Jason Stevenson - Backpacking & Hiking: Set Out into the Wilderness and Hit the Trail with Confidence

BACKPACKING
& HIKING

By Jason Stevenson

Publisher Mike Sanders

Senior Acquisitions Editor Janette Lynn

Art Director/Book Designer William Thomas

Compositor Ayanna Lacey

Proofreader Monica Stone

Indexer Celia McCoy

Digital Production

Digital Programme Manager Miguel Cunha

Senior Manager Lakshmi Rao

Producer Suruchi Kakkar

Software Engineer Rachana Kishore

Production Manager Nain Singh Rawat

Production Coordinator Manish Bhatt

To my father, who first took me camping.
And to my children, for whom the adventure continues.

First American Edition, 2020

Published in the United States by DK Publishing

6081 E. 82nd Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46250

Copyright 2020 by Jason Stevenson

001-317266-MAY2020

All rights reserved.

Without limiting the rights under the copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

Published in the United States by Dorling Kindersley Limited

Trademarks: All terms mentioned in this book that are known to be or are suspected of being trademarks or service marks have been appropriately capitalized. Alpha Books, DK, and Penguin Random House LLC cannot attest to the accuracy of this information. Use of a term in this book should not be regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark or service mark.

A catalog record for this book

is available from the Library of Congress.

ISBN: 9781465492647

This digital edition published in 2020
ISBN: 9781615649143

Library of Congress Catalog Number: 2019950697

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Reprinted and updated from The Complete Idiots Guide to Backpacking & Hiking

A WORLD OF IDEAS:

SEE ALL THERE IS TO KNOW

www.dk.com

Pick any hiking trail in any part of the country on a summer weekend afternoon, and youll find people of every size, shape, age, and ability. You might spot a middle-age couple speeding along at three miles per hour, effortlessly carrying on a conversation as they clamber over logs and sprint up switchbacks. Behind them is a troop of kids, moving slowly as they search the forest floor for natures shiniest pebbles and smoothest sticks as several fleece-wearing parents and zigzagging dogs herd them forward. And finally there might be a former athlete trying to reclaim the vigor of his younger days as he huffs and puffs to reach the top of the next hill. When he gets there, he stops and enjoys the view as he catches his breath and prepares for the next climb.

Despite their different styles, speeds, and motivations, everyone on that trail is breathing fresh air, getting great exercise, and experiencing the simple beauty of the natural world. Each of them is part of a growing community, an outdoor nation that seeks a powerful, individual release far away from the digital racket of the paved world.

If youre picking up this book, you probably want to be with those hikers on the trail. Youre planning your own adventurous goals and looking to join the outdoor nation. And you easily can, because this club doesnt have any membership restrictions or requirements. (Although buying this book will help.) When youre on a trail, you can hike at your own paceby yourself or in a groupand over any distance you choose. You can camp in a tent, in a cabin, or snug inside an RV or trailer. You can drive to your local conservancy or fly across the country to visit one of Americas breathtaking national parks. You often hear the phrase, Its so easy that your grandmother could do it, to describe something simple to accomplish. Well, lots of grandmothers are avid hikers and active members of the outdoor nation. If they can do it, then so can you.

The key to getting off the couch is to discover what motivates you to get outside and then indulge it. Are you looking for a fresh and more exciting way to exercise? Do you want your kids to grow up with the same appreciation for nature and wide-open spaces you did? Do you love to hear the crunch of leaves and pine needles under your boots? Are you looking to get in better shape without joining another gym? The possibilities of what you can find outside are as endless as what you might be searching for. And when youre out there, surrounded by nature, youll discover that abstract distractions like office politics and undone chores evaporate as you focus on the nitty-gritty of your physical needs. How can I light this fire? Will this rock support my weight? Where is the easiest place to cross this stream?

The first step is always the hardest. Far more people imagine themselves hiking and camping than those who actually kick up dust along a trail. This book will get you over the initial planning and logistical bumps, but its going to take something moresomething that develops inside of youto make it to the top of a peak or the end of a trail.

If you really want to hike and camp more, the real question you need to ask yourself is this: When Saturday afternoon rolls around, where do you want to be?

I hope youll be on a trail. And if you meet me there, Ill be the one huffing and puffing.

The outdoor skills crammed into this book are divided into four parts, which are grouped by common themes. That way, if youve got a pressing need in one of these areas, youll know exactly where to flip to:

Part 1, The Great Outdoors at Your Feet, puts you on the right path with a progression of skills that starts with day-hiking, proceeds to overnight camping, and concludes with backpacking. Youll learn how to boost your fitness level, where to find local trails and hiking partners, and how to navigate and keep from becoming lost.

Part 2, Gearing Up, will be your how-to manual on buying and using essential camping and hiking equipment like footwear, rain jackets, and backpacks. Plus, I explain how to navigate a gear shop, where to find reliable product reviews, and how you can save money with smart shopping.

Part 3, Living on the Trail, covers all your basic needs for food, shelter, and water, including how to plan and cook meals, which tent to buy, and how filtering water makes it safe to drink. And because hiking and camping can be a messy business, Ill explain how you can stay as clean as possible.