The Short Hiker is a must have book for hiking enthusiasts in Central PA (State College and vicinity). In this book Jean Aron details fourty "short hikes" in Central PA.

The book starts with an introductory chapter on hiking essentials, how to prepare for a short hike and other such details. The hikes are classified by their distance from State College, PA; which is in "Centre county" in central PA. Each hike is a "small green circle", that is, it forms a loop of trails and country roads bringing the hikers back to the place where they started. Hike descriptions are very accurate and are assisted by detailed but fairly easy-to-understand maps. What I find most wonderful about the book is that Jean not only describes the "how to do" about each hike but she also covers the "what to do" in great detail. Each hike description includes facts about the topography, geology and flora one might encounter on a particular hike.

I have personally hiked a number of "green circles" described in this book. Each of them has brought me immense joy. The book also features three of Jean's nature poems. The one on the back cover of the book - "Green Cirles" is one of my favorite poems.

You can find the poem here on Jean Aron's website. ( )