Backpacking Books

“ok, this is a shameless plug for help. I want to create a list of good backpacking books that a beginner could reference. So what is your favorite beginning or general backpacking book?”

“I read Meuser's Long Distance Hiking: Lessons from the Appalachian Trail when I started out. I liked it a lot, and it gave me a different perspective on gear and expectations.

Barnes and Noble link”

“The Backpacker's Field Manual

Written by Rick Curtis

Published by Three Rivers Press New York, New York”

“Oh yeah, a Barnes and Noble link would be helpful, wouldn't it?”

“The Complete Walker by Colin Fletcher.
dawn”

“Hey skully! Howz about a Latta Outdoors link?”

“My favorites are the ones illustrated by Mike Clelland: "Allen and Mike's Really Cool Backpackin' Book" and "Allen and Mike's Really Cool Backcountry Ski Book."”

“What skully said!”

“"Kleety's Diary"”

“I second Long Distance Hiking: Lessons from the Appalachian Trail. It's a very informative book. I wish I could find that dam thing I've been looking for it!”

“Karen Berger and Chris Townsend have both written good general books on backpacking. Karen also wrote "Advanced Backpacking" which can be helpful when trying to figure out what is needed to plan a long distance hike.

The Mountaineers book, "The Freedom of the Hills" was a good one too. I learned the basics of using an ice axe from that one.”

“Ditto on skullcap's suggestion.

This might be a bit of a stretch, but I think Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods" is an excellent book for a beginner backpack to read. A lot of issues that backpackers have to deal with are talked about in the book (blisters, hiking with whiners, equipment, setting goals, ect.). It's all written in a very humorous way that makes it an entertaining read that any novice or anybody of any skill level would enjoy.

Call it a side-bar must read for the beginner backpacker. :-)”

“for Skully's suggestion. This really is the best all-around BP book out there IMHO, and I have a bunch of them.”

“I agree with Solitary Dawn and Artex. I would add, as a side bar, do Bears #&%!$ in the Woods.

Think it's important to have not just the best of "how to" books. Need some diaries and some fun stuff to take along when your stuck in your tent during a thunder storm.”

“As many local, state, regional trail guides (that include shorter hikes) as you can find for different areas. It's important for beginners to be able to find places that aren't too, too far from home, don't overwhelm them with distance and difficulty, yet offer a satisfying outdoor experience. A series of early, successful experiences at putting gear and techniques to the test will encourage them to try more -- and eventually longer -- trips. A good, clear trail guide can really take some of the anxiety out of heading into the woods, and the best ones teach about the areas covered.”

“Here's the Latta Outdoors link.

Sorry Matt!”

“Backpacking: Essential Skills to Advanced Techniques
Menasha Ridge Press”

“How to Have Sex in the Woods, by Luann Colombo”

“Followed by the ever popular

How to #&%!$ in the Woods: An Environmentally Sound Approach to a Lost Art,
by Kathleen Meyer”

“eek! I've been auto-censored!!”

“Any list of classic backpacking books has to include Ray Jardine's Beyond Backpacking.”

“The 2 oz. Backpacker - A Problem Solving Manual for Use in the Wilds
by Robert S. Wood (Wood is the author of Pleasure Packing a larger 15oz. not meant to be packed book and this is its "little brother") Ten Speed Press /publisher

A very common sense, funny to read little book that fits in a pocket, u could use the pages for tp, notes etc. , and they are organic so you could eat them if you REALLY find yourself in a predicament even after reading about how to stay out of one.
I refered to it many times used it as a log for my first Wind River trip, great info. This reminds me that i should get one before every trip just to use as a log and reference all in one.”

“In 2003 I loaned a couple of trail guide books to a former co worker. I quit and he was fired. So long books right?
I found them 4.5 years later in my mailbox with a thank you card for "the extended loan". It felt like an early birthday present.”

“Cool”

“That's an honest and good co-worker.”

“Allen and Mike's books are great, as is Bryson's. I'd recommend Mountaineering, Freedom of the Hills, and Sara's cookbooks, and Prosecutors cookbook. Pros, you need to publish that and have Sara sell it on her site.”

“Prosecutor: I need a copy of that cookbook.
Please??”