Ultimate Guide to Backcountry Travel

by Michael Lanza

• ISBN13: 9781878239822
• ISBN10: 1878239821
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 1999-09-01
• Publisher: Appalachian Mountain Club Books

Author Biography

Michael Lanza is a freelance outdoors writer and photographer whose work appears in Backpacker, Outdoor Explorer, Outside, Appalachia, and AMC Outdoors. He has hiked, backpacked, and climbed throughout New England, the Rocky Mountains, the desert Southwest, the Sierra, and the Northwest. He currently lives in Boise, Idaho, with his wife.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. ix
Acknowledgments	p. xi
Trip Planning	p. 1
Choosing a Route	p. 3
Tips on choosing a Map and Guidebook	p. 6
Avoiding the Masses	p. 12
Play by the Rules	p. 13
Getting in Shape	p. 15
Keep Your Gear Organized and Make Sure It Works	p. 17
Need This, Don't Need That	p. 19
Traveling with Your Gear	p. 21
What if Something Goes Wrong?	p. 23
Be Flexible	p. 24
Resources	p. 25
Gear	p. 27
Packs	p. 29
Tips on Buying Gear	p. 30
Boots	p. 38
Tents	p. 44
Sleeping Bags	p. 51
Sleeping Pads	p. 57
Stoves and Cookware	p. 58
Other Essential and "Luxury" Gear	p. 64
Clothing	p. 67
Dress for Success	p. 69
Layering	p. 70
Synthetics and Wool versus Cotton	p. 73
Technical Outerwear	p. 75
Buying Outdoor Clothing	p. 80
Care of Technical Clothing	p. 81
Clothing Ethics	p. 83
Deciding on Your Wardrobe	p. 83
Regional Climate and Clothing	p. 84
Water	p. 87
How Much to Drink and When	p. 88
How Much Water to Carry	p. 90
Treat It Right	p. 92
Water Bottles or Hydration Systems?	p. 96
Children and Water	p. 97
Food	p. 99
Lugging the Chuck Wagon	p. 100
Chow Time	p. 102
The Menu	p. 103
Backcountry Cuisine	p. 103
Children and Food	p. 107
On the Trail	p. 108
Loving the Backcountry to Death	p. 110
"Leave No Trace" Guidelines	p. 111
Walking Lightly	p. 113
Navigating	p. 115
Weather	p. 126
River Crossings	p. 127
Venturing Off-Trail	p. 132
Loading Your Pack for Various Terrain	p. 136
Traveling at Night	p. 137
Going Solo	p. 137
Older People and Children	p. 140
Sharing the Trail	p. 141
Making Camp	p. 144
Selecting a Site	p. 145
Roughing It Comfortably	p. 148
Low-Impact Camping	p. 152
Campfires	p. 155
When Nature Calls	p. 158
Sharing the Backcountry	p. 160
Bloodsuckers, Slithering Things, and Opportunistic Carnivores	p. 162
Ethics of Human-Animal Encounters	p. 164
Avoiding Animal Problems	p. 165
Insects	p. 173
Nasty Flora	p. 174
Other "Opportunistic Carnivores"	p. 175
Resources	p. 175
Leadership and Decision-Making	p. 176
Think Things Through	p. 178
Anticipate and Head Off Problems	p. 180
Know When to Take Charge	p. 182
Maintain a Positive Attitude	p. 185
Wilderness First Aid	p. 186
You Can't Dial 911	p. 187
How Much Should You Know?	p. 189
Reacting to an Emergency	p. 190
Patient Assessment	p. 191
SOAP Note	p. 195
Backcountry Ailments: Avoidance, Symptoms and Treatment	p. 196
Long-term Patient Care	p. 210
Women's Issues	p. 210
The First-Aid Kit	p. 211
Resources and Training	p. 212
Winter in the Backcountry	p. 213
Staying Warm and Dry	p. 215
Environmental Hazards	p. 219
Outdoor Adventure Photography	p. 224
Cameras, Lenses, Film	p. 225
Taking Photos	p. 227
About the Author	p. 232
About the Appalachian Mountain Club	p. 233
Index	p. 235
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