The stunning wilderness of the Pacific Northwest has lured plenty of devotees since American nature-lovers discovered the mountains, lakes and valleys of the area in the 19th century.

Few have explored and written about the natural wonders of Washington as thoroughly as Craig Romano, a local writer and hiker.

Although he grew up in rural New Hampshire, for the past two decades he has called this state his home, and has hiked more than 10,000 miles of trails across it, from Cape Flattery in the northwest to Puffer Butte in the southeast, Cape Disappointment in the southwest to the Salmo-Priest Wilderness in the northeast.

Romano has translated his passion into an information resource, with the publication of numerous books and magazine articles on the best trails and treks in the Pacific Northwest, including “Day Hiking Central Cascades”, and “Best Hikes With Dogs Inland Northwest.”

With educational degrees in forestry, education and history, Romano is also an avid protector of the wilderness areas he loves so much, and continues to work with many environmental preservation groups.

Local hikers have the opportunity to benefit from his experiences with the publication recently of “Day Hiking in the North Cascades.”

“In Washington, beautiful, wild places are so easy to get to that they’re often overlooked,” Romano said.

His book will help people discover the stunning scenery of the North Cascades region, where hikers indulge in the drama of steep peaks, deep valleys, secluded islands and everything in between.

On Thursday, Jan. 29, Romano teamed up with the Foothills Branch of The Mountaineers to launch his book locally at a ‘Meet the Author’ event at the Issaquah Library.

The local branch of the Mountaineers often hosts events such as this one to educate and assist locals in discovering more about the wilderness that surrounds them.

On Sunday, Feb. 1 they will host a one day, intensive course, “Introduction to Cross-Country Skiing,” designed for new cross-country skiers who want to learn basic classic techniques.

For more information email Cindy Hoover at cyn@zipcon.com, Charlie Cornish at nordski@architerra-nw.com, or visit www.foothillsmountaineers.org