The Backpacker's Handbook, 4th Edition

Front Cover
McGraw Hill Professional, Oct 14, 2011 - Sports & Recreation - 480 pages

What you need to know before you hit the trails

Whether you are backpacking for the first time or a veteran follower of the trails, this enormously practical guide includes everything you need to know, from essential techniques such as map and compass work to the skills needed for more remote wilderness journeys. The Backpacker's Handbook also gives you the latest information on gear. You'll find the last word on:

  • How to choose packs and footwear—and make sure they fit
  • What clothing to take on the trail
  • Tents, tarps, stoves, water purifiers, and other gear
  • GPS, cell phones, and other electronic devices
  • And much more

Reviews from previous editions
"The most up-to-date and comprehensive guide to equipment and technique available anywhere."
--Backpack (UK)
"A clear and comprehensive primer on backpacking gear. Townsend's knowledge is immense."
--Sierra
"Belongs in every bookcase dealing with outdoor topics. . . . Chockablock full of useful, practical, commonsense info. . . . If you tramp the outdoors, get this book."
—Maine Sportsman
"For those thinking of taking a backpack journey, The Backpacker's Handbook is required reading."
—Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)

From inside the book

 

Selected pages

Contents

Into the Wilderness
1
1 Preparing for the Trail
5
2 The Load on Your Back
20
3 Footwear and Wilderness Travel
39
The Pack
100
Dressing for the Wilderness
131
Camping in the Wilderness
183
7 The Wilderness Kitchen
257
8 Comfort and Safety in Camp and on the Trail
348
Skills and Hazards
386
A Final Word
428
Appendixes
429
Index
453
Copyright

Common terms and phrases

aluminum areas Arizona Trail backpacking base layers batteries bivy boil boots breathable burner camera camp carry cartridge clothing cold comfortable Continental Divide Trail cooking crampons designed durable Dyneema fabric feet fibers fleece fluid ounces fly sheet foam foot footwear fuel bottle garments gear gloves GoLite Gore-Tex ground headlamp heat heavy heel hikers hiking hipbelt hood I’ve ice ax inches inner inside insulation jacket keep light lighter lightest lightweight load moisture Mountain nylon ounces outdoor Pacific Crest Trail Pacific Northwest Trail pack pans pants plastic pockets pounds rain seams shell shelter shoes silnylon sleeping bag sleeping bags sleeping pads snow socks stove stuff sack synthetic temperatures tent terrain there’s titanium Trangia trekking poles trips ultralight usually walk warm waterproof waterproof-breathable wear weather weight white gas wilderness wind windproof windscreen wool zippers

About the author (2011)

Chris Townsend (Granton-on-Spey, Scotland), an internationally recognized rough-terrain hiker, is the author of several books, including Wilderness Skiing and Winter Camping and Backpacker’s Handbook, Second Edition.

Bibliographic information

TitleThe Backpacker's Handbook, 4th Edition
AuthorChris Townsend
Edition4
PublisherMcGraw Hill Professional, 2011
ISBN007175959X, 9780071759595
Length480 pages
Subjects › 

Sports & Recreation / Hiking
Sports & Recreation / Walking
  
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