Chris Townsend - The backpackers handbook

fourth edition

CHRIS TOWNSEND

To Denise Thorn for her patience, love, and companionship.

Copyright 2012 by Chris Townsend. All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

ISBN: 978-0-07-175959-5
MHID: 0-07-175959-X

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All drawings by Elara Tanguy unless otherwise noted. All photographs by the author

Credit

Pitches and Pitching:
Minimum-Impact Camping

Appendixes

Since the last edition of this book, seven years have gone by. During that time, Ive spent time in the deep cold of winter in the Rockies, hiked the Pacific Northwest Trail, and further expanded my backpacking and wilderness experience on many other trips. Ive learned new techniques, gained some new ideas, revived some old ones, and generally tried to enhance my skills and knowledge so my trips are more enjoyable and comfortable. In terms of equipment, there have been many changes, especially in the electronics field with mapping GPS, signalling devices, smartphones, e-book readers, digital cameras, and other devices becoming popular for backpacking. The lightweight-backpacking movement has spread into the mainstream to some extent, and lighter loads are now more possible than ever. New materials like Cuben Fiber have appeared, while titanium, merino wool, and silnylon have become more standard. Heat-exchanger and wood-burning stovesold and new technologyhave increased in number and popularity. All this and more is covered in this updated edition. And as always, the opinions and thoughts are mine. This is a subjective book based on what has worked for me in many thousands of miles of backpacking.

Backpacking as an activity hasnt changed, of course. Going out into the wilderness to experience nature, whether on a quiet walk in the summer woods, an exciting scramble high in the mountains, a long-distance trail hike, or a journey in the snow and cold of winter, doesnt change because of new fabrics or means of communication. As I wrote in the preface to the third edition, my memories of trips arent about gear or the weight of my load but about the experience of being out there. The summer before writing this edition, I hiked the Pacific Northwest Trail. Thinking about that long hike, I recall the jagged peaks of the Rockies; the steep, lonely forests of the Selkirk and Purcell Mountains; waking to look over calm lakes shining in the dawn; walking through majestic old-growth forests that felt timeless and eternal; watching the sun set over glacier-clad mountains; bald eagles swooping past out of the mist; a mother bear leading two cubs into a meadow to feed; and the joy in being in the natural world for week after week. Thats what backpacking is about.

Far too many people have added to my store of knowledge and assisted on my walks to thank them all individually here, but some I must single out. As each edition of this book appears, the numbers grow. Although I travel solo more often than not, Ive shared trails and campsites with many companions over the years, and I have many valued memories of these times. Ive also spent many hours discussing backpacking with individuals and at hikers gatherings. Many readers have written to me by e-mail and lettera great encouragementand Ive had many discussions with other outdoor writers.

I cant mention everybody Ive hiked with, talked to, or corresponded with, but I would like to thank Chris and Janet Ainsworth; Brad Allen; Judy Armstrong; Colin Baxter; Kieran Baxter; Karen Berger; Li Brannfors; Brad, Karen, and Mark Buckhout; Georgina Collins; Carey Davies; Alan Dixon; Mark Edgington; Ron Ellis; Lou Ann Fellows; Wayne Fuiten; Mick Furey; Franjo Goluza; Kris Gravette; Leanne Gravette; Rick Hagar; Brice Hammack; Sam Haraldson; Andrew Helliwell; Ed Huesers, Dave Hewitt; Pete Hickey; Andy Hicks; the late John Hinde; Tony Hobbs; Andy Howell; Graham Huntington; Colin Ibbotson; Andy Ince; Ray and Jenny Jardine; Jrgen Johansson; Ryan Jordan; Alain Kahan; Dave Key; David Knight; Larry Lake; Alex Lawrence; Rowena Lawrence-Thorn; Paul Leech; Peter and Pat Lennon; David Lynch; Duncan MacDonald; John Manning; Michael Martin; Cameron McNeish; the late Al Micklethwaite; Colin Mortlock; Eugene Miya; Tony Morfe; Joris Naiman; Steve Nelson; Tom Phillips; Dave Rehbehn; Will Rietveld; Emily Rodway; Jake Schas; Gary D. Schwartz; Todd Seniff; Pat Silver; Jane and Andy Smith; Clyde Soles; Alastair Soutar; Wallace Spaulding; Scott Steiner; Douglas K. Stream; Ron Strickland; Lesya Struz; Graham Thompson; Denise Thorn; Hazel Thorn; Dave Toms; the late Fran Townsend; John Traynor; Ronald Turnbull; Steve Twaites; Roy Wagner; Stan Walker; Bill Watson; Scott Williamson; Simon Willis; and Shirley Worrall.