Synopses & Reviews
"What a breath of fresh air! The Woman's Guides seek to provide a comfortable, friendly place in which women can challenge themselves and learn new skills."--Dagny Scott, Contributing Editor for Women's Sports,
SHAPE magazine
Ragged Mountain Press Woman's Guides--the first book series designed for the growing number of women who are active outdoors. These comprehensive guides provide everything you need to get started and keep going. Throughout each book you'll find tips, advice, and words of wisdom from women who've done what you're about to do--learn a new sport. At last: books for women who love the outdoors, written in a woman's voice with a woman's approach to learning.
"Enlightening and encouraging . . . with the right emphasis on the things women will wonder and worry about when they start backpacking."--Ellen Dudley, adventure traveler and coauthor of American Discoveries: Scouting the First Coast-to-Coast Recreational Trail
In Backpacking: A Woman's Guide you'll find the knowledge and skills you need to become a self-sufficient backpacker. Yes, you can light a camp stove . . . set up a tent by yourself . . . take your kids with you--and keep them entertained . . . survive (and even learn to love) a week in the woods without hot showers! Adrienne Hall's fresh perspective and up-to-date presentation of techniques and equipment provide all the tools you need to become a confident, comfortable, capable backpacker!
"This book is better than a backpacking best friend! It gives advice without the know-it-all attitude; it answered my questions without making me feel dumb."--Lucy Kaske, new backpacker
Synopsis
"What a breath of fresh air! The Woman's Guides seek to provide a comfortable, friendly place in which women can challenge themselves and learn new skills."--Dagny Scott, Contributing Editor for Women's Sports, SHAPE magazine
Ragged Mountain Press Woman's Guides--the first book series designed for the growing number of women who are active outdoors. These comprehensive guides provide everything you need to get started and keep going. Throughout each book you'll find tips, advice, and words of wisdom from women who've done what you're about to do--learn a new sport. At last: books for women who love the outdoors, written in a woman's voice with a woman's approach to learning.
"Enlightening and encouraging . . . with the right emphasis on the things women will wonder and worry about when they start backpacking."--Ellen Dudley, adventure traveler and coauthor of American Discoveries: Scouting the First Coast-to-Coast Recreational Trail
In Backpacking: A Woman's Guide you'll find the knowledge and skills you need to become a self-sufficient backpacker. Yes, you can light a camp stove . . . set up a tent by yourself . . . take your kids with you--and keep them entertained . . . survive (and even learn to love) a week in the woods without hot showers! Adrienne Hall's fresh perspective and up-to-date presentation of techniques and equipment provide all the tools you need to become a confident, comfortable, capable backpacker!
"This book is better than a backpacking best friend! It gives advice without the know-it-all attitude; it answered my questions without making me feel dumb."--Lucy Kaske, new backpacker
About the Author
Avid hiker Adrienne Hall began backpacking at age 11 on a 33-day family excursion. Her love of the sport culminated in her 2,150-mile Appalachian Trail through-hike in 1996, which she chronicled in a 26-part newspaper series. She has hiked in the Rocky Mountains, the Virginia Blue Ridge, and Europe.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1: The Female Backpacker
What is backpacking?
What it takes?
Who backpacks?
Why backpack?
Chapter 2: How to Be a Good Beginner
Getting started
Mental preparation
Be a low-maintenance woman
Chapter 3: Fit for Backpacking
Building fitness
Ouchless hiking
How long does it take?
Chapter 4: Equipment
Choosing and buying gear
Footwear
Carrying the load: backpacks
Shelter
For a sound sleep: sleeping bags and mattress pads
Wilderness wear
Chapter 5: Tricks of the Trail
Before you go: packing your pack
On the trail
At camp
Chapter 6: The Backcountry Kitchen
Approaches to food
Water
Kitchenware
Chapter 7: Safety and Comfort
Safety
Hyperthermia
Hypothermia
Animals
Hunters
Personal safety
Comforts of home
Hygiene
Sanitation
Chapter 8: Where to Go Backpacking
Planning your trip
Forest, desert, and alpine environments
Chapter 9: Loving the Land: Low-Impact Backpacking
Delicate ecosystems
Water
Land
Plants and animals
(and more...)