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RECREATION J'ville author writes PCT guides geared toward drivers and day hikers PCT guides geared toward drivers and day hikers Comment By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 6, 2015 at 11:12 AM By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 6, 2015 at 11:12 AM » Social News For Ed McBee of Jacksonville, being lost on a wilderness road eight years ago started years of exploration across Oregon and led to writing two trail guides. McBee, who recently released the second part of his trail guides, "Oregon Backroads Guide to the Pacific Crest Trail," says he was driving on a forest road near the Pacific Crest Trail when he came to a four-way intersection unmarked on all sides. He didn't know which way to turn. When he found his way back, he sought out a trail guide with driving directions, and opportunity presented itself. "I couldn't find anything out there like that," McBee said. McBee found guides about the trail itself, but little for outdoors enthusiasts who weren't seeking to explore the trail from start to finish. He became a weekend explorer while working at his barbershop in Jacksonville during the day. "Just as a fun thing I started driving the backroads," McBee said. "In my spare time, I’d go out and run the routes.” McBee's books are structured to experience Oregon's portion of the trail in nine separate segments, all with detailed driving directions. Region one in the first volume begins at Emigrant Lake, and McBee's journey ends in the second volume at Bridge of the Gods near Mount Hood. “I did a lot of backpacking in my youth, but I’m 62 years old, and I’ve got a bum knee and bad foot,” McBee said. “That doesn’t mean I don’t love to get up in the mountains and have some fun.” In creating the trail guides, McBee gathered maps from various sources, kept a journal with his thoughts about the routes he took and noted places to find food, fuel and other amenities drivers would appreciate. Reminiscent of "Travels with Charley," but focused on only one state, the story of McBee's and his dog Brio's trip includes information about the people and places worth noting around the trail. "I got lost a couple times," he said, citing lack of proper signage and errors on printed maps. He said he worked to address those confusing portions in his trail guides. "Sometimes there's errors on Forest Service maps." Interest in hiking the Pacific Crest Trail has reached new peaks, according to Jack Haskell, a trail information specialist with the Pacific Crest Trail Association, a nonprofit organization devoted to promoting and protecting the trail. That increase followed the release of the move, "Wild," starring Reese Witherspoon and chronicling the PCT hike of a woman on a journey of self-discovery. “This has been the busiest year ever out on the trail,” Haskell said. "We have a lot of new members." Most of the new hikers Haskell is seeing are the same ones McBee is seeking to target. “We’re seeing mostly new people coming in on short trips,” Haskell said. “Far and away, most people are just out for a day or an overnight trip.” Haskell pointed out resources from his organization geared toward hikers new and seasoned, available at the organization's website, www.pcta.org . "Our website has a 'Take a Hike' page," Haskell said, calling it a "great primer." For those new to hiking the trail, Haskell recommended hikers continue their research online and reach out to people familiar with hiking the trail. "Start slowly, see how your knees do and how physically fit you are," Haskell said. "While there's a lot to learn, the rewards are pretty great." For McBee, exploring the trail is an opportunity to revisit a part of his past. In 1968, while in Boy Scout troop in Everett, Wash., he worked on trail improvements during the trail's construction. The trail remained a part of his idea of adventure. “I thought, 'Wouldn’t it be great to strap your home on your back and hike from Mexico to Canada,' ” McBee said. "It's really a treasure." "Oregon Backroads Guide to the Pacific Crest Trail," volumes I and II are available locally at Barnes and Noble in Medford, Northwest Outdoor Store in Medford, the Jacksonville Barbershop, Bloomsbury Books in Ashland, the Green Springs Inn and online at www.oregonbackroads.com . Reach newsroom assistant Nick Morgan at 541-776-4477 or [email protected]. By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 6, 2015 at 11:12 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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