Customer Reviews

Winter Hiking and Camping (Backpacker Magazine)

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

 

 

This book is, as the previous reviewer said, an good book for just beginning winter hiking and camping. The writing is clear, concise, and full of plenty of good advice. It is not a long book and covers a vast topic, so it primarily overviews everything related to basic winter hiking and camping without going into much detail.

With this book, the reader will feel quite confident in their ability to day-hike in the winter and to use snowshoes, but will probably want to pursue further reading for skiing and gain experience in the backcountry in the winter before camping (a point the author suggests as well). The book is focused on stressing the importance of proper winter clothing, safety and nutrition, and includes helpful short sections on various types of clothing and layering systems for mild and hard outdoor exertion. Its section on backcountry safety is well done and would be very helpful for the beginner. It is true that the author dismisses traditional wood-framed snowshoes, but that is probably because most beginners to winter hiking would be better served opting for easier-to-use modern snowshoes anyway.

I am very quick to grab any new book on backcountry camping and travel in the winter, so I had this book as soon as it hit the shelves. I have to say I was not really that impressed with it. Backcountry skis get all of one and a half pages, and traditional snowshoes (wood frame and web) are dismissed as not being modern. Wool gets scant mention, as the auuthor seems to favor synthetics, and native-style mukluks, arguably the warmest winter footwear available, are not even mentioned. This is a good book if your are just getting into winter camping, and want to do so safely, with newer types of gear. There are other books available, which do a better, more balanced job on the same topic.

For the beginner as well as the sage, this book opens for hikers and backpackers the door to camping in winter. The first half deals with all the basic information a hiker needs to prepare for a dayhike in winter. The second half of the book builds on that information to provide a comprehensive primer for multi-day treks in the backcountry during winter.

I found the book useful for most the audience and easy to read. The author makes an effort to take the fear of the 'rugged wilderness' from the novice winter trekker without understating the importance of safety.

This book is an excellent addition to one's backcountry library. You will go back to it many, many times...

Cold weather is no longer a reason not to enjoy the great outdoors. Beginning winter hikers will find many great tips to prepare them for a cold jaunt in the wilderness.

If you have been thinking about taking up year round hiking/backpacking (and if you haven't you are missing out!) this is a good resource to read.
The book covers the important parts giving the reader a good idea what to expect in winter - covering gear and clothing as well.