A Hiker's Companion: 12,000 Miles of Trail-Tested Wisdom [Paperback]

Cindy Ross (Author), Todd Gladfelter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1993

Entertainingly written real-life guide to surviving and thriving in the outdoors.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Novice and veteran hikers alike will greatly benefit from the wealth of information provided in this compendium of hiking tips. Every conceivable topic--from preparation and planning to coping with the return home--is covered in an enjoyable, conversational writing style sprinkled with delightful stories of life on the trail. Combining their years of experience, the authors share their knowledge of equipment, orientating, safety measures, and group ethics and provide practical tips on hiking etiquette and trail cuisine. Worthy of special mention is a section on hiking with children. All material is well presented and useful for quick reference. The inclusion of photography tips, journal writing, and hints that aid in one's appreciation and understanding of the natural world make this great reading for hiking enthusiasts. Parents, partners, and seasoned packers will welcome this super additon to library shelves.
- Jo-Anne Mary Benson, Osgoode, Ontario
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 207 pages
• Publisher: Mountaineers Books (April 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898863538
• ISBN-13: 978-0898863536
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,141,617 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent introduction to Hiking and Backpaking, September 14, 2000

By 

"prairiebluesky" - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Hiker's Companion: 12,000 Miles of Trail-Tested Wisdom (Paperback)

Cindy and Todd's book gives excellent information on the technical aspects of camping: everything from the type of gear you do and do not need, how to pack that backpack, how to stay warm on the trail, how to keep from getting blisters, how to bring your kids along safely and comfortably. Their style of writing is warm and conversational. It feels like you're bringing along an old and knowledgeable friend as you take your first long hike. Excellent!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A backpacking guide for the rest of us, June 11, 2007

By 

Arthur Digbee (Indianapolis, IN, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: A Hiker's Companion: 12,000 Miles of Trail-Tested Wisdom (Paperback)

Most guides to backpacking seem to written by young long-distance hikers with an obsession for gear. In contrast, most real-world backpackers get out on weekends, and one or two weeks in the summer. This book is really aimed at this audience. The authors teach backpacking courses, so they provide beginning-level information, but they also take more extensive trips and can discuss the issues there.

For example, the chapter "Hiking the Trail" talks about finding your pace, hiking with a partner, hiking with a group, solo hiking, and enjoying the journey rather than just packing on the miles. Sure, those are "beginner" issues but more advanced backpackers benefit from seeing them again. Moreover, this approach is refreshingly different from the currently-popular ultralight crowd, which talks about putting on the miles.

Another chapter is called, "Reentry: Coping with Coming Home." The issues here are pretty much the same as what the study abroad community calls "reverse culture shock" - - getting readjusted to your "own" culture and family, and wanting to talk about an experience that other people have trouble understanding. This is only relevant for long-distance hikers, but again, it's a refreshing change of approach from the more typical macho thru-hiker pose.

The book also spends a lot of time talking about taking kids along on your backpacking trips. This includes a lot of practical advice about dealing with diapers, breastfeeding, satisfying kids' interests, and how kids change the backpacking experience.

The doesn't have tips for more advanced backpackers - - backcountry navigation, for example. Many of these skills probably don't come from a book anyway, but if you'd like a reference for such things you'll need to go elsewhere.

Finally, gearheads won't like the book. You won't find recommendations for particular gear here - - the only brand names mentioned are Nalgene, Band-aids, M&Ms, and NutraSweet. That collection alone makes the audience pretty clear.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, May 20, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Hiker's Companion: 12,000 Miles of Trail-Tested Wisdom (Paperback)

I'm neither a newbie nor a veteran with thousands of miles on my boots, but I've found tons of useful information in this book. The friendly, straight-forward approch makes the information much easier to digest. The anecdotes are also useful for driving a point home.