Never Too Early to Start Planning your next hiking adventure, new books with Rob Bignell

New hiking guidebooks focus on Bayfield, Sawyer counties

More than 100 day hiking trails described in each new ‘Hittin’ the Trail’ book

BAYFIELD, Wis. (Dec. 16, 2014) – Two new hiking guidebooks detail more than a hundred day hiking trails in Wisconsin’s Bayfield and Sawyer Counties.

Day Hiking Trails of Bayfield County and Day Hiking Trails of Sawyer County mark the eighth and ninth books in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Day Hiking Trails of Bayfield County and Day Hiking Trails of Sawyer County 

(Atiswinic Press) describe more than 100 trails in the popular tourist counties

“Day Hiking Trails of Bayfield County” covers trails in, on or near Bayfield, Washburn, Drummond, Cable, Iron River and the Bayfield Peninsula. Trails on Madeline Island and in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, for which Bayfield is the main port of departure, also are listed, as well as trails near the county border in Ashland, Sawyer and Douglas counties.

“Day Hiking Trails of Sawyer County” describes trails in or near Hayward, the Chequemegon National Forest, the Flambeau River State Forest, and trailheads along the Tuscobia State Trail. Also listed are trails near the county border in Bayfield, Ashland, Washburn, Price and Rusk counties.

“Bayfield and Sawyer counties are a hiker’s paradise,” Bignell said. “In Bayfield County, you can dig your toes into sandy beaches, enjoy fantastic vistas of the world’s largest freshwater lake, explore sea caves, or scramble across billion-year-old red rock. In Sawyer County, you can hike
trails that once were historic portage routes used by fur traders or take routes alongside a rapids-filled river now conquered by modern kayakers.”

The books provide a plethora of information about each featured trail, including:
>>Driving directions to the trail
>>Where to park and find the trailhead
>>Course the trail takes
>>Scenic points to look for on the trail
>>Wildlife and flora you might spot
>>Interesting tidbits about the area’s geology and history
>>Trailside amenities such as water fountains and bathrooms
>>Best times to hike the trail

Following each featured trail are brief descriptions of other nearby day hiking trails.

“These trails are perfect for families with children or anyone who wants to spend just a couple of hours outdoors enjoying and discovering nature,” Bignell said. The trails run from a third of a mile to 6 miles in length, with most only a mile to three miles long.

Within a week of being released, “Day Hiking Trails of Sawyer County” debuted at No. 6 on Amazon.com’s bestsellers list for Travel>Central United States ebooks, continuing the popular reception the “Hittin’ the Trails” guidebooks have received. Earlier this year, “Day Hiking the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway” reached No. 1 on Amazon.com’s bestsellers list for 
Travel>Midwest books. “Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Polk County, Wis.” spent 10 consecutive weeks on Amazon.com’s travel bestseller list last year while “Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Grand Canyon National Park” reached the top 10.

Other Wisconsin counties in the Hittin’ the Trail series include Barron, Burnett and Polk. The series also include titles for Wisconsin-Minnesota Instate State Parks and Crex Meadows Wildlife Area.

Both new hiking guidebooks, as well as Bignell’s other titles, are available for sale online and at Redbery Books in Cable, Wis.

A long-time hiker, editor and journalist, Bignell is uniquely qualified to discuss day hiking especially

for families. The author of eight other hiking guidebooks, including the popular “Hikes with Tykes” and “Headin to the Cabin” series, Bignell is an avid backpacker, long-time editor, and Wisconsin native who’s been day hiking with his son for more than six years. Together they’ve scaled summits almost two miles high, crossed America’s driest deserts, and walked beneath trees soaring 15 stories over their heads.

Before Kieran, Bignell served as an infantryman in the Army National Guard and taught middle school students in New Mexico and Wisconsin. His newspaper work has won several journalism awards, from editorial writing to sports reporting. In 2001, The Prescott Journal, which he served as managing editor of, was named Wisconsin’s Weekly Newspaper of the Year.

Bignell now lives with his son in western Wisconsin.

Book specs:
“Day Hiking Trails of Bayfield County”
>>Publish date: Nov. 23, 2014
>>Publisher: Atiswinic Press
>>ISBN: 978-0-9896723-9-9
>>Price: $9.95 (paperback), $0.99 (ebook)
>>Pages: 138 (paperback)
>>Cover: Paperback (paperback)
>>Trim Size: 5.5 x 8.5 (paperback)
>>Website: http://hikeswithtykes.com/hittinthetrail_home.html

“Day Hiking Trails of Sawyer County”
>>Publish date: Nov. 20, 2014
>>Publisher: Atiswinic Press
>>ISBN: 978-0989672382
>>Price: $9.95 (paperback), $0.99 (ebook)
>>Pages: 116 (paperback)
>>Cover: Paperback (paperback)
>>Trim Size: 5.5 x 8.5 (paperback)
>>Website: http://hikeswithtykes.com/hittinthetrail_home.html