Adventure Carolinas

May 15, 2014

Miller (Backpacking North Carolina) covers a lot of territory in a compact book, discussing the many opportunities for participation in outdoor sports in North and South Carolina. Though most of the sports that the author outlines can be thought of as "extreme," the book is not written for adrenaline junkies. Miller begins with one chapter each on what he calls the "big six adventures" (hiking and backpacking, rock climbing, mountain biking, flat-water paddling, whitewater paddling, and scuba diving). Each chapter includes a true story from Miller's experiences, destinations for the sport, how to start, cost, organizations, required commitment, physical and mental demands, seasonality, available competition, suggestions for similar activities, and locations outside the Carolinas that cater to the sport. A map is included with each chapter, with sport-specific locations indicated. In the final chapter Miller briefly discusses ten additional sports (downhill skiing and snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snow tubing, stand-up paddleboarding, windsurfing, kiteboarding, hang gliding, ziplining, geocaching, and caving). VERDICT For anyone with an interest in outdoor sports in the Carolinas, particularly those who are not already experts. The title is geared toward residents of the Southeast but is not exclusive of others.--Rachel Owens, Daytona State Coll. Lib., FL

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