Cedron Jones has spent much of his adult life traveling to all corners of Montana to climb the state’s highest mountain peaks.

A “peak bagger,” Jones has scaled each of Montana’s 10 highest mountains and all but one of the state’s many 10,000-foot peaks.

But in the past couple years, Jones has started looking closer to home for his adventures. Part of it is because of concern about climate change and how his travels have added to his carbon footprint. Part of it is a desire to do his part to conserve the world’s shrinking store of fossil fuels. Part of it is just less patience for long car trips as he’s gotten older.

Whatever the reason, sticking closer to home has hardly been a sacrifice.

Jones recently released the book “Helena Area Hiking Guide” to highlight some of the best hiking spots the Helena area has to offer.

“We have some incredible ground right around town.”

The book consists entirely of hikes on public land within 20 miles of town.

It covers everything from urban trails, to federal and state lands in the Helena Valley and Canyon Ferry area, to Forest Service land near York, above Unionville and in the Rimini Road area.

One area it doesn’t cover is the South Hills, land already covered by the Prickly Pear Land Trust trail maps.

Picking a favorite from among the 21 areas highlighted in the book is not easy for Jones. He said it would probably be easier for him to pick out the few that aren’t outstanding.

“Depending on the time of the year and the season, my favorite switches,” he said. “I just hiked the Sawmill-Centennial (south of York), and, oh, it was gorgeous.”

The book is a fundraiser for the Helena Outdoor Club and the Wild Divide Chapter of the Montana Wilderness Association. Once expenses for printing — paid for by Jones and the two organizations — are covered, all proceeds will go to the clubs.

Jones notes that the book isn’t a trail guide. There are only a few built and/or maintained trails in the guide. The routes sometimes start on old roads. They sometimes cover old trails that aren’t well maintained. Sometimes, out-and-out bushwacking is necessary.

The book, he said, is designed for people who aren’t necessarily comfortable with that type of hike. He hopes it will make them more comfortable.

Hikes are rated based on effort needed, elevation gain, footing and ease of navigation.

Also included is a list of terms, including route markers, route characteristics and landscape features.

Jones said the book may eventually have a companion Web site containing updates.

For instance, there are already two notable changes since the book was written.

Recently, Jones hiked up Red Mountain. When he hiked it in June there was lots of deadfall blocking the trail.

“Since that time, someone had come in with a chainsaw and just cleaned it up,” he said.

And access to the Sheep Mountain area has improved, as a new subdivision turned a narrow, rutted road into a wide, smooth one.

Those types of updates can go both ways, Jones said.

For instance, the pine beetle epidemic that has turned so many of the trees in our forests reddish-brown will surely pose some new challenges for hikers.

“There’s gonna be deadfall like crazy,” he said.

The books are available at a variety of book and outdoors stores: Montana Book Co., Aunt Bonnie’s Books, The Base Camp, Outdoor Kidfitter, Montana Outdoor Sports, Capital Sports and Birds & Beasley’s. It is also available at the Montana Historical Society museum store, the Real Food Market and Deli and the Made in Montana store.

The initial print was for 200 copies, and so far they’re selling well. The book came out Aug. 29, and Jones only has about 30 left. He thinks that soon he will order a printing of another 100.

Book events

Jones will sign copies of Helena Area Hiking Guide Saturday, noon to 2 p.m., at Montana Book Co.

He will also have a slideshow presentation on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Lewis and Clark Library, with pictures he has taken from the hikes featured in the book.

Features editor Joe Menden: joe.menden@helenair.com or 447-4087