Table of Contents
Preface vii
Introduction ix
Chapter 1 Equipment 1
Tents 1
Sleeping Bags and Pads 5
Backpacks 8
Stoves and Cook Gear 11
Water Treatment Systems 13
Accessories 16
Chapter 2 Clothing 21
Hiking Shoes and Boots 21
Hot Weather Clothing System 23
Cool Weather Clothing System 25
Storm Clothing System 30
Chapter 3 Trip Planning 35
Before You Go: Planning Ahead 37
Equipment Planning 40
Planning a Route 44
Contingency Plans: Planning for the Worst 48
Meal Planning 50
Planning and Packing Your Backpack 52
Chapter 4 On the Trail 55
Hiking Technique 55
Hiking Etiquette 56
Hiking in the Rain 58
Battling Bugs 58
Stream Crossings 59
Hiking in High, Cold Mountains 60
Hiking in Hot Deserts 62
Hiking in Bear Country 63
Chapter 5 Navigation 81
Specific Navigation Tools 83
Topographic Maps 83
Compasses 93
Altimeters 97
Dividing the World: Latitude and Longitude 98
Global Positioning System (GPS) 101
Natural Navigation Methods (No Map, Compass, or GPS) 104
Chapter 6 In Camp 109
Leave No Trace 109
Choosing a Campsite 109
Water Purification 111
Fires 114
Breaking Camp 119
Camping in Bear Country 122
Chapter 7 Camp Cooking 137
Choosing the Best Kitchen Site 138
Sanitation and Dish Washing 140
The Light and Fast Cook 142
Advanced Cooking 154
The Backcountry Gourmet 165
Lunch 169
Tasty and Easy Backcountry Recipes 174
Chapter 8 Hazards and Weather 207
Subjective Hazards 208
Weather 216
Stream Crossings and Flash Floods 247
Steep and Challenging Terrain 253
Beyond Bears: Other Wild Animals 259
Bugs and Microscopic Organisms 263
Plants 266
Humans 268
Chapter 9 Backcountry First Aid 273
Patient Assessment 274
Shock 278
Fractures, Sprains, and Tendonitis 280
Wound Management 287
Burns and Blisters 292
Hypothermia and Heatstroke 294
Illness and Altitude Sickness 300
Your First-Aid Kit 303
Chapter 10 Outdoor Survival 309
You're Lost. Now What? 311
How to Look for a Lost Person 321
Water 323
Emergency Fires 324
Emergency Shelters 327
Index 335
