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50 Classic Backcountry Ski and Snowboard Summits in California offers some of the finest ski and snowboard routes in California, ranging over a 550-mile span from the Cascade Range in the north, to Mount Whitney, to the Sierra Nevada in the south. Grouped into nine geographical regions, these summits represent the best of the best from well-known destinations to more remote areas to a sampling of the highest peaks. Historical anecdotes about each region round out the guidebook.

Tours range from a half day to seven days, and while all can be completed on either snowboard or skis, the author makes specific recommendations for the best snowboard descents. Each trip description includes a complete narrative of the ascent and descent plus information on trip highlights, trip duration, level of difficulty, mileage, elevation gain, and access. The appendix includes a list of California's highest peaks.

PAUL RICHINS was raised in Weatherville, CA, and started hiking in the Trinity Alps at age 12. He has more than 35 years of wilderness experience backpacking, mountain climbing, ski mountaineering, and whitewater kayaking. A longtime member of the American Alpine Club and the Sierra Club, Richins maintains the Backcountry Resource Center, a website of valuable information for the backcountry skier, climber, or hiker wishing to explore the mountains of California, the United States, and Canada. For The Mountaineers Books, he has written 50 Classic Backcountry Ski and Snowboard Summits in California: Mount Shasta to Mount Whitney and Mount Whitney: The Complete Trailhead-to-Summit Hiking Guide.