Trail Tested: A Thru-Hiker's Guide to Ultralight Hiking and Backpacking

by Justin Lichter

Overview

Justin Lichter, a.k.a. Trauma, divulges hundreds of valuable tips and advice based on his more than 35,000 miles of hiking across the country and beyond. Trail Tested is a comprehensive guide to hiking and backpacking. Whether you're a new hiker looking for expert advice, an experienced hiker looking to hone your skills, or a thru-hiker gearing up for a 6-month trip, this book is packed with priceless information to make your trip a successful and comfortable one. Vibrant images from Trauma's treks will entice all readers of all skill levels to get out and enjoy the backcountry. You'll learn why getting the right gear and learning outdoor skills are integral to making the most out of your next backpacking trip. Some topics included in this guide are: * Gear advice, including backpacks, sleeping bags, tents, ultralight shetlers, and clothing * Gear maintenance and repair * Ultralight tips for novices to gram-counters * Low-impact camping and hiking * Campsite selection * Hiking with dogs * Navigating the backcountry * Winter camping * First aid * Weather forecasting * Advanced techniques for creating routes, cross-country hiking, fording rivers, multi-sport adventures, and animal encounters

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781493052097
Publisher:	Falcon Guides
Publication date:	12/07/2020
Edition description:	2nd Edition
Pages:	280
Sales rank:	488,093
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Justin Lichter has hiked more than 35,000 miles since 2002, including thru-hikes on the Appalachian Trail, International AT, Eastern Continental Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Pacific Northwest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Great Divide Trail, as well as treks in the Southern Alps, New Zealand, Africa, Iceland, and the Himalaya Range. He is a “Triple Crowner,” having hiked the ECT, PCT, and CDT (more than 10,000 miles) in one year. Check him out at justinlichter.com.

Table of Contents

Introduction vii

Getting Started

Early Days 1

Preparation 3

Choosing Gear 7

Fabrics and Materials 11

Backpacks 15

Sleeping Bags 27

Sleeping Pads 37

Tents and Shelters 41

Trekking Poles 55

Hiking Footwear 63

Hiking Socks 71

Backpacking Stoves 75

Cookware 83

Water Treatment 87

Hiking Clothes 95

Rain Gear 101

GPS Units 107

Lights and Headlamps 111

Trail Food 115

Getting Ready for the Trail

Getting in Shape 119

Minimizing Impact 123

First Aid 125

Campsite Selection 135

Navigation 139

Hiking with Your Dog 147

Hiking Abroad 159

Thru-Hiking Tricks 167

Weather Forecasting 169

Winter Camping 171

Animal Tracks 177

Knots 178

Getting There and Back 181

Gear Lists for Different Seasons 183

Keeping in Touch 193

Photography 197

Stepping It Up

Making Your Own Gear 205

Fording Rivers 207

Hiking in Snow 211

Hiking Cross-Country 215

Scrambling 217

Making Hiking Routes 219

Adding Technical Adventures on Long-Distance Hikes 221

Technical Gear 223

Multisport Adventures 227

Finding Water on a Map or in a Desert 239

Sponsorships 242

Appendix

Some Random Crucial Hiking and Lifestyle Tips 245

Major Trails in the US 247

Acknowledgments 254

Glossary 255

Index 263

Q & A 267

About Trauma 269

Editorial Reviews

Trail Tested is a visually stunning foray into the realities of long-distance hiking. Justin Lichter’s 35,000 miles of hiking experience and trail-tested wisdom come through in every page. Trail Tested is great for both day hikers and hikers that will be out for many days!” —Lawton “Disco” Grinter, Triple Crowner; director and editor of The Walkumentary; author of I Hike

“This book is probably the most important outdoor field guide since the first release of The Complete Walker, by Colin Fletcher, in 1968. These pages will save you time, money, and many exhausting nights of confusion from surfing mindless Internet threads. .. job well done.” —Winton Porter, Georgia Author of the Year 2010 for Just Passin’ Thru; owner of Mountain Crossings at Neels Gap on the Appalachian Trail

“In Trail Tested, Justin has distilled thru-hiking to its very core. Justin shares his knowledge backed by nearly 40,000 miles on the trail in a concise and thoroughly enjoyable format.  For every thru and section hiker, whether it’s your first hike or you’ve had your trail name for years, this book is a must-read.” —Rob Coughlin, General Manager, Granite Gear

“The best modern backpacker's guide, bar none.” —Examiner.com, “Christmas Shopping for the Backpacker on Your List”

“One of the most comprehensive looks into the world of hiking ever created by one of the sport’s most accomplished athletes. Trail Tested is an excellent guide for any hiking enthusiast from beginner to expert. Learn in one exciting read what it took Trauma thousands and thousands of hard-earned miles to learn.” —Eric Larsen, Polar Explorer, Educator, and Lecturer, Outside magazine’s Eco All Star (2008)

“A must-add gear guide for your backpacking book collection.” —SectionHiker.com

“Not your typical how-to book… [Trail Tested will] give you all of the tips and advice you need to get out there and experience what the great sport of hiking and backpacking has to offer.” —Trailspace.com, 4.5-star review

“There is no one I would trust more than Trauma to give valuable and experienced advice on hiking. In my opinion, Trauma offers the right compromise between comfort and necessity when it comes to ultralight hiking. His methods and experience will allow you to go as light and far as possible without exposing yourself to undo risk in the backcountry in the US and abroad.”  —Jeff Knight, Granite Gear CEO, Co-founder, and Designer

“Equally at home on a coffee table or as an educational tutorial, Trail Tested is a must-read for anyone passionate about outdoor pursuits and exploration. Through a stunning array of striking photography, personal anecdotes, and definitive know-how, Trauma's comprehensive manual sets a new standard and reaches audiences from the novice camper to the intrepid trekker, impelling them to seek wild places on their own.”  —Shawn “Pepper” Forry, Triple Crowner, Outward Bound Lead Instructor

“Trail Tested is a visually stunning foray into the realities of long-distance hiking. Justin Lichter's 35,000 miles of hiking experience and trail-tested wisdom come through in every page. Trail Tested is great for both day hikers and hikers that will be out for many days!” —Lawton “Disco” Grinter, Triple Crowner, directed and edited The Walkumentary, author of I Hike

“Is there another man who has torn up, slashed, split, and/or ripped up more gear in so many varied environments in his lifetime? I don't believe so.... This book is probably the most important outdoor field guide that has come off the presses ince the first release of The Complete Walker, by Colin Fletcher, in 1968. The information contained within these pages will save you time, money, and many exhausting nights of confusion from surfing mindless Internet threads. Trauma... I tip my old and faded Tilly hat to you for a job well done.” —Winton Porter, Georgia Author of the Year 2010 for Just Passin' Thru, owner of Mountain Crossings at Neels Gap on the Appalachian Trail

“One of the best books I have ever used to help people get into the sport of ultra-light backpacking.  Trauma has used his vast on-trail experience to put together a book that is fun and easy to read.  The pictures are great, and the knowledge found between the covers will help not only beginners but experienced hikers, too.  Thanks to one of America's most preeminent hikers for taking the time to share his hard-earned knowledge with the rest of us.” —Whitney “Allgood” La Ruffa, VP of Six Moon Designs and President Emeritus ALDHA-West

From the Publisher