Customer Reviews

Allen & Mike's Really Cool Backcountry Ski Book, Revised and Even Better!: Traveling & Camping Skills for a Winter Environment (Allen & Mike's Series)

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3 star:		(1)
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I bought this book because I wanted to get into BC skiing and have a lot of questions about the diffs of tele vs AT, use of skins etc...
The book really doesnt offer much info on skiing. It does however have a lot of info on camping in winter conditions in an easy to read format with lots of pictures.
So if you need info regarding camping in the snow this would probably be a good book for you, if your like me and looking for more info on types of systems when you would want one over the other etc.. you should probably pass on this book.

BackCountry Ski Book is a little bit misleading of a title, it really is more of a guide to the backcountry written for skiiers. This book is filled with nuggets of wisdom on how to survive and have a great time in the backcountry, when you are skiing.
Much of the book assumes some familiarity with skiing and the outdoors. An absolute beginner can still glean new ideas from context. If this is your first introduction to avalanche safety, and you are planning a trip where this will be important to know stuff, you can get a good intro from this book. The writers also give a list of recommended resources for anyone who needs or want more information.
Clellands cartoon illustrations scattered throughout the book are helpful in understanding the text. The Gonnick style humor keeps the illustrations funny and educational. After O'Bannion states why doing something in a particular manner may not be wise, and gives a better way to manage, one of Clellands illustrations will give you a picture to prove O'Bannion's point.
Some of the tips and suggestions in this book occasionally contradict one another - both Clelland and O'Bannion put in their own favorite tips, even when they disagreed. This allows the reader to select the best idea for themselves. The writers were clear to include under what conditions each idea works best.
This book does not give a lot of instruction on exactly how to ski in the backcountry. You won't find a lengthy discussion of body mechanics on all-mountain vs alpine vs classic skis on virgin powder or slopes. There is some brief discussion on how to get uphill on skis, and similar skills necessary when you aren't at a ski resort.
This book does not have an index, making it a little more challenging to go back and use the book as a reference. Since it is a paperback, you can always mark it up.
The tips on winter camping are really good. There is guidance on which type of camping stoves to get, how to keep your water bottle from freezing, how to pack a sled and many other useful tidbits in this book.
I purchased this book with my own funds. If you are ready to leave resorts behind and head off into the backcountry, get a copy of this book to guide you.

The clever humor aside, this book has everything I needed to know before entering the back country. I highly recommend it.

There are many tips in this book that may be of value for winter camping even if you do not ski to get there. The information is presented in an easy to retain manner with humor and cartoons. I may even try to ski one day.

Easy to follow and read. Entertaining and has a lot of great tips and info in it. I took a survival coarse a few years ago in Sitka Alaska, and this book was the primary reading. It's a great read.

I wish I had this book before my first winter camping experience in Alaska. It would have made for a much more enjoyable & successful trip. In this book you will find tips on clothing & gear selection, packing appropriately, winter camping safety & planning (including building multiple styles of snow shelters), intermediate skiing techniques, backcountry ethics, and basic avalanche safety. All of these are accompanied by entertaining and informational pictures which for me are very helpful at giving the complete picture. Don't expect this book to teach you to become an expert skier, but it will help you get enough of a solid base to get started without getting yourself into a dangerous situation. I would even recommend this for the relatively seasoned winter camper, as there are several tips which you may not have picked up even if you do get out in the cold frequently. I just finished reading this book a second time and picked up a few more tips that I hope to use this winter.

I would also highly recommend An Illustrated Guide to Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue if you plan to do any glacier travel.

I read this because I wanted to learn how to survive and thrive should I ever find myself overnight in the snow. As always, the authors deliver sound advice gleened from their experience, and make you laugh all the way through with the funny illustrations. I appreciate the absence of machismo and political soap-boxing sometimes found in wilderness books, while reminding the reader to respect nature and be responisble.

What's neat about this book is the detailed instructions on how to do things. I don't ski the backcountry, but I spend a lot of time in the mountains and this books has great advice for anybody.

My husband bought me these books to get me interested in backpacking, and it worked. 'Nuff said.