Camping for Dummies [Paperback]

Michael Hodgson (Author)

Book Description

Series: For Dummies (Computer/Tech) | Publication Date: May 23, 2000

You love the great outdoors, but you’re not always sure the great outdoors loves you. You can pitch a tent, start a campfire, build furniture by lashing tree branches together – in theory anyway! But while you may not have gotten your Girl Scout Gold Award, or your Eagle Scout with cluster, you can still enjoy a night out under the stars with those near and dear to you, or even work towards becoming a more serious outdoorsman, right?

Sure as a bear lives in the woods, Camping for Dummies shows you how to get out there and enjoy the best Mother Nature has to offer. With the helpful advice this common sense guide provides, you’ll be prepared when it comes to:

• Destination
• Gear
• Shelter
• Clothing
• Food
• Weather
• Safety

Written by journalist Michael Hodgson, veteran of Utah’s Eco-Challenge and numerous other outdoor adventures, Camping for Dummies cuts out gear-head jargon and antiquated methods to give you, plain and simple, what you need to know to make the smart choices that lead to great adventures. You’ll find out:

• How to tie a bear bag
• The delicious caveman style for cooking fresh fish
• The limitations of GPS
• How to predict the weather by observing birds, frogs, and insects
• Ten survival essentials
• How to go canoe, kayak, or bicycle camping
• What features make a good backpack, boot, and other equipment
• When and how to bring along children

Whether the dictionary definition of “tenderfoot” has your picture next to it or you already consider wilderness your home away from home, you’ll appreciate this handy, concise reference. Full of illustrations, diagrams, and directions for finding additional camping resources, Camping for Dummies is your complete ticket to America’s great outdoors.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Discover how to:

Plan an adventure, from hiking to canoeing

Buy the right gear without overspending

Set up a campsite

Handle bad weather and emergencies

Find the best camping in North America!

From the Back Cover

Get tips on gear, outdoor activities, camp cooking, and more

Just what you need to plan an outstanding outdoor adventure If you think camping sounds fun but aren't sure about what's involved, then this friendly guide is for you. From selecting a backpack to pitching a tent to reading a map, it shows you the ropes and explains how to have fun, whether you're looking for an easy-going family vacation or a rugged backcountry trek.

Discover how to: Plan an adventure, from hiking to canoeing Buy the right gear without overspending Set up a campsite Handle bad weather and emergencies Find the best camping in North America

The Dummies Way^™ Explanations in plain English "Get in, get out" information Icons and other navigational aids Tear-out cheat sheet Top ten lists A dash of humor and fun

Get smart! www.dummies.com Register to win cool prizes Browse exclusive articles and excerpts Get a free Dummies Daily^™ e-mail newsletter Chat with authors and preview other books Talk to us, ask questions, get answers

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 357 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (May 23, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076455221X
• ISBN-13: 978-0764552212
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #291,521 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loads of insider tips and information, April 3, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Camping for Dummies (Paperback)

I am a relatively experienced camper and backpacker, though by no means an expert. I have browsed lots of similar titles in bookstores, but Camping for Dummies offered the most detail, tips and understandable advise of any. The writer's style is humorous and easy-to-read and his obviously experienced advise has proved invaluable on numerous weekend camping trips already. I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about camping, or simply anyone who wants to pick up some more tips and skills so you feel more like Indiana Jones when outdoors.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars For serious adventure camping only!, July 10, 2006

By 

Scott "Rutherford1" (Manassas, VA, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Camping for Dummies (Paperback)

This book is great for people who want to go pitch a tent up in the hills, but only has a few things to say to those who are headed to the local campground for a family weekend. If you need to know where not to pitch a tent to avoid flash floods, or how to consolidate everything you need into a small compact carry bag, then this is for you.

25 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Great Beginers Guide, June 24, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Camping for Dummies (Paperback)

I have been camping and hiking for about 15 years so this book provided me with a lot of information I already know. However, I could have really used it as a long time ago. It provides a lot of helpful information for anyone who is still camping as a small hobby or anyone who wants to give it a try. It also serves as a nice reference guide/reminder to those of us who consider camping one of the main elements of our lives. But the hardcore campers out there really don't need it. I only gave it a three star rating because I've read other Dummies books on subjects I have extensive knowledge of and still learned a lot.