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Basic Illustrated Backpacking (Basic Essentials Series)
 
Manufacturer: Falcon
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Product Description
An information-packed tool for the novice or handy reference for the veteran. Distills years of knowledge into an affordable and portable book.
 
With this handy book you'll discover how to plan a trip with the right level of challenge, select the appropriate gear and provisions for your trip, get your hiking boots to fit you comfortably, find your way in the wilderness, and prepare a quick, easy and hearty meal.

Product Details
  • ISBN13: 9780762747573
  • Condition: New
  • Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

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Customer Reviews
Solid Advice, but a Slightly Misleading Title
 
Review Date: March 7, 2008
Reviewer: Fritz R. Ward, Crestline, CA United States
Despite the title, there are very few illustrations in this book. It does have some nice color photographs and lots of solid advice. Backpacking is first and foremost a recreational acitivity. It is what you do when you want to spend more time in the wilderness than a simple day outing will allow. For this reason, the authors emphasize comfort and enjoyment over preparing readers for an outdoor endurance test. This is not your book if you plan to hike the Appalachian trail. It is a decent outline of how to buy equipment and plan trips from 2 to 5 days.

It is almost impossible to get people to agree on the relative merits of backpaking gear. The debate over intenal v. external frame packs is simply mindboggling to beginners. Still, most of the advice Roberts and Schneider give is sound. Boots should be lightweight and comfortable. They may not last forever the way leather boots of old did, but enjoyment is the top priority. Boots, not packs, cook stoves, and tents, are your most important piece of equipment. Tents should be waterproofed along the seams and easy to set up. Practical trumps stylish in the outdoors. And while you should not skimp on equipment, neither is it necessary to pay top dollar for a tent that will withstand gale force winds on Denali if you are planing short summertime outings in your local state park. And finally packs, regardless of which style you ultimately favor, should fit well.

On the other hand, some of the advice in this book is a bit overwrought. There is the usual "cotton kills" refrain with a semi solemn discussion about the benefits of various synthetics. But for many short walks (this book covers dayhiking as well as backbacking) I have found cotton just fine. Indeed, cotton is fine while backpacking so long as you can layer clothing quickly when the weather changes. And while I learned orienteering as a sort of rite of passage during my early teen years, I have rarely found compasses all that necessary. Good trail sense, and knowing how to read a topographical map, however, are important skills that this book does not discuss. That said, most of my concerns with the book are over relatively small points, not fundamental disagreements.

Perhaps the most important advice the authors give is to simply get out and enjoy your local mountains and parks. It is certainly true that places like Yosemite, Rainier, and the Grand Tetons offer world class scenery, but most of us cannot get to these locales on a regular basis. Yet you probably have a number of great hiking and backpacking opportunities nearby and you should get out and explore them, rather than just dream about the next big vacation. When I first moved to Southern California twenty years ago to attend graduate school I was stunned by all the people and the huge cities that never seemed to end. Now I revel in the marvelous county parks, mountains, and desert preserves this part of the state has to offer. Indeed, I can hardly imagine living elsewhere. So follow this book's advice, and go enjoy all that nature has to offer.

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