Customer Reviews

Camping and Woodcraft: A Handbook for Vacation Campers and for Travelers in the Wilderness (2 Volumes in 1)

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4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have the facsimile edition published by the Univ. of Tennessee Press. It is a combination of two books by Kephart from 1916. The first volume, titled "Camping", is a guide to what we would call today "family camping" or camping from a fixed base. The second book in the volume, titled "Woodcraft", discusses backpacking for wanderers and other topics for people seeking to live off the land.

Kephart was actually a very experienced outdoorsman, not just some "effete diletante masquerading as a true woodsman." All his suggestions were based on his extensive personal experience in camping and hiking.

Kephart was, in his day, the combined Colin Fletcher and Cliff Jacobsen guru of the outdoors. His book is comprehensive, full of ideas about living outdoors, many of which I've adopted. His comments on gear are, of course, dated, though I've found even there some interesting ideas. Again, this is a kind of book I read for pleasure, I use as a reference book, and I read at least once a year, every time walking away with some new ideas to try. This year, for example, I'm trying pinole', ground-up parched corn, as a concentrated, light-weight food source on the trail (and it's actually pretty good).

An excellent value for your money. You won't regret buying this book.

This is one of the finest outdoor books ever written--as evidenced by the fact that it is still in print 70 years after it was penned. The reason? Kephart actually lived in the woods and personally refined the techniques he discusses. Yes, the technology has advanced. But trees and animals haven't changed, nor has the best way to snare an animal nor the best way to construct a log cabin. Given a choice of one book to take into the woods, this should be it.

If you prefer a wall-tent, buckskins and an axe to goretex and gas stoves, this book is for you. Old time wood-skills by an experienced man, and a good writer. Some of the equipment detail is outdated (this book was originally written 70 years ago), but there is so much good stuff on everything from dressing and cooking game, to using an axe, to building camp furniture, compass work, marksmanship, and a whole lot more.

My copy is a 14th reprint dated October 1949, bought when I became a King's Scout (British equivalent of Eagle Scout).

This book is a classic because it is exhaustive and beautifully written. Kephart left no stone unturned in dealing with his subject matter. Certainly technology has changed much since the book was first published in 1917, but Kephart's observations in the wilderness and his philosophy are still valid and delighting to read.

For anyone who loves venturing into the shrinking wilderness, or simply dreaming about it, this is an essential book.

I have had a copy of this book since I was in Highschool. It is full of ideas and the how to do of life in the woods. I have never grown tired of reading it and find myself constantly returning to it. It is woodslore at its best and a link to the past.

This is a must for any library of outdoor books. It may lack a lot of modern day political correctness but, it was how it was done back then. A great look into outdoor history, this was THE handbook for outdoor wilderness skills and recreation. Any student of wilderness skills MUST have a copy.

Not just one of the classics, one of the best of the classics. If you're serious about the outdoors, this should be on your bookshelf.

As a practical guide this is a very good book, but it serves just as well as a history book. Most people panic when the electricity goes down for a few hours. This book goes back to a time not that long ago when most people were handy and knew how to survive with basic shelter and food.
It's sad in a way that America was once a nation of independent and self-reliant people. Work that is considered gruelling or even punishment was once just part of everyday life. This book goes back to that time on some level. Most of us aren't going to trek through the woods for months at a time but I think it's important to have some basic woodcraft and survival skills no matter who you are and what you do. A good book to have and enjoyable to read. Also, if you get the book try some of the camp cooking recipes...they are quite good.

Why weren't the pictures included in this book ? I have camped all my life (71 years)& was so excited to have some really old fashioned ideas, but was disappointed the pictures were not included. Guess i didn't read the details of this printing. :-(

This is probably the most exhaustive and authoritative book on outdoor craft that I have read. Very dry and detail oriented so you have to be interested in the science for it to work. It is not extreme lke the 60/70's survivalist dogma but presented matter of fact and unpretentiously by someone who lived it. With this book you could eke out a living off the land just about anywhere. There are many books that are a better casual read. But it will be hard to beat this book for its pure reference capacity. A classic that makes a great gift to anyone who is outdoors person, wants to know more, about how and why or just curious.