Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: National Geographic Books Entry Title: 100 Bike Rides of a Lifetime: The World's Ultimate Cycling Experiences Entry Credit: Roff Smith Judge Comment: Bicycling tends to be eco-friendly, so a travel book encouraging bicycling with such worldwide scope and grace deserves accolades. The “Americas” section advocates rides not only throughout the U.S. but also within Argentina, Bolivia, Cuba, Chile, Mexico and Peru. The rides suggested throughout European nations plus places in Africa, Asia and Oceania cover obvious and less-obvious locales. The color photography spread generously throughout the pages is appealing as well as useful.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Randy Johnson Entry Title: Grandfather Mountain: The History and Guide to an Applachian Icon Entry Credit: Randy Johnson Judge Comment: This is a deeply researched scholarly book with clear, sometimes lyrical writing. Author Randy Johnson has been involved in the development and promotion of Grandfather Mountain trails since 1978. He presents his unsurpassed knowledge wisely and lovingly. This is a narrowly focused history as much as it is a “travel book.” The photographs, accompanied by detailed explanatory captions, guide readers unfamiliar with the vast expanse of this sprawling mountain acreage.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: National Geographic Books Entry Title: Great Outdoors U.S.A.: 1,000 Adventures Across All 50 States Entry Credit: National Geographic Judge Comment: This book is more broad than deep, as the suggested “adventures” receive brief write-ups. The mix of rugged adventures with those not-so-rugged is welcome. So is the mix of adventures on land and those on water. The book’s index is especially utilitarian, as it divides the adventures by type, such as rafting, bicycling, hiking, zip lining and fossil hunting.
Place Name: Honorable Mention Contestant Name: Leon McCarron Entry Title: Wounded Tigris: A River Journey through the Cradle of Civilization Entry Credit: Leon McCarron Judge Comment: This exploration of an iconic but threatened river cannot qualify as upbeat. Yet much of the book’s worth derives from sounding an important alarm. After all, the Tigris is necessary to support quality of life in modern Iraq, as it was necessary in ancient Mesopotamia. Leon McCarron and his crew of seven other individuals deserve gratitude for overcoming dangers to complete the book.
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