Customer Reviews

Snow Walker's Companion: Winter Camping Skills for the North

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

The new "Snow Walker's Companion" is the third version of Garrett and Alexandra Conover's "Winter Wilderness Companion (2001) and "A Snow Walker's Companion" (1996) and although much of the material is the same, Garrett told me in an interview that it was time for a revised text. In the five years since they wrote the "Wilderness" book there have been a number of significant changes in things like portable stoves (now can be bought made of titanium), GPS navigation and some other skills and gear; Suppliers have gone out of business and new ones have come into the marketplace, and some equipment and clothing that was not available commercially, is now. Stone Ridge Press, the new publisher, has added a new section of color photos and the journal of the first major trip that the Conovers made on snowshoes, towing their supplies on native sleds. All through, the book remains highly readable, enjoyable and thought-provoking. I felt the size of the "Wilderness Companion" was better for carrying in a pack, but that little quibble aside, the new edition is one of the very best winter camping books out there.

I happened across this book while looking for a Calvin Rutstrum book. I am a fan of old Cal's, particularly the great Paradise Below Zero, and read that it was cited in Snow Walker's Companion. I had also just purchased a large wall tent with a wood stove, and had been on a "shakedown" winter campout/Nordic ski trip, and have become quite interested in that type of winter camping. More the "old trapper" style of winter doings than the high-tech ski backpacking type.
This book fills that bill to a T, and to boot it truly carries on the Rutstrum tradition magnificently. Rutstrum had a lot of practical "northwoods" material, but he was shy on detail sometimes, and there is some stuff in his books outdated even for the modern "throwback".
This book is chock full of detail, along with fine narrative. It actually tells you how do most things you will need to do. And it is terrific to find a contemporary book that isn't afraid of the axe, fire, and gun; one that shows that you can be a great lover of the wilderness, our priceless environment, and a hunter, too. They put it very gently so as not to scare anybody off!

This book teaches real techniques based on native practices. No fancy technology or yuppie gear, just how to be comfortable in places most people fear to go.

This book is also footnoted and referenced in many other winter camping books, always with much respect.

I bought this book when it was called the The Winter Wilderness Companion: Traditional and Native American Skills for the Undiscovered Season this revised edition is even better with new plans for a traditional wooden toboggan and more trail-craft tips.

I've used the plans to make my own mukluks and mittens with great success and can throughly recommend this book for both beginners and experienced outdoors folks alike.

For those who are really serious about learning winter skills, it would be worth checking out the Conover's website at northwoodsways.com

Although the book is evocatively written with phrases like "...frosted hair makes long haired women look like fairy-tale damsels and bearded men like hoary old walruses..." there is no lack of attention to detail, with meticulous research and dirt-time experience. The Conovers are arguably some of the most experienced winter travel guides around, and this book is testament to that.

Outstanding book: fun to read, great vignettes of their various trips, makes possible what I thought was impossible, camping in any winter weather.

This is a wonderful book that I read cover to cover about four years ago while I was living in a canvas tent in northern Minnesota. It has loads of highly practical information on winter camping and traveling by snowshoes hauling all you need on a toboggan. I had been borrowing the copy from a friend and have never owned my own copy. I decided it is time to get my own copy for reference so I looked it up on Amazon as this is where I purchase most of my books. WHAT THE HECK IS UP WITH THE CURRENT LOWEST PRICE BEING $79!?!?! This book lists new for only $25 (and can be purchased from duluthpack.com for that price) I am simply completely baffled that this book is listed on Amazon for $79, $114, even $1500?!?!? I've seen a few outrageous listings before but seriously? Can anyone explain this to me? But that aside I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is even vaguely interested in winter camping/hiking or canvas tent living etc, just please don't be ripped off by some seller trying to overcharge you for it.

I purchased this book as a gift for my sister who knows more about outdoor skills and gears than most companies and books, so I wasn't sure if she'd think it was a valuable addition for her at that level of knowledge and skills. (She's not a snob about things, just way beyond the basics at this point.) Since she's received it, she has hardly put it down! She loves it. When I asked her what she thought, she said, "Fabulous!! Finally a book that actually teaches you how to live in the situation--equipment you need, how to make your choices, where to get things! A book for someone who actually wants to spend extended time (months at a time) in the colder climate, not just a weekend in and out, written by someone who actually knows the stuff." She's even been jotting down notes!

I also have found it easy to follow (when I could sneak it away from sis), but information packed. I like the whats explained with the whys and hows of things--and I'm at more of an advanced beginner level for outdoor skills. Topics are well explained. There's even some patterns in it for mukluks and such. I'll probably have to buy my own copy just so I have the chance to really read it. So obviously, this is a must have for anyone, beginner or advanced, who really wants to learn how to live and travel properly in cold, snowy climates for longer than the occassional week vacation.