View Full Version : If you could only read one book....
freedompirate01
03-13-2009, 02:14
If you knew very little about backpacking and could only read one book before you headed out on the AT for a couple weeks what would you read?
(Does not include AT trail guides etc)
If you knew very little about backpacking and could only read one book before you headed out on the AT for a couple weeks what would you read?
(Does not include AT trail guides etc)
#1 Ray Jardine - Beyond Backpacking, or #2 Colin Fletcher - The Complete Walker.
Go to your library and see what is available.
The Mechanical Man
03-13-2009, 04:01
A must read for ALL AT hikers,...... of the first ever Thru-hike in 1948.
Walking With Spring, by Earl V Shaffer.
https://www.atctrailstore.org/catalog/iteminfo.cfm?itemid=70&compid=1
fiddlehead
03-13-2009, 05:51
Colin Fletcher: "THe Complete Walker"
I like Lightweight Backpacking and Camping, by Ryan Jordan, much better than The Complete Walker.
Lone Wolf
03-13-2009, 07:05
"A Walk in the Woods"
Bill Bryson
double d
03-13-2009, 07:14
I'll go with Walking with Spring as well, Earl was the first true thru hiker and then did it again in 1998.
Lone Wolf
03-13-2009, 07:16
Earl was the first true thru hiker and then did it again in 1998.
first true blue-blazer too
#1 Ray Jardine - Beyond Backpacking, or #2 Colin Fletcher - The Complete Walker.
Go to your library and see what is available.
Totally agree there is no other book
stumpknocker
03-13-2009, 07:56
"A Walk in the Woods"
Bill Bryson
This is my all time favorite!! I read it before I started my first long walk, then read it after I was done with that walk and have read it for the third time.
Most people that start the AT with the dream of walking the whole Trail don't finish it.
Bryson is the only one I know of that wrote a book that covers that and he still had fun. :)
daddytwosticks
03-13-2009, 08:49
Decades from now, "A Walk in the Woods" will be a classic. I've read this book several times and I still laugh. Maybe it's just me. :)
Lone Wolf
03-13-2009, 09:03
I've read this book several times and I still laugh. Maybe it's just me. :)
you're not type A, you have an open mind and a sense of humor. sadly a lot on here don't
Incahiker
03-13-2009, 09:07
I have the complete walker and that thing is like a HUGE LONG BORING NOVEL. It is a huge book and will get boring very fast if you read it straight through. I will say that it does contain a lot of information, but I would just flip to the part that you need and then get the information and get out.
I would say a good read is a book written by karen berger. She has thru hiked many trails, and there is no fluff in her book, yet she still manages to make it a good read. Here is a link to the book, one of the best ones that I have read.
http://www.amazon.com/Trailside-Guide-Hiking-Backpacking-New/dp/0393313344/ref=pd_cp_b_1?pf_rd_p=413864201&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0393317692&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1BAP8SAEXG10WAJ97NCJ
I really thought Liteshoe's book was really nice overall view of a long hike.
TJ aka Teej
03-13-2009, 09:30
There isn't a "one" book answer, grasshopper.
A good start though, would be Earl Shaffer's Walking With Spring.
"A Walk in the Woods." It still makes me laugh just thinking of some of his descriptions.
Two trail journals -- one by Red Dane and the other by Overflow. Each is very funny, they never took themselves seriously, and they always were upbeat.
I've read Walking on the Happy Side of Misery so many times that it would probably be my pick. Bryson's book is good too.
If I wanted to read something that would teach me what I needed to know, probably The Thru-Hiker's papers. But I guess that's not really a book.
Another vote for the late Colin Fletcher's The Complete Walker. His CW IV was written in conjunction with Chip Rawlings (sp?) and I think it fairly covers all sides of the backpacking spectrum.
By far, Colin Fletcher, "The New Complete Walker".
I'm currently re-reading this great book. It goes way beyond "The best tent is____________. The best pack is __________. The best way to cook is _______. You get my point. He spends much more time on the whys and what to consider when making a decision, giving examples and thought processes. Plus he is a very entertaining writer and an icon.
If anyone who backpacks hasn't read this book, do yourself a favor and read it.
An example of the type of advice he gives is a detailed description of how to choose a latrine site. In the end it all comes down to:
"All other things being equal, pick a site with a veiw." This type of straight forward, common sense advice is missing in most other how-to books that I've seen.
Autumnwind
03-13-2009, 10:04
Awol on the Appalachian Trail by David Miller
This book is a good read of a hikers journey on the trail.
Have fun reading. It is a great escape.............
For more information about Mountains of the Heart, visit Scott Weidensaul's website (http://www.scottweidensaul.com/writing.html).
An A.T. hike should be about discovering America. Many contempory hikes appear to be more about gear, services and camping. I'd like to see more hikers on the A.T. seeking to connect with the natural world which is increasingly foreign to man but upon which we still depend for our sustenance.
My recommendation follows from what I believe to be the original and most important function served by the A.T. That said, I believe another aspect of discovery many experience only to a limited extent and then mostly by accident rather than by design is learning about how Appalachia shaped the lives of those who settled there and the regional and local cultural differences which remain.
I liked Peter Jenkins' books and his openness to experiencing fully what he discovered. That kind of experience is different from what I read about and observe today when hikers seem preoccupied with gear, services, the next town stop and where their guide books direct them.
Many hikers I meet are too guarded to be open to this kind of experience. I'm beginning to believe hikers need to rediscover traditional methods of information gathering. Many would be better served by mail drops, maps, an A.T. Data Book and making an effort to meet locals willing to share those features which distinguish their place of residence.
I invite you to read the threads I've started many of which attempt to paint a picture of Pennsylvania's Green Diamond. Sometime I must condense my more than 4000 posts mostly about it into an article rich with links.
[quote=emerald;800466
I also liked Peter Jenkins' books and his openness to experiencing fully what he encountered. That kind of experience seems to me quite different from what I'm reading about and observing today among hikers who seem preoccupied with gear, services and where the guides direct their hikes.[/quote]
Good point, and I would highly recommend Peter Jenkins' first two books "A Walk Across America" and "The Walk West". I felt his later books became more of a commercial endeavour and lacked his wide-eyed wonder.
This is one reason I originally suggested Colin Fletcher, he includes much more of the wonder and why of backpacking than most other writers of "How To" books.
I'm speaking from my thru-hike experience. I read Wingfoot's book; The Thru-hiker's Planning Guide. I followed his advice and had a great thru-hike adventure. After reading it and taking his advise I started with all the confidence in the world.
Good point, and I would highly recommend Peter Jenkins' first two books "A Walk Across America" and "The Walk West". I felt his later books became more of a commercial endeavour and lacked his wide-eyed wonder.
This is one reason I originally suggested Colin Fletcher, he includes much more of the wonder and why of backpacking than most other writers of "How To" books.
I was referring only to the 2 Jenkins titles Lyle mentioned since they are the only books by him I've read.
The book that captured my mind years ago when I was in my teens and still dreaming about doing the AT was "The Appalachian Trail: Backpackers Planning Guide" by Victoria and Frank Logue. I don't think it's in print any more, but used copies can still be found on amazon. It was never really an informational book for me, so much as an inspirational book. For whatever reason, whenever I pick it up and read a bit out of it, I get really fired up to go out hiking for a long time.
Another vote for Colin Fletcher.
Too many books are about the HOW..very few books give the WHY and a sense of wonder.
Gear talk is boring..once you are past the basics it is all fine details.
Speaking of which, for a great quick and dirty primer on backpacking and lightweight backpacking basics, I suggest these two books as my NEXT favorites. Gives an overall view of what you need..not the exact brand of freaking gear like so many books.
Just the facts, to the point, funny reads. If you want to compare the Titanium widgets in more detail, go elsewhere. ;)
http://www.amazon.com/Allen-Mikes-Really-Cool-Backpackin/dp/1560449128/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1236962705&sr=1-2
http://www.amazon.com/Lighten-Up-Complete-Ultralight-Backpacking/dp/0762737344/ref=pd_bbs_2/102-3169278-3944160?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1179957158&sr=8-2
The Complete Walker reads kinda like instructions for hooking up a stereo to me...a bit dry...
If you knew very little about backpacking and could only read one book before you headed out on the AT for a couple weeks what would you read?
(Does not include AT trail guides etc)Jan D. Curran's "The A.T.-How to Prepare For & Hike It"
I would seriously forgo all the books and read this several times over:
http://www.spiriteaglehome.com/THP%20top.html
If I still felt I needed something to put on my bookshelf, I would probably buy "Tracking and the Art of Seeing" by Paul Rezendez. Despite all the talk of views along the AT, most of the time you are looking at your feet so why not get some extra entertainment out of that?
But that link is really the best.
Feral Bill
03-13-2009, 20:40
Another vote for The Complete Walker. At least if a how to is what you want. I do agree it is best consumed in small bites.
Trail Trooper
03-13-2009, 20:50
Hiking The At Vol 1 And 2 Are What Got Me Going. Published By Roldale. Dorthy Laker Is Probably The Best Writter Of Her Time
eArThworm
03-13-2009, 21:45
If you knew very little about backpacking and could only read one book before you headed out on the AT for a couple weeks what would you read? ...
My answer assumes you mean a book about how to backpack, not someone's story about when they hiked the Trail. Incahiker is right about Karen Berger. Her "how to" books are
about the best written, all 'round. They are:
Berger, Karen. Advanced Backpacking: A Trailside Guide. New York: W. W. Norton, 1998.
Berger, Karen. Hiking & Backpacking: A Complete Guide. Rev. ed. New York: W. W. Norton, 2005.
Berger, Karen. Hiking Light Handbook: Carry Less, Enjoy More. Seattle: Mountaineers, 2004.
Another book that's had good reviews is:
Kemsley, William. Backpacker and Hiker’s Handbook. Mechanicsburg, Pa.: Stackpole Books, 2008.
I don't own that one yet, so can't personally vouch for it. Kemsley is the founder of Backpacker magazine, which *doesn't* get good reviews. So YMMV.
JumpInTheLake
03-13-2009, 22:35
Hiking The At Vol 1 And 2 Are What Got Me Going. Published By Roldale. Dorthy Laker Is Probably The Best Writter Of Her Time
That's what I was going to recommend. I read it over twenty rears ago as a teen, and again just recently. I'm lucky to know two of the contributors.
The stories in these two volumes make me realize how light my relatively mediocre gear is.
I don't own that one yet, so can't personally vouch for it. Kemsley is the founder of Backpacker magazine, which *doesn't* get good reviews. So YMMV.
Backpacker was a very high quality magazine when Bill Kemsley was the publisher. The downhill slide began after he left and the magazine was sold.
Backpacking, One Step at a Time, by Harvey Manning, was one of my early favorites, along with The Complete Walker.
jaywalke
03-14-2009, 00:39
Backpacking, One Step at a Time, by Harvey Manning, was one of my early favorites, along with The Complete Walker.
Same here. Complete Walker III made me want to backpack, and taught me how. I'll always have a soft spot for it. III is amusing because it was written at the height of the last ultralight revolution 25 years ago, and there is a gear list in the there that would work fine for someone going light on the AT today. There is nothing new under the sun . . .
Harvey Manning's book is hilarious, and has a lot of down-to-earth, dirtbag advice. I love his answer on how to deal with a down bag in a wet climate (he lived near Seattle): "What sort of ninny lets his bag get wet?"
Either one of these books could get folks from the couch to the trail.
A bit dated, but David Brill's "As Far as the Eye Can See" is a great read.
ColdFire
03-14-2009, 07:45
first true blue-blazer too
Blue blazes lead to water don't they? what's the big deal? or are you gonna try and sit here and say you have never taken a blue blaze in your life? pfft yea ok..
Bryson's book was ok at best, yea it was funny but he bit off more then he could chew and he did it to make a buck.
Backpacking: One step at a time - Manning, Havey is one of my favorites :)
Lone Wolf
03-14-2009, 07:54
Blue blazes lead to water don't they? what's the big deal? or are you gonna try and sit here and say you have never taken a blue blaze in your life? pfft yea ok..
Bryson's book was ok at best, yea it was funny but he bit off more then he could chew and he did it to make a buck.
Backpacking: One step at a time - Manning, Havey is one of my favorites :)
i'm the king of blue-blazing. pfft umm k? i've done more blue-blazing by accident than you've done white blazing on purpose
camojack
03-14-2009, 07:55
i'm the king of blue-blazing. pfft umm k? i've done more blue-blazing by accident than you've done white blazing on purpose
Preach it, my brother! :D
Feral Bill
03-14-2009, 12:40
Backpacker was a very high quality magazine when Bill Kemsley was the publisher. The downhill slide began after he left and the magazine was sold.
For those who don't know, that was a long, long time ago. And yes, it was a great magazine then.
Old Grouse
03-14-2009, 14:15
I recently read Walking Home by Kelly Winters. I wouldn't say it was the one book to read, and it included a bunch of issues not strictly germaine to hiiking. But I enjoyed it, and if you don't have those particular issues, chances are you have some others you might be dealing with before and during your hike. You might get something from her perspective.
For a sugar high and some pop psychology "A Walk In The Woods"
When you want some real information "The Complete Walker", but you have to spend time reading between the lines.
If you want to turn everything you know about Backpacking on its ear "Beyond Backpacking"
My vote is for "Then The Hail Came" - problem is I think it's only available online. It's got to be the funniest truest account of a thruhike I've ever read.
Outlaw
(walessp)
The "Book" is by George Steffanos. Here's the URL (may have to cut and paste)
http://www.skwc.com/exile/Hail-nf.html
Outlaw
"appalachian hiker," ed garvey's book about his first hike in '71 (which i'm re-reading right now) is a great read. very interesting to see how the trail and the whole machine behind it has changed over the years.
"appalachian adventure," is a coffee table book, put together by a bunch of journalists from all over the country who tag-teamed the trail in '95 i think. great text, diagrams, illustrations, and pictures.
videos that i would highly recommend:
"north to katahdin" by tim hogaboom.
"five million step" by lynn weldon
"how to hike the at" by lynn weldon
"trailside," pbs series. 2-part AT special (can still be gotten thru pbs i think.)
am going to order lion kings AT video immdediately.
TV
The Solemates
04-08-2009, 11:04
the Bible
Lemming Fleming
04-08-2009, 12:14
Walk in the woods got me here, so I love that book. I also enjoyed Larry Luxenbergs Walking the appalachian trail. Focuses a bit more on the experience a bit more and some of the characters from it's history. It's the one I read when I wan't to feel excited about doing it.
I read The Complete Walker when I was a kid and the second edition many years later. If you are looking for an easy read that gives some very valid points, I would go that route. I may even pick up version IV and see what it has to say.
For those who don't know, that was a long, long time ago. And yes, it was a great magazine then.
Agreed! I miss that publication along with many others. Darn you Rodale Press!!!
Jim Adams
04-09-2009, 23:34
A bit dated, but David Brill's "As Far as the Eye Can See" is a great read.
excellent book...one of my favorites!
Hustler was a good answer...you don't need anything to "teach" you how to backpack...you will learn 90% of what you need to know by Neels Gap!
geek
MIKE MAMMY
04-10-2009, 01:10
"Spark your Dream" is written by a couple who got in this 1928 car and drove from Argentina to the tip of Alaska, it took them 2 years or so, I'd recommend it not for its hiking info (lacks entirely) but for it's inspirational messages..pretty much says how the best thing that ever happened is when they ran out of $... Seems to me, that a person of good intent and good nature will get what ever they need along the way to complete the journey etc, the same goes for the book "Seven Years in Tibet" and a few others I've read.. I guess thats why there are trail angels, because when you need it, it is provided for you. :sun
Snowleopard
04-10-2009, 01:13
Camping and Woodcraft by Horace Kephart
There's a mountain on the AT named after Kephart.
The Long Walk by Stephen King
Snowleopard
04-10-2009, 12:59
The Long Walk by Stephen King
The other book with the same title by Slavomir Rawicz; he escaped from a prison camp in Siberia and walked to India. Great story, but I hope you have better circumstances for your hike.
http://www.amazon.com/Long-Walk-True-Story-Freedom/dp/1558216847