Hiking Bainbridge: Backpacker Magazine's May cover story

Last summer I hiked the 53-mile coastline of Bainbridge Island, my new home, and mapped it with an iPhone for the editors at Backpacker Magazine. It turned into a hell of a production. We ended up with 2,500-word cover story, a hand-drawn map, a book, and a fantastic Google Earth map of the island. If you want to see the Google Earth project, complete with photos, text, trails, and video, you can download the whole kmz file here: Download BAINBRIDGE BACKPACKER MAG MAP. (Hint: You've got to have Google Earth already downloaded onto your computer to make it work. Do it. It's easy, and you can see your house from space. Also: When the map opens, it may inexplicably take you to Africa. Why? I have no idea. Google Earth ain't bug-free. What to do: In the "Places" box on the left hand side of your screen, click the empty box next to BAINBRIDGE BACKPACKER MAP. That will open the Bainbridge files. Now scroll your Google Earth globe over to North America, and you'll see my icons there in the upper left-hand corner of the country. Keep clicking on them, and you'll get there.)

You can access the full Backpacker story, with map downloads, here.

Comments

[Jon Quitslund]

I heard about the feature in Backpacker Magazine from a friend in Kansas who has visited Bainbridge, and got a tip from a friend, Lisa Macchio, who is involved in planning a program to publicize and promote biking and walking trails on Bainbridge. The map is stunning. It opens the Island up like a huge oyster.

[slot machine]

It's always exciting and interesting to read about your personal achievements. You are an awesome hiker

[Julie]

This is fantastic, but where did you camp? Is there a place other than Fay Bainbridge to pitch a tent?

[Bruce]

Julie - Sadly, Fay Bainbridge Park is the only place to legally camp on the island. The good news is that if you bring your bike along, you can use Fay Bainbridge as a base camp, hike a section of the island (you can't do the whole thing in one shot because of tides), then return to the park.

[Trek Everest]

Backpacking magazine is really awesome! I love going through it mostly because I get to read a more person experience form the backpackers. I like reading their stories and the things that they have seen while backpacking.