Everyday Wisdom: 1,001 Expert Tips for Hikers (Backpacker Magazine) [Paperback]

Karen Berger (Author)

Book Description

Series: Backpacker Magazine | Publication Date: September 1997

Here are expert tips and tricks for hikers and backpackers covering everything from packing and planning to field repairs and emergency improvisations.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Gathering tips from outdoor experts is just as important as packing the right gear and bringing a map. In Everyday Wisdom, Karen Berger offers amateurs and experienced backpackers alike practical problem-solving advice that can lead to more enjoyable adventures in the backcountry--from preventing blisters to finding and patching an air-mattress hole to treating a case of poison ivy. Berger is also a strong proponent of trail improvisation, and shares ideas for improvising with items you might have packed or items found in the natural world: for example, a "cheese cloth can be used as a prefilter, bandage, mosquito netting, or coffee filter" and vegetation along the trail, such as "wild onions, dandelion leaves, Indian yamparoot and other wild edibles can liven up a one-pot meal." In other words, Everyday Wisdom is filled with the sort of information that every outdoors enthusiast can use. --Jenny Burritt

From Library Journal

Well organized and entertaining, these two additions to the field of camping literature provide a great deal of information to outdoor adventurers, though some overlap does exist. Berger, a contributing editor to Backpacker magazine, gives practical advice to help hikers survive and enjoy their outdoor experiences, addressing pretrip planning, food, cooking, weather, health, first aid, and water. Her love of camping and the wilderness is obvious throughout, making for a fun as well as vastly informative book. Howe, a field editor for Backpacker magazine, contributes the first chapter (about hiking) to Making Camp. Alan Kesselheim, a contributing editor for Canoe & Kayak magazine, writes the second chapter, dealing with the particulars of travel by canoe, kayak, and raft, and subsequent chapters are also written by experts. The final chapter addresses the highly adventurous sport of winter camping. Part of a series on backcountry skills, these two works are comprehensive and easy to use. For public libraries.?Melinda Stivers Leach, Precision Editorial Svcs., Wondervu, Col.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 207 pages
• Publisher: Mountaineers Books (September 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898865239
• ISBN-13: 978-0898865233
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,100,211 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Karen Berger writes about travel, the environment, hiking and backpacking, scuba diving, music, global health, and the business of being self-employed.

Her books here on Amazon.com are divided into three categories:

Eleven books on hiking and backpacking, including accounts of walking the entire 3,000 mile Continental Divide from Mexico to Canada ("Where the Waters Divide") and walking the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada ("Along the Pacific Crest Trail"). Her hiking books also include instructional guides for those new to the sport -- and for those seeking to further develop their skills.

One book on Scuba Diving: "Scuba Diving: A Trailside Guide" was developed with the assistance of Tec Clark, the former director of the Y.M.C.A.'s instructional scuba program.

Three books on learning and teaching music for the "Complete Idiot's Guide" series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well written, practical guide to the backcountry, September 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Everyday Wisdom: 1,001 Expert Tips for Hikers (Backpacker Magazine) (Paperback)

Ms. Berger covers the essentials and also provides little tips and suggestions that are usualy aquired knowledge from extensive experience in outdoor living. The book is a very practical addition to any novice's library. One facet I appreciate is her approach to preventing challenges on the trail through pre-planning and common sense. This is the kind of book I would, and intend to use as a classroom book for the scouts and new adult leaders in our Boy Scout troop in the future. Rather than drawing from the myriad ofsources available, this concise book offer me all I need in basic instruction material. Coupled with 30 years of experience in introducing youth to wilderness living in an ecologically sound manner it makes my volunteer committment much easier to accomplish. Additionally, in a time when more women are outdoors with their sons, Ms. Berger adequately addresses the outdoor living skills and information women always search for and in many cases are not covered in other reference materials. Bravo, Ms. Berger!

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT BOOK!, January 16, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Everyday Wisdom: 1,001 Expert Tips for Hikers (Backpacker Magazine) (Paperback)

THis is a great book for the beginners all the way to the experts. It gives 1001 helpful tips that are very useful when applied in the field. As a beginner, I found this extordinarly useful. Karen Berger gives tips from the best way to lace your boots to simple menu planning. There is also a section on repairing your gear. If you don't all ready own this book, I recommend that your invest your money and buy it.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Save your money, August 31, 2006

By 

G. Stratton (San Luis Obispo, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Everyday Wisdom: 1,001 Expert Tips for Hikers (Backpacker Magazine) (Paperback)

Everyday Wisdom has a few good tips, not 1001. I would recommend The Backpackers Handbook by Chris Townsend, over both this book and the Hiking Light Handbook. Save your money and by the one book by Townsend instead of these two.