Laurie Dee Acree, is an experienced hiker and writer. She is the author of another hiking book, Walking the Edge, and writes for local magazines. When not hiking or writing, she keeps busy with the fine art of wildlife and pet portrait paintings, and teaching aqua aerobics. Residing in Show Low for more than 16 years, she can say that she has gotten to personally know many of the trails in this book as well as expressing through words and drawings how big an attraction the great outdoors can be.