View Full Version : Bacpacking 101-The Reading List for Wax Queen, Rickey&Jack and all Neophytes...
...and anyone who enjoys historical texts.
Please feel free to add to the list. My suggestions are from personal experience with the Public Library or my own library. Inter-library loan is an awesome resource if you have it where you live. Specific gear recommendations are probably very outdated. The principles remain the same.
:) :cool:
From another thread...
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Read a book. There are several.
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There will be little need to buy water during a half or thru hike.
Wayne
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But it would help me out, if you'd put a smilie in, or suggest a book for me to read. That way I know you mean well, and want to help me succeed in hiking the AT. :)
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I'm confused by what you say Wayne, about little need to buy water during a half or thru hike. Is there water I can get on the trail?
Harvey Manning.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey_Manning
http://books.google.com/books/about/Backpacking_one_step_at_a_time.html?id=sKe-4YTFcx8C
Colin Fletcher
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Fletcher
The New Complete Walker got me started. I still have it. I wish that I owned his other books.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Complete-Walker-Colin-Fletcher/dp/0375703233
In my mind, Mr. Fletcher's quote about trimming the strings from tea bags to lighten his pack set the Ultra Light Backpacking bar pretty high back in the 1960s.
Peter Jenkins on really long distance walking.
http://www.amazon.com/Walk-Across-America-Peter-Jenkins/dp/006095955X
That should get the list going. Enjoy!
To WaxQueen: The other topic, Water along the AT, will be your first research assignment. You may have already found too much information on the subject. Have fun!
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/search.php?searchid=5733345
One lesson that I learned the hard way: Buy quality once.
Wayne
Damn Yankee
05-27-2014, 09:26
I'm confused by what you say Wayne, about little need to buy water during a half or thru hike. Is there water I can get on the trail?
There is usually plenty of water during a NOBO thru-hike. You may have to walk off the trail some.
I'm confused by what you say Wayne, about little need to buy water during a half or thru hike. Is there water I can get on the trail?
There is usually plenty of water during a NOBO thru-hike. You may have to walk off the trail some.
WaxQueens earlier post about the cost of food & water for a thru hike:
I'm a newbie!! And I'm wanting to get an idea of what food and water will cost for AT long distance hiking and what methods I can use to save on the moolah! What are even my options? Packing food, wild edibles and restaurants?
Advice much appreciated!!! :)
You confirmed my point: Water is generally plentiful and free. There are places where a liter or 2 will not get you to the next water source. However, carrying 3 liters of water is not the hardship that some folks would have us believe. ;)
Wayne
UPDATE:
I just got the latest issue of Trail Grove today. Big Bend is one of the featured destinations. :cool: Good read. FREE! MAGS is one of the writers. The magazine is mostly about places to go. Some general backpacking information as well. There is also a discussion forum. Enjoy! ;)
http://www.trailgroove.com/?utm_source=TrailGroove+Magazine&utm_campaign=daec953dfa-Issue+15&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_df09d26464-daec953dfa-73045393
Wayne
Bump for anyone who missed this earlier.
Wayne
I really wanted to like Walk Across America but couldn't get into it. I prefer Fletcher's British wit to Jenkins' earnestness.
Right here.
Wayne
Sent from somewhere around here.
Snowleopard
06-01-2014, 17:47
Horace Kephart's book Camping and Woodcraft (1906) is still an excellent resource, just add a bit of Leave no Trace to it. It's available free online, or the paper book is available: http://www.amazon.com/Camping-Woodcraft-Handbook-Travelers-Wilderness/dp/0870495569/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1401658665&sr=8-1&keywords=kephart+camping+and+woodcraft
He was an early advocate for a Great Smokies park. Mount Kephart is just off the AT near Icewater Springs Shelter; the Jumpoff is on Mt. Kephart.
WaxQueen
06-01-2014, 20:53
Ah! Thanks Wayne!! :) I'll start diggin' into some of this!!!
You're welcome. Hopefully we will get more suggestions.
Wayne
Sarcasm the elf
06-01-2014, 22:48
Some folks will yell at me for recommending this, but you should check out Bill Bryson's "A Walk in The Woods" It's a largely fictionalized and overdramatic account (a.k.a. he makes it sound a lot worse than it is) of Bryson's six or so week hike on the trail. The book is very entertaining and gives a good amount of well researched information about the geography, construction and history of the trail. It's also the book about the trail that has received the most mainstream popularity due to Bryson's notoriety as an author.
For more accurate books about hiking I'd highly recommend you pick up a copy of "AWOL on the Appalachian Trail" (http://www.amazon.com/AWOL-Appalachian-Trail-David-Miller/dp/0547745524) which is a recent and well written account of David Miller's thru hike which should give you a good idea of what long distance hiking on the A.T. is like.
I'd also recommend David Brill's "As far as the Eye Can See" which is a wonderfully written account of the author's thru hike back in the 1970's. http://www.amazon.com/Far-Eye-Can-See-Reflections/dp/1621900002/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1401677323&sr=1-1&keywords=as+far+as+the+eye+can+see
Thanks!
Here is an interesting web compilation of AT, CT, PCT & CDT information, trip accounts, food, resupply strategy and gear selection that I found yesterday. Probably old news to some, but new to me.
http://urbyville.com/
http://urbyville.com/the-books/
Enjoy.
Wayne
WaxQueen
06-06-2014, 12:36
*Phew!!!* More info than my brain can almost compute I think!! And I've barely touched the tip of the iceberg!! ..I think I knew not, that I knew not.. heh.. *sheepish*
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you though!!!! :) :) :) I see a long, beautiful learning journey ahead of me. :sun
Has anyone read this one? "Lighten Up!: A Complete Handbook for Light and Ultralight Backpacking" Is it a good one for the lightweight niche?
http://www.amazon.com/Lighten-Up-Complete-Ultralight-Backpacking/dp/0762737344
rocketsocks
06-06-2014, 13:29
*Phew!!!* More info than my brain can almost compute I think!! And I've barely touched the tip of the iceberg!! ..I think I knew not, that I knew not.. heh.. *sheepish*
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you though!!!! :) :) :) I see a long, beautiful learning journey ahead of me. :sun
Has anyone read this one? "Lighten Up!: A Complete Handbook for Light and Ultralight Backpacking" Is it a good one for the lightweight niche?
http://www.amazon.com/Lighten-Up-Complete-Ultralight-Backpacking/dp/0762737344yup, want a copy? send me your info, and I'll send ya one...gratis.
I'm not much for labels.
Besides, there are more constraints than ounces or grams. If weight were the only criteria, I would be sleeping on a Gossamer Thinlight Pad.
Weight
2.4 – 2.8 oz. (68 – 82 g.)
Due to the way the pads are manufactured, they vary in weight.
Dimensions
19 3/8 x 59 1/8 x 1/8 in. (49 x 150 x 0.32 cm.)
NOTE: sizes may vary by up to ½ in. (1.3 cm.)
Material
Closed cell cross-linked Evazote foam
Color
I see several defects in the Gossamer Gear specs. Width. Length. Thickness. R-value.
Having tried 3/8" and 5/8" CCF pads and an early 1" Therm-A-Rest self inflating foam pad, I can honestly say that I am an air mattress sleeper. A full size air mattress sleeper. I am currently sleeping on a large NeoAir XTherm on the floor in my apartment. It works. By coincidence, the XTherm is the widest, lightest, highest R-value, longest warranty period air mattress that I could find. And I can sleep all night on it. that would be a Win, Win, Win, Win and Win solution for me. It works for me. That is all that matters. It may not work for anyone else.
By the way, my first backpacking air mattress is hanging in my hall closet. It still works. It is retired for now. It is narrow, short and no R-value compared to the XTherm. The antique Thermarest will probably go to one of my granddaughters this summer. They are young. They can sleep on rocks. :D :cool:
Just one example of my multi-variable gear choices.
YMMV.
Wayne
WaxQueen
06-07-2014, 22:15
yup, want a copy? send me your info, and I'll send ya one...gratis.
Really?!! That'd be awesome!!! :sun I'll message ya! :)
WaxQueen
06-07-2014, 22:18
I figured I could just sleep on the rocks too. Though I really need to test that theory... :confused: :p
Ricky&Jack
06-07-2014, 23:51
yup, want a copy? send me your info, and I'll send ya one...gratis.
And here I was, thinking I was special.
You generous person!
Ricky&Jack
06-07-2014, 23:54
This thread has been up for like 2 weeks, and I just barely now saw my name in the title. (I guess my name got cutoff in the list of posts, but was visible once I actually opened the tread).
I suck
rocketsocks
06-08-2014, 01:47
And here I was, thinking I was special.
You generous person!
You were my first :D:) yeah I gotta get rid of some books so I can make room for some new interests, time to rotate the stock.
"Long Distance Hiking, Lessons from the Appalachian Trail" by Roland Mueser is kinda dated but still pretty relevant. Entirely AT-specific, talks about gear, attitude, tactics and strategy, safety, diet, water issues, budget, etc. Based on a thorough survey of thru-hikers in '89 and '90, and the author's own thru-hike.
Whisperlite was the stove, Clip Flashlight was the tent of choice, mail drops still happened, but hiking poles hadn't yet. Other than that, same old!
The book is well organized, factual, but also filled with comments and stories from actual hikers. As Mags says often, the gear changes but the essential nature of the trail and the thru-hiking pilgrimage, not so much.
+1 also for Bryson, he packs a lot of truth into his fiction. I still laugh out load reading parts of it over for the umpteenth time.
Suggestion:
Trade books with other novices. Everyone wins.
Ricky, you're cool. Just pay closer attention. That applies to the Trail as we'll.
I finally started reading "Called Again". I like it so far.
Wayne
Sent from somewhere around here.
Ricky&Jack
06-08-2014, 18:38
i have a few books coming from Rocketsocks that should arrive monday or tuesday. Once i read them, i plan on putting them back up in a "Pay it forward: Free W.B. book trade" type of thread.
I figure he was nice enough to send to me, that once I'm done with them, i'll hand them off to another member. And hopefully they will do the same, after.
i have a few books coming from Rocketsocks that should arrive monday or tuesday. Once i read them, i plan on putting them back up in a "Pay it forward: Free W.B. book trade" type of thread.
I figure he was nice enough to send to me, that once I'm done with them, i'll hand them off to another member. And hopefully they will do the same, after.
There you go. Mighty kind of you. Sharing is good.
Wayne
Sent from somewhere around here.
Ricky&Jack
06-08-2014, 23:17
I have craving that's not cheap to maintain. The generosity of other forum members is keeping me well fed.
WaxQueen
06-10-2014, 17:40
i have a few books coming from Rocketsocks that should arrive monday or tuesday. Once i read them, i plan on putting them back up in a "Pay it forward: Free W.B. book trade" type of thread.
I figure he was nice enough to send to me, that once I'm done with them, i'll hand them off to another member. And hopefully they will do the same, after.
Hey! Yeah!! That's an awesome idea!!! :D I'd be glad to do the same!!!! :)
Ricky&Jack
06-10-2014, 17:49
Rocketsocks mailed me 2 books on Thursdy 'priority' but its still not here. Dang the post office!
rocketsocks
06-10-2014, 20:42
Rocketsocks mailed me 2 books on Thursdy 'priority' but its still not here. Dang the post office!Really kinda surprised, but now I'm realizing priority mail is not 2nd day mail...I guess priority is but a step up from ground.:(
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! Don't tell anyone. ;) :cool:
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/forum_thread/40071/index.html
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/hiking/best-trails-andrew-skurka-medium.html
http://www.summitpost.org/wind-river-range/171223
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/climbing-and-hiking-in-the-wind-river-mountains-3rd-joe-kelsey/1113111085?ean=9780762780785
Hike on!
Wayne
Ricky&Jack
06-11-2014, 10:39
Today, I received a package from RocketSocks.
THE NEW COMPLETE WALKER (2nd edition. 1978)
Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers Companion (2013)
I will try to Begin THE NEW COMPLETE WALKER today. May take a month or so to finish, depending on how much I read at a time. But once I am done, i will plan on putting them back up in a "Pay it forward: Free W.B. book trade" type of thread.
I figure that since he was nice enough to send to me for free, that once I'm done with them, i'll hand them off to another member. And hopefully they will do the same, afterwards for a mother member.
Very good. Equipment wise, THE NEW COMPLETE WALKER is very dated. Many companies listed in the book don't exist anymore. However, the philosophy remains the same. I relied heavily on that book when I bought most of my stuff. At the time, I was totally Ultra Light. I still have most of that gear. It still works today. In fact, my 2 1/2 pound frameless Jensen backpack is still being made today. Few modern packs in that weight range can touch it.
Enjoy!
Wayne
WaxQueen
06-17-2014, 11:18
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! Don't tell anyone. ;) :cool:
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/forum_thread/40071/index.html
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/hiking/best-trails-andrew-skurka-medium.html
http://www.summitpost.org/wind-river-range/171223
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/climbing-and-hiking-in-the-wind-river-mountains-3rd-joe-kelsey/1113111085?ean=9780762780785
Hike on!
Wayne
Hehe... Cool place!!!!! :D
Suggestion:
Trade books with other novices. Everyone wins.
Ricky, you're cool. Just pay closer attention. That applies to the Trail as we'll.
I finally started reading "Called Again". I like it so far.
Wayne
Sent from somewhere around here.
I finished reading Called Again (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/called-again-jennifer-pharr-davis/1115138511?ean=9780825306938) by Jennifer Pharr Davis.
In a word, "WOW!" In light of recent reports of folks calling the National Guard to be "rescued" from various trails, Mrs. Davis is a candidate for the U.S. Marines. :cool:
The book is very short on gear, etc. as it should be. She was the hiker in team effort.
As inspiration for "when the going gets tough, the Tough get going", it can't be beat.
Wayne
I read "Between a rock and a white blaze" when it was free on Amazon. Quite a different book from the other AT books and worth a look. These were veteran hikers as opposed to all the AT beginners who write books that all read the same ("I learned this, then that, then that...".
The Arby book makes it clear that you may have major problems even if you get the hiking part of it down pat.
The AT is a major head trip, at best. An insane asylum at worst.