I recently had the pleasure of talking to Gerry Green, author of ***. He is a Canadian, from Ottawa, who visited lakeside repeatedly and then in 1998, with his wife, made it his home. His passion is hiking mountain trails, and he is a careful documenter. As he walked our mountains he took notes so that he could get back home. Over time they accumulated and were improved upon by GPS data. *** was originally published as a public service, his friends having said he ought to do it; Gerry just hoped that he could get his money out. The original 400 copies sold out so quickly, he had a second edition printed. They are selling even faster. It is satisfying to see good deeds by good people rewarded.
The book takes you through the general safety rules, and needed equipment, for going through the mountains, and then it is divided into three levels by difficulty. There are some flatland walks for people who want to see some of old Ajijic with the businesses that now occupy the original houses. The second section has hikes that go up to moderately challenging elevations above the lake, then the hikes that divide the men from the boys, up to the crests. All have distances, and frequent landmark descriptions. A small book, you can take it in your backpack and not notice its weight.
Gerry leads hikes up the mountain for those who want to explore our wild country. You can find him and an assorted group of hikers about 9:00 Tuesday mornings at Donas Donas. He chooses a trail that can give everyone there a good workout, and the novices can turn back as they desire. For more information, go to his blog at gerrygreen.blogspot.com.
Diane Pearl's Collections at Constitucion and Colon, and Libros and Revistas in Bougainvillas Plaza carry the book.
