The book used bracketed strings of characters that directed readers to access information contained at the end of each chapter. While this method was primarily used to avoid repetitive route descriptions for peaks that used the same access routes, it also organized access routes in a format that allowed readers to navigate from major gateways to very remote trailheads. The book’s peak pages often use the same system and refer readers to pages in the book where the access information can be found. In such cases, the following discussion (taken from the book) explains the system.

Using the Approach Directions

The Approach Section at the end of each chapter is organized as an outline. Bracketed entries (character strings) in the text refer to the information approach route for the peaks in the chapter’s Approach Section. The capital letter designates a major approach point or highway. The next character (a number) refers to a secondary road (which can be anything from a good paved road to a primitive jeep trail) that leaves from the major approach point. A number with a decimal point(s) denotes a road that branches off from a secondary road. The last character (a lowercase letter) refers to a trail accessed from the road identified by the previous character. A lowercase letter with a decimal point and number indicates a trail that branches off the preceding trail. For example, (a) is the main trail, (a.1) indicates a trail that branches off (a) and indicates a trail that branches off (a.1). Additionally, roads and trails are identified by their Forest Service number and by name–for example, FST-124/Parker Ridge Trail. However, keep in mind that the Forest Service numbering scheme is always is subject to change and that a road or trail number may change when the road or trail crosses a boundary between 2 different National Forests.

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