMC supports natural resource conservation wile encouraging responsible recreation, based on the philosophy that successful, long-term conservation depends upon first-hand enjoyment of the natural environment.