What's the best Universal Resource Guide out there for learning about Backcountry camping?

Posted: September 28th, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Camping Gear | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

I have my trusty old and severely worn Boy Scout manual, but it’s woefully behind the times. I am headed to hike around the base of Mt. Hood in September and I want to be able to prepare for the journey by acquiring all the right camping gear I possibly can. I need a resource guide for that, however, and I don’t know that one really exists. Example: If I wanted to learn all about boating, I’d buy "Chapman’s Guide to Piloting." Is there something like that out there that covers camping equipment, gear, technology, physical preparedness, wilderness survival techniques, etc. Thanks!

4 Comments on “What's the best Universal Resource Guide out there for learning about Backcountry camping?”

  1. 1 David N said at 5:19 am on September 28th, 2010:

    How about going to a bookstore or your local BSA and getting a current issue of the Boy Scout’s Manual?

    You might also want to try something like:

    "How to Survive Anywhere:
    A Guide for Urban, Suburban, Rural, And Wilderness Environments"
    By: Christopher Nyerges
    ISBN-10: 0811733041
    ISBN-13: 978-0811733045

    OR

    Camping & Wilderness Survival:
    The Ultimate Outdoors Book
    By: Paul Tawrell
    ISBN-10: 0974082023
    ISBN-13: 978-0974082028

    They sell both on Amazon.

    You might want to check out some of the other books written by Christopher Nyerges too!

    If you really want to get rustic, there’s:

    PETERSON FIELD GUIDES
    Edible Wild Plants.
    .

  2. 2 wildlifegirl said at 5:19 am on September 28th, 2010:

    Try The Backpacker’s Handbook by Chris Townsend or The Backpacker’s Field Manual by Rick Curtis. They both have really great information.

  3. 3 notaclue said at 5:19 am on September 28th, 2010:

    Personal experience! You’re getting a bit technical-it’s only camping, you’re not building the next super collider!

  4. 4 hockeyhockey said at 5:19 am on September 28th, 2010:

    "Walking Softly in the Wilderness, " by John Hart, is a great resource. You can read a summary of it at http://www.sierraclub.org. Go to their online store, then books, then adult titles by category, then Guide Books.
    You could also try your nearest REI store, or REI.com. They would probably have some pretty good guidebooks. On REI.com, you can go to a section called "Expert Advice." You might find something helpful there.

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